Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-05-02
POLICY AND DUTY OF THE
SOUTH.
Ex-GOV. Perry, Of South Care
lima, on the Situation.
His View OF the True Course
of the Southern People.


His View OF the True Course
Of the Southern People.
Ex.Gov, Perry, OF South Carolina, has
written a letter taking strong ground
against the congressional reconstruction
scheme. The pith of the article is in
the subjoined paragraphs:
With the cunning which always char
acterlzes the tyFAnt, congress has en-.
acted that the people themselves shall
| indorse the call of a convention, in order
to give legal validity to its acts. With
out this indOrsement, the whole proeeec-
ing might be regarded as forced on the
states by the military government and
therefore null and void. Hence, the
trick OF making the people indorse the
call Of convention. It is to be hoped
that they will not be caught by this cum
ming device, and that they may be able
to Influence the freedmen TO act with
them. But should q majority OF the
votes be for convention, then 1t is to
assemble and not otherwise. When 1t
assemblies, the honor and destiny OF the
state will be in its keeping.
But il the people should vote "no con-
vention,u what then? The honor and
dignity Of the states will, at least, not be
thereby sacrificed by their citizens. We
shall remain as we are, under military
rule. until there is q reaction at the
north. 1t has already commenced in
Connecticut, and will, sooner or later,
sweep over the whole north western and
middle states. Then we shall be restored
/ to our rights in the union, with honor
unsullied and the right Of suffrage un-
changed. Let us await this democratic
! triumph, be it hundred years, rather
/ than seek new associations with our
| blsek republican tyrants and oppressors,
| ana be guilty Of abandoning our friends
at the north, who have nObly defended
our cause for two years past, and sacri-
| feed themselves in the struggle for
/ southern rights and constitutional free
dom.
II we are unwilling TO bear the ills to
which we are subjected, for the main
| teuance of honor or principle, then we
deserve our destiny. It is said that, il
we do not accept the degrading terms
now offered, worse will be imposed |!
Have we any assurance that worse may
not be imposed if we do accept Like
the woman who consented to her own
dishonor TO save the life of her husband,
and was then made to witness his eXecu-
tioul There is no faith in tyrants.
| Threats of confiseation are futile. Almost
every one has been pardoned by taking
| the amnesty oath, or by special applica-
| ton. The southern people may be robbed
and murdered, but their property cannot
be confiscated.
] 70, HhhuTah TrOOnIranf aO1IfH-
ern men, offers have been made in
congress to remove their disabilities, and,
/ Il would seem, not without success.
Threats to the many and bribes to few,
is the policy adopted for radicslizing the
southern states. With universal negro
suffrage and bebsuched politicians, we
NAV bid farewell to all hope OF republic
can institutions. Virtue and intelligence
alone can sustain republic. When the
negro has acquired intelligence TO under
stand his political rights, and property
to make him feel an interest in the
proper exercise of them, he should be
allowed 10 vote. This principle has been
adopted in most OF the northern states
and is wise and just. But 1t is wicked 10
put ballots in the hands OF those who
will be the passive tools Of their employ
ers, or the mischievOus agents of black
republican emissaries.
There is not the remotest hope OF prob
ability of the southern states being re-
stored to the union till after the next
presIdential election. Why, then, shall
we voluntarily degrade ourselves, and
give up our dearest political rights for a
| delusion If we are to wear manaeles,
let them be put on by our tyrants, not
bv ourselves II RmRn threatens to kick
Won. self respect would forbid your ex-
Dosing your person to him and asking
| him TO kick YOU at once and be done
with It. We have lived already two
wears under military rule, in great pow
/ ertv and distress, and have been cheered
| all the time by the consciousness that we
are not a degraded, though conquered
/ people. We can continue TO live in the
| same way two years longer, or, II need
be, ten years, and feel d pride Ia know
ing that we have maintained our honor
and made every effort possible to pre-
serve our freedom and constitutional
rights. A man who feels that he has
dishonored himself, is lost, and So it is
with a people.
Let us fize quietly and peaceRbiy,
attending ngently to our various vnoa-
tons in lite, Obeying patiently the pow
ars that be but never think of volun-
tarily voting away any rights as state
or honor and freedom as men. Let us
trust in a returning sense Of justice on
the part OF our OppressOrs, which sooner
or later must 0oIns. Have patience, for
bearance and long suffering, The south
eru states fought four long bloody years
for what they believed to be a sacred
right proclaimed by all the American
people in their declaration OF independ-
enee. Can they not now afford to live
four vesrs out OF that union rather than
sacrifice their honor, their righta as
states and the great republican principles
of freedom ? b. r. FERRY