The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1867-06-12
The Vari ous Issues.
Hops STATION, May 27, 1897

est the 'etters Of ex Cav. Perry on tho 20.
li.ical situation Of our State They had
the greater weight on me on account Of
our political aiIlbities snd sympatbies. and
because Of my admiration for his cullivsi
tea talen,s and manly efforts to preserve
bis consistency and maintain his psrsonal
honor. There arc many things which he.
ut,ers which meet ~ith acceptance but,
on the poiat Of voting Convention" or
mo Convention" there are just grounds
for difference Of opinion. Grsa. and
grave questions are Involved in this decis
ion. Our situation is new and critical
one. and it must he met in some form.
Now. what is tho best form for which to
struggle 7 Here lies ths rub, and it be
comes evety citizen /, think seriously on
this matter, and wake up to an energetic
discharge Of his duty. Confscation and
it's concomi,ants como in view Of all par
ties corcetned. Stevens bill, offered al,
ready to Congress. il to he considered at
the regular session, in December next. Hs
regards Il mild one in its provisions g;
and so It is, when we consider the extreme
feelings Of its author. do not dread
this so much, as it is comparatively mild,
and may not become A law. We are adj
v-ftised through the papers that the gent
eral and peaceable acceptance OF the plan
Of reconstruction proposed no0 by Con.
press, will surely defeat the measure there.
This is in The future and is to be put on
trial. 1f the outside States reject this
plan of recoistruction,s sand continue to
strneple for their former constitutional
status on the suffrage question, ahere is
the chance or hope Of success ? Will the
party in power, struggling for lease OF
power for years TO come, yield their posi-,
ton, or meet US on milder or compromise
groundst Will the Democratic party be
able or willing to do anything for us in
this directioni No!s To get better
terms bsI,eve TO he u,tSily hopeless.
We will notice mex, the work OF recon.
struc,ion in progress in the Sate. and the
probable results The machinery for the
registration Of the voters. and for holding
the forthcoming elections, will he put in
| operation in due time, hv our citizens OF
strangers. All the cnunsellors Of the peo
pie see the importance Of urging ,hoss
who can to register, and not nv default
disfranchise themselves But NJ. Perry,
then, counsels TO vote "No Convention"
a. remedy against confscstion and its
concomitants, nv State conventions and
legislatures. I propose a different logic
Of reasoniog, on the admitted facts and
grounds OF danger, on this branch OF the
general subject He assumes that the
newly made class Of voters Lrmhers CO..
900. against 10000 whites. Upon trial,
this may prove a mistake. IL all register
who. we think. are not dsianchisei. OF
the number. really. no one can vet be Ger
tain. But, for the sake of the argument.
admit the correciness of the estimate. and
then add TO IL his other assertion. "Thev
arc going to- enfranchise 60 900 black
votes. and surrender the political power
of the State into the hands OF the nepros.
What avail will 40 900 white votes have
in South Carolina with this ws'ch-cry
(con6sca'ion) ringing at the polls There
are thousands OF unprincip'ed white men
among rs who will unite their destiny
Nth the negro for the sake OF the spois
and plunder." Alas can this ba so i--
do not want TO think Of it. Suppose
4 u
leave anv possible chance the results pref.
dic'ed and TO be dreaded ty us, by at.
tempting to vote mo CONVENTION 7" [
hold that the assumed 10000 new voters
will he urged to register, and ,viN register
which enfranchises themf already. Nor
do ! think that manv OF them can bs
persuaded not to vote for a convention. -
Many Whites will also resi.ter, (and all
who can should. and majority OF them,
1assume. will vote Convention" II is
impossible 10 prevent favorable vots for
= convention. What, then, are the non.
reRisie'ed and non voters to gain by th.s
defau't I Better look 10 consequences
here Even IL the call OF a convention
could be defeated. could the STATE gain
ANYTHING hy il, especially ss. We believe
All tho Other States will vote for convsn.
tionsi In view Of all these facts and oro.
liabilities, nv humble conclusion is, that
all who can should register without fail,
vote Tor a eonvsntion. and take an active
interest 10 choosing as many wor.hy dol.
egates as possible, who are hons.t, iust,
and have an apprecistive regard tor the
present and future interests OF the coun.
try, as :he very bes, ws can do ia our sit,
us'ioo. But our rights. under the old
Constitution, consistency and honor ara
held ont to our view, prominently. Alas 1!
the Old theories and the old constitutional
argumen" are played out, and We threw
down our club Of tmmps when We sur.
rendsrad, and csms forward and took the
oath of amnesty, under the proclaim stion
Of President johnson. We have nov 10
ac, N view OF q new political condition.
which requires the exercise Of wisdom and
= suitable Consistency, too.
I 0asu -