The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-08-14

The purposes Of that Convention, that of tsrc.
forming the State Constitution und rcstorin.
civil authority in the Sintc. un,lor the Gonsti-
tu'ioh nhl laws Of tho United States" And
III sill more comprehensive terms doc, lle slate
The purpose nu'l power Of the Convention when
he speaks Of it as having tho power "or alter
ing or amen'ling the present Constitution or re-
modelling nnd making n new one, which will
conform 10 the great changes which have taken
place in the State; nnd bc more in nccordnnco
with Republican Principles and Equality of
Representation"
Again, i'll Ills message oi October -, 1868,
Governor PERRY says that lie did not derive
his authority ''from the Legislature or the peo-
plc Of the State" That he was selected to or
ganizc State government for South Carolinn;
nnd have her restored TO all her civil or polti-
cAl rights as member of the Federal Union.
The mode and the temper with which this was
TO be accomplished was acknowledged, when ho
approved and commended the people of tho
State "who had accepted the dccrccs Of God
and submitted themselves 10 the dire fortunes
OF war" Governor 0nn adopted tho teachings
of Governor PEnnY as true; and said the war
Ind decided, among other things, TINT "thc
doctrine Of secession, which was held to be or
thodox i'll tho Statc Rights School Of politics.
is now exploded for all practical purposes"
Thus then spoke the State; aud thus spoke
the men whose voice was that of the State
And when the StRtc has thus spoken, anu when
they who were its representative men hnyo thus
spoken, by what authority does any one refer
us to the political doctrine Of the State in 1860
MS the test Of consistency; and, therefore, of
the propricty of political conduct; when that
doctrine was rcnounccd by the State in its Con-
vention i'll 1865, and considered by those who
could speak for il as ''explodeL."
Who, then, eau, with any fituess, ignore the
purposes and dOings of the Convention of 1865,
and go back 10 these things, which wcro undonc
in Tint Convention, TO test now the consistency
| OF its citizens in that conduct which they must
| adopt, in what Governor PERRY called tho "new
and extraordinary condition Of the State. ~ If
there aro such, rs we presume from what hns
been so much heard OF about consistency, there
must be sumo; why do they not openly declare
that they are not bound by the action of that
Convention; nor will regard its remuneration
Of the doctrine Of States sovereignty? II
there nre any such, why do they not declare
that they adhere TO the opinion they formerly
entertained; and refuse Ia render now more
| obedience TO the Government of The United
states than ihoy did from 1860 to 1865? II
there nre any such, md such there mny he,
although we do not know them, we can better
n their ,vt,nn :,
aud nvowcdly proclaim TO the people that thoy
still advocate and will maintain and adhere to
tho samo doctrines they profcsscd in 1860.
But with NIL Of those who publicly profess to
have acquiesced III the results Of the war ;rc
| suits which have been accepted, and can only
be accepted as involving in the overthrow of the
Government of these States aud the aubjcciion
of the people, the overthrow also of the politi-
cal opinions under which they we're led into
the war; who yet nlso declare that they have
and do cherish ms rules for their guidance in
political conduct, the same political opinions
they formerly maintained; VIC feel sure That in
this there is too much OF Inconsistency, to justi-
fy them in taunting others with the same uc-
cusntion Have they not ncccptcd their stun-
tion rs which hns involved the complete
chnnge Of the political doctrines they formerly
professed, aud created for them new duties, the
per rformance Of which hus been enforced by
the highest obligations; and disregard of
which would now be considered MS character
lied in mild terms when it is said to be m
inconsistency! We speak plainly, hut far be it
from MS TO speak unkindly With what has been
tho r"ni' with what is tho rrsn-"i. Will rha,
may be the future we have will, our people
sympathy too deep, to cherish other feelings
than those Of regret for tho mistakes into Which
they may fnll. If, as was well suid by Mr.,
PORTER, our Lieutenant Governor, '.the great
obstacles VIC have to encounter are in our
pride and prcjudices, in feelings nn,l opinions
that arc traditional with u.s." By the snmc ex-
cellcnt man we have been told that .our people
have pledged anew their faith to the Govern
ment Of The United Statcs. This is matter of
honor, md they will well and truly redeem
their faith"
We trust that The question Of consistency is
thus placed in its true light; that the proper
tosts have been explained. Aud tho further
consideration of it wo propose to take along
with us, Ill n review of tho advice md counsel
which Governor PERRY has given to the people
OF the Snte; advice which, however, full of
honesty, is much more full of mischief