The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-05-16
VIOLENT LETTER FROM Ex-Goy. PERRY.


Ex-Gov B. F. Perry has addressed let
ter to the Columbia Phgnie, advising every
body to vote against ConVentlon.e lie
says
Just as sure as general suffrage is given
to the negro, in South Carolina he will feel
his numerical strength, and sooner or later,
under the vile lead of black Republican
emissaries, seize the political power of the
State, and exercise 1t to Cypress and plum
der the white race. There are thousands of
unprincipcd white men among us, who will
unite their destiny with the negro for the
sake of spoiIs and plumber They will cas-
lily be persuaded, and persuade themselves,
that it is right and proper that the lands OF
the State should be divided out equally
among all of her citizens. Every one
should have a home-the poor freedman as
we'll as the former rich master. Having the
power in their hands. and with this belief,
it is folly and stupidity to suppose they Will
not execute it. They must serve on Jurlcs
and hold office, ride with you and your
wives and daughters in the cars, amt eat
with YOU at the hotel, and sit with you IN
the church All this, and ten times more,
YOU must endure from your black polltl-
cal matters And can it be that the pride
of Carolina has sunk so low, and been so
IVA
tarily, for the purpose of getting back ln-
to that Union which her citizens professed
to hate and despise so cordially a few
years since? Are they willing to go to
the polls and cast their vote for Con-
vention, with this destiny staring them in
the face, in order to save their lands from
confiscation =? No. They will be voting
the ultimate confscation of their lands
and their political rights as surely as they
are voting away their honor as men and
Carolinians.
Better, far better, to remain as you are
under the military rule of your conquerors,
and await their returning sense of justice.
l feel assured that nothing but mistaken
appeal to base fear, and that dastardly virtue,
called prudence, can work sacred so wonderful
change in the public sentiment of South
Carolina. And it is melancholy to see the
people-a proud, gallant people-sacred in
to their own ruin and degradation by the
false cry of contiscation, like the consump-
tive lunatic, who had such a terror of death
that he butted his brains out against the
walls of his cell to avoid it. In order to
save our lands from Congressional confsca-
ton, we are persuaded to let the negroes
parcel them out among themselves.
X x X 4
There is no danger of confiscation by Con-
be superior to the negro in honesty, but they
have not the same motive to vote division
of the lands. They will get none of them
man is not so likely to rob or steal for an
other as for himself But is it not better to
be robbed and plundered by Congress than
by convention of South Carolina? AS
wicked as Congress is, the members may
have some regard for the opinion of the
world. They may, too, have some appre-
hension of agrarianism at home.
1 greatly fear there are many white per-
sons in South Carolina who will vote for a
Convention, under the hope of its repudia-
ting the Indebtedness of the State. This
class may influence the negro vote to unite
with them, and then, in return, they can
unite with the negro in parceling out the
er. Stay law frst-repudiation next and
the follows a division of the lands and an
equal apportionment of property amongst
all persons. And last of all, the honest,
hard working, industrious and prudent class
must support the idle, dissipated, extrava-
giant and roguish class.
Who cares to he represented in Congress
by negroes, black Republicans, or perjured
Southernors? All others are excluded by
the iron-clad OATH And this is the great
boon South Carolina is to receive for her
voluntary abandonment Of honor, and prin-
ciple and constitutional liberty We are
to be represented in Congress by men whom
we despise, and who will only increase the
black Republican majority in that body;
while at home we shall have Legislature
composed of negroes and their vile represen-
tatives
Congress has left its discretionary with
the people of South Carolina whether to call
a convention or not. They have ordered
registration of voters and an election, and
authorized every one to indorse on his tick
ct Convention or No Convention There
fore, let every man who is not DISTINGUISHED,
as he values his life, and honor, and proper
ty, and the peace of society, go forward and
register their name, and then vote at the
election. indorsing on his ticket No Con-
vention.' In this way alone can we main
tain our honor, preserve the peace of society
prevent black suffrage and division of
ands among the negroes.
B. F. PERRY"