The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-05-04


meetings of the colored people in this
State, the speeches of the intelligent
among them, the resolutions that
have been adopted at all such meet
ings, and to meetings elsewhere, q
reference to which we made in an
editorial in yesterdays issue, and
respectfully ask him where is "the
shade OF shadow" of foundation for
these visionary apprehensions, and
we must add. unjust allegations,
against the race alluded to? Political
rights and privileges have been con-
ferred upon the late slaves of the
South, but, at the most, it has been
in very fow exceptionable cases they
have intimated, by word or declared
intent, any action Of the kind, 80 in
judiciously brought to their notice in
this letter. On the contrary, as oil
we have published in this journal
goes to prove, the freedmen under
stand their true position, appreciate
their newly acquired political rights,
but in almost every instance, have
declined to step beyond the line of
demarcation, either in political or
social point of view, which their own
good sense has distinctly defined.
Nor will they ever transgress in this
respect, Unless such teachings as that
of Hnnnicutt and men of that stripe
are allowed to have full sway; or un-
less unwise suggestions and the ex-
preston of unfounded apprehensions
may instil . different feeling, and
evoke the very action which these
suggestions would naturally awaken
and lead to i'll the minds of the class
referred to: But this dreaded result,
as we have already intimated, we be-
lieve to he only the mere shadow of
fancied coming evil, which will never
be realized in substance, as we have
endeayored to give evidence Of by
unmistakable demonstrations. We
come to tho conclusion. then, that it
is Governor Perry. md not we or
those who think With us, who has
coniured up ''raw head and bloody
bones" to ''scare" the people Into
their own ruin and degradation.
The fear expressed by Governor
Perry that there are many white per-
sons in South Carolina who will vote
for u convention under the hope of
its repudiating the indebtedness of
the State, is equally unfounded as
the apprehension we have just
alluded to. Governor Perry may
have better means OF information
than we possess, but our sincere con-
viction is, that not one ont of ten OF
the white people Of South Carolina
ever thought of such q disgrateful
measure, and we do not believe that
one-tenth of this tenth-if there be
so many would. attempt to ''infu-
ence the negro vote to unite with
them" in carrying out such project;
and still less do we believe that any
portion of the white citizens Of this
State would, in return for this action,
"unite with the negroes in parcelling
ont the lands of the State" We
speak plainly when We say that this
intimidating counsel to induce the
people to vote "no convention, is
only IL scare-crow; but, at the same
time, we conceive it to be slander-
GUS allegation against the citizens OF
South Carolina, which is unwarranted
in fact, and the publication of which
is to be deeply regretted.
We might pursue the subject mat.
ter of Governor Perry's letter still
further, but our limited space forbids
it. We entertain neither personal
nor political hostility to Mr.. Perry;
but we felt it to be Our duty to ex-
press our dissent to the views he has
expressed, and the issue which these
views suggest and prompt to our peo-
pie, rs unwise in conception and dan
gerous to our future welfare as n peo-
NIA L. l. L