The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-04-19
COLUMBIA.
Friday Morning, April 10, 1867.
Governor Perry,s Letter.

The communication that we pub
1ished in yesterdays issue will attract
attention, from the high position
which the writer has occupied, for
many years, in the public affairs of
the State, and on account of his po-
litical antecedents-being always an
earnest, consistent Union, man, and
opposing notification and secession.
There7is no public man in our State
\ who has q clearer record for political
consistency and devotion to the
Union. This record doubtless induced
the President to appoint him. Proyi-
sional G Governor, to direct and con-
troll the measures. then deemed neces-
sary to restore the State to the Union.
The President failed in his policy;
and the last constitutional amend
mentt was submitted to the States for
ratification, andreiected by the South
.ern States. TO this course, Governor
Perry advised, through the columns
of this journal, and he now .proffers
couhselt to the people as to theh) a.
tion under the military, reeonsttuc7;
,tion law.
We regret exceedingly that at this
juncture of our political affairs, Gov.
Perry considered it his duty to lay
before the people any arguments cal
culated to produce the impression on
their minds that they ought not to
organize their State Government in
conformity with the provisions of the
military bill. The constitutional
amendment, it is true, was opposed
by nine-tenths of the people, and
rejected with "scorn and indigna-
ton" by Southern Legislatures. But
did that rejection, with remarkable
unanimity, throughout the Southern
States, bring to them any easier
terms? Strange to soy" the Go
vernon writes, "that there are many
persons whose high sense Of honor
would not let them adopt the consti-
tutional amendment, but are now
urging the people to voluntarily
swalloY the military bill, regardless
of honor, principle and consistency" :"
We do not see anything strange, "
nor anything at variance with con-
sistency, that those who counselled
rejection. OF what was considered a
harsh amendment of the Constitu-
hon, should now advise the people to
obey law, passed under all the forms
at least of the Constitution. The
former zee had Tie po,cer 10 reject; the
latter demands obedience, and obey
ing it involves neither 'honor, prin-
ciple nor consistency" This is no
argument at all, and we sincerely
regret that the hackneyed phrases of
Swallowing" anything degrading
should be used in discussing a grave
question, that involves not only the
political interests of the State and
people. but their progress in material
prosperity. The people of South
Carolina have come face to face with
the reality of their present situation,
and we do not believe that, if ever
their great political leaders of the
past were to talk about honor. an6
dignity, and principle and all thai
sort of thing, they would follow theil
,counsels. The first movement is, to
get restored to the Union; the next
to recuperate and develop their re
sources.
We have not the hope that any ad
vantage will result to the Southern
States from the injunction agains
the law now pending before the Su
preme Court, which Governor Perry
evidently entertains. The Chief Jus
tice has already decided that tn
President cannot be made q party t,
these bills of complaint, and that h
is bound to execute q law of Con
gress without let or hindrance from
the Judicial Department of Go
vernment; and although it may b