Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1867-05-04
p1cKENs c. H., s. C., SATURDAY, MAY 4, 1so,

ciplc or consistency" This is no argumen
at nll and we sincerely regret that the hack
: ncycd phrases Of swallowing" anything dc
grading should be used in discussing gray,
question, that involves not only the politica
interest of the State und people, but thei
progress in material prosperity The people
OF South Carolina have come face to face with
the rcality of their present situation, and We
do not believe that, if even their great polit
cal leaders Of the past were to talk about hon
or and dignity, and prciplc and all that sor,
of thing, they would follow their counscls.-
The first movement is, to get restored to the
Union; the next, 10 recuperatc aud develor
their resources
we have not the hope that any advantage
will result to the Southern States from the in.
Junction against the law now pending before
tho Supreme Court, which Governor Perry
| evidently cntcrtnius. The Chief Justice has
already decided that the President canuot be
made party to these bills of complaint, and
that lie is bound to execute law of Congress
without let or hindranco from the Judicial
Department of the Government; aud although
it mny be the last noble effort of Southern
States to maintain their dignity and honor as
States, and the just rights and liberties Of their
citizens, yet Gov. Perry has had too much cx.
pcrlcncc in the fields of politics, and is too we'll
acquainted with the tactics and policy of the
majority in Congress, to hope that the decis.
ion of the Court, if favorable, would work
any amclioration in the distressed condition
of the Southern people Such decision
would only infame their passions, and rckin.
die sectional srifc-that great bune of the
country's advancement and prosperity.
The advice which the distinguished writer
of the communication referred to-to endorse
No Convention" on the tickets as they are
deposited with all due Difference, we say, is
grave error, one fruitful of mischief if acted
upon by the people. We had fondly hoped
10 scc-and we belve it is the determination
OF an overwhelming majority of the citizens
Of the State, thut it shall be so-the people
OF South Carolina carry out, in good faith, as
measure OF reconstruction, the provisions,
of the law of Congress. They are weory of
political excitement, and while great prinoi.
plies never change, the Inere political dignity
and honor Of their State have sutfered-are
still sufferins-Hom poverty and sectional
legislation.
We pc surprised to hear Governor Perry
ask, "Hayc wcany assurance that worse terms
amy not be imposed if we acccpt?" We
think we have, in the declarations Of their
newspapers, that these measures are fnalttv.
But still. again, the Governor falls into the
error we have already noticed, when he speaks
of acceptance" One thing is certain, that
if we do not-not acccpt-tuithfully carry
out the programme presented in the law, worse
terms will assuredly be imposed, and the State
either tcrritorialized or parcelled out to her
ncighbors-hcr lands confscatcd, her whole
people disfranchised leaving to them only
the refuge of expariahon.
We affirm that this would inevitably be the
result, if the people of South Carolina should
exhibit any contumacy about a cheerful
compliance with the law of Congress and NO
further affirm, that the people Of South Caro-
lima arc not prepared to be drawn again into
the mnclstron Of national politics, They have
certain duties to pcrform-certain forward
movements to take, and we believe they will
be performed aud taken without any reference
to the Democratic or any other party at the
North. The idea of reaction there, or of On.
teraning hope from any party there, is ob.
solete. We have trilcd too long with Our
best interest, in leaning upon such broken
reed and if every Northern State would go
as Connecticut, while we might feel that there
was reaction, yet we would earnestly trust
that, under no circumstances, would our pco.
pie be scduccd into the belief that party poll.
tics can ever benefit them In any point Of
view.
From our earliest acquaintance with South
Carolina politics we were always taught to re-
gard Gov. Perry as the champion of the Union,
in the midst of wicked and perv-rsc gene.
ration and, therefore, it is no more singular,
to day, to see secessionists anxious for the res
toration of the Union than to see Gov. Perry
giving the aid Of his counsel against such n
course. 1t is the first deviation from rigid
adhesion to Union principles that nc remem-
bcr in his political carcor and although he,
with Others, may be temporarily disfranehised
yet we think that calm reflection and dispas-
sionate judgment, so characteristic 'of Gov.
Perry, will yet induce him to cooperate with
our prominent citizens in securing, in the
most, and indeed tho only, practical mode,
our restoration as people to the political
rights and to our representation in Congress
as State Of tho Union. Let all our people,
whether Union or secession in their former
proclivities, unite and work heartily in this
great work and the end will be attained