The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1867-05-15
I,otter from Ex-HoVellor Perry,
~ he Editors Of the COlumJiA PhTnir:


i.otter from Ex-Hovol1lor Perry,
10 he Editors Of the Cv!umJiu Phrnit:
The rcoplc of South Carolina were pur.
suadcd six OF seven years ago, that their
only hope Of maintaining Arr;cn, slavery
was III the destruction Of the American
Union and the formation Of Il Southern Con-
icdcracy. J. did not think 50, and raised
my warning voice against this fatal dclu-
sion. | said to them HAT slavery was satcr
in the Union than i, could be ia II separate
Gonrcdcrncy ] told them that the cNtiuc-
ton of the Union would hc The dca,h-kncll
Of slavery. They srurncd my counsel, and
maaly rushed into n bloody civil war, which
ended in the abolition OF slavery. Now
they are being pursuadcI, again, that the
only way to save their lands frcn the con-
fscaton of Congress, is in adopting the
provisions OF the military bill, giving uni
ycrs Il suffrage to the negro, ana disiian
c,sing their leading public men. 1t is with
~ sal heart that sec Indications, all over
the State. OF II preparation tn adopt this
second dclueion, which will prove more fa-
t,l TO the State than The first has been. 1t
Is true, they lost, by the first, their proper
ty in slaves, and involved their country in
n long and bloody war, which desolatcd the
State aud sacrificed thousands Of their most
gallant sons; tits rucalso. that they were con-
qucrcd, and have been placed under Mill
tary government. But now thoy arc going
to sacrifice their honor as a people aud lose
their land into the bargain! They are 60
ing to enfranchisc 80, 600 black votes, and
surrender the political power Of tho State
into the hands Of the negroes The incvi-
tnblo result Of this deusion and criminal
folly will DO tho establishment Of the most
atrocous government and horrible state Of
society that II civilized people were ever
subj hjootci TO.
Already the negro watch cry in Virginia
and elsewhere is, LANDS for the landlrss !"
.'Homcs for tho housclosS!' "Political
e1ua!'ty TO all men, regardless of caste or
color! What avail will 10000 whitc votes
have in South Carolina, with this watch cry
ringing at tho polls? 1t is against nature
and reason to suppose that an ignorant and
lebascd majority will not pursue their own
interest, regardless Of right, and carry out
thai%wicked purposes. whatever they may
be. 1t is possible to restrain them At first
before they acquire concert Of action.
Hence tho importance of defeating tho call
Of II convention at the first election, before
this ma jority is organized and cmboldcnci
hy agitation and evil counscls. 1t cannot
be controlled afterwards, but will make
South Carolina political and social pande-
monum. Is there al instance III tho world s
history or class OF men, invested with po-
litical power, who did not unite to promote
their own interests?
just rs sure rs general suffrage is given
TO the negro in South Carolina, hc will feel
his numerical strength, and sooner or later,
undcr the vile lead Of Black Republican
cmissarics, seizo the political power of the
State, md exercise II to opprcss aud plum.
dor the white race There are thousands
of nnprincipled white men among us, who
will unite their destiny with the negro 70,
the sake of spoils and plumber. They will
easily be persuaded, and persuade them.
selves, that il is right and proper that the
lands Of tho STATE should be divided out
equally amongst all of her citizens. Every
one should havc home-the poor freed
lnan rs we'll as his former rich master
Having the power in their hands, with this
belief, i; is folly and stupidity tc suppose
they will not execute it. They must serve
on Ilurics and hold Office, ride with you ant
your wiyos and daughters in the cars, ant
cat with you at tho hotel, and sit with yol
IN !hc church. All This, and ten times
more, you must endure from your black po
litical masters. And can it be TINT th
pride of Carolina has sunk so low, and bee.
~ degraded, rs to vote for all this voluntari
lg, for the purpose Of getting back iu'o tha
union which her ci,izcns pruicsScd TO bat