The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1867-05-23
Letter from Hon. B p Perry.
To the Editors Coiumbin Pkenix:

To the Editors Coiumbin PkGnir:
II is most extraordinary. indeed. and will
be as terrific in its results as it Is now
strange aud wonderful, to see an educated,
refined and gallant people seeking repose
and protection from appr-h ended political
evils under the government and control OF
thrir former slsves--an inferior r..ce, ut
terly ignorant and debasedi Thereis moth
ing in the history Of all the nations of the
earth, for the last ak thousand years, com
parable to It, in folly and madness. Future
ages will regard u as the most remarkable
fatuity that ever possessed any people.
What q change has come over the spirit
and feelings Of South Carolina within the
last seven yearsi The Federal Union was
then benificient republican and eonstitu
tional. There was not an Act OF Congress,
for eight previous years. which any one
complained OF as unjust or oppressive. We
were as happy an,! prosperous as q people
could be. And yet that Union was hated
and despised! The people rose up en- masse
and solemnly determined to rid themselves
of It., or die in the attempt! Now, that
Union has trampled the Constitution in the
dust, violated every republican principle
and heaped on us tyranny and oppression,
which, it's Chief Magistrate declares. no peo
pie. speaking the English lar guage. have
ever horne. fIr the last Ave hundred years |
And the people OF South Carolina have so
changed, within seven short years that
they are now clamorous TO get back iato
that Union, ani hug 10 tyranny and op
prossion to their hosoms--to HEX the rod
that has smote thsp to the earth and deco
latad their State In order to hasteu the IL
return, they are not only willing to Civ up
all the rights Of their State-ail constitu.
tionnl and republican principles. and se'f
govenment-bu. 10 transfer the Govern
ment OF their once proud aId chivnlris Stut
into the h ,nds Of the negroesi Intelligence
virtue and refinement are to lie ruled 10y
Ignorance aud haseness! The wea,th'>o
the State to be taxed and piuRdered by
race Of paupers. who will portion ou, til,
lands and vote themselves honest eads an,
whose legislation will be such as to bring
eventually, sooner. or later, a war of races
in which on or the other must ba exter
minated. Whilst writing have been tol,
that eosJfsedtion was boldly avoNed by tn
negro convention which assembled il
Charleston last week.
IL IL grsa, mistake to suppose that. b.
all this humiliation and degradation W
shall get back into the Union, or be reli-v
ell Of military government. Congess ha
given, no such guarantee. and leading rad
calls assert the contrary. The Union vi
not he restored ill after the next Prrsider
.tial eleetion--the votes OF the Sonther
States are not wanted 10 that election.
military government, or q standiog army
In South Carolina, after the eufrsnehis,
ment Of the negro. will be absolutely nece
sary. To preserseihe peace and keep dow
the oppressed white race. nothing els
will do H.. lns.ead of h.iug relieved iroI
the expressions Of Congress and h.ilitar
rule, we shall nave called into existence,
our own votes, a tl,i'd power. more od,or
and revolving more gal ing and desiructiy
than either OF the other two. ,
No one who reflects can mistake the pm
pose Of the radical patty-the cole purpo,
which they have In view--and to aeeon
plish which they are attempting TO mo,
heaven and earth. They have been IL
fueneed In their recent atrocious. barba
ous legislation much more by the hope
continuing and perpetuating their power
The Government, and their existence a.