The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1867-06-12
Letter from Hon. B. F. Perry.
ITO the Editors of the Columbia Picnic:


There is one important and vital fact
which should be remembered by those
who are going to vote for a Convention.
The military bill makes it obligatory on
the Convention to provide for unquallhed
negro suffrage in the state Constitution.
No discretion is left with the Convention,
to adopt or reject this odious feature.
They are not allowed to establish smpar-
tial suffrage, and require property or intel
ligence in the voter, whether white or
black. All must vote who are twenty.
one years old, whether or not they have
property, or can read and write, or are
white or black. This fundamental error,
this black ssTrojan horse,'' full Of strife
and woe, must be introduced into the State
Constitution. There is no help forit, if we
90 into Convention.
If the military bill left it discretionary
with the Convention TO form such Con-
stitution IS they, in their wisdom, might
see proper to adopt, then there would be
some excuse in voting for Convention.
But when ordered and required, in violation
of all right of self-government, to incorpo-
rate SO mischievous and degrading a fea-
ture in their Constitution, it does seem
that the people of South Carolina, prompt
ed by the spirit Of liberty, should cry out
sstouch not, handle not the unclean thing!"
They must know that twill be impossible
to maintain just, wise and permanent
republican form, of government where a
majority of the voters are ignorant, stupid
and demi-savage paupers. They ought to
see, too, that the peace and quiet OF the
State cannot be preserved where there are
two antagonistic races clothed with equal
political powers, and the inferior race su-
perior to it in numbers. They must come
in collision in their contests tor power. In
two-thirds of the Districts of South Car
DINA, the negroes have the majority of
voters. They may and will elect their
sherifs, clerks, ordinaries and tax-collect-
ers. They will send their own members
to the Legislature, and elect their own
Governor and members of Congress.
If We lived in monarchy, or were to
be continued under military rule, then both
races miglitbe properly governed and made
to do Justice towards each other. In a re-
public, the people are the sovereigns, and
they must be wise and uirtuous, or their
government will practice the most revolt
ing tyranny and oppression. Look at Mex
leo. where. they have had q republic found
ed on stupid, ignorant, mongrel popula-
tion. Their Government has been ho-hing
but succession of bloody revolutions and
cruel military usurpations. Without the
highest virtue and great intelligence on
the part of the masses of population, it is
impossible for republic to stand. Eng
land attempted once III 1910, but it was
melancholy failure, owing to the ignorance
and viciousness of the masses. France has
tried the experiment twice, and after wad-
ing through rivers Of blood, had to reek
repose in despotism. In both England and
France, at the time these efforts were
made, there were thousands distinguished
for their virtues and talents; but The great
masses were ignorant and rminfomed, and
were swayed by their passions and voices.
But how infinitely superior were those
masses to the freedmen of South Carolina.
We have toretaste ofnegro legisla-
ton, assisted by radical Ginning. in the
platform adopted at thdr Charleston
Convention. Before they have been al
lowed to cast a vote, or exercise the first
political privilege, they bddiy proclaim
thatpropeHy alone, and not PERSONS is to be
taxed. Remember, this avownl is publicly
made by those who have no property to be
taxed. In other words, the Negroes are to
pay no taxes towards the suppot of the
Government; but all taxes are tobe paid
by the white race! Next, they declare
that their children must be edmated at
our expense, and their aged ant intirm
parents must be supported by u! We
must support, too, their idle and vicious
who become paupers The heart, hale
negro man, who makes his hunGed or
two hundred dollars per annun, and
spends it foolshly, must not be ta4d one
cent to educate his own children or sup
port his own father and mother! They
declare, also, that the lands must be dlvi-
ded into small tracts, and that it not
good policy for one man to own alarge
landed estate. In other words, evcY ne
gro must have home. The ways and
means of getting that home will D ex
planned hereafter, in the conventlo or
Legislature.
1t would really seem, from thispro-
gramme, that the black race are to DC
sort of aristocracl in South Cardna
They are, by their superior number, to
have the reins OF Government III ncir
hands, and elect all the State and Disict
.hsc"ra tn make all of our laws, AIT to
be exemp.ed from taxation, ike Is: .;;:@
noblssse Of France, prior to their reslu-
ton in 1890. The white man must citl-
yate his lands, pay the taxes of the 0v-
ernment, and obey the laws made by he
freedmen! This is what friends oi On
vention are innocently preparing 'or
themselves and posterity What wese
can Black Republican "Rump congr's