The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1867-05-29
ANDERSON s. Co. WEDNESDAY, MAY 80 1857. M

people Poop as.if they had rights and liberties
Which they would lose by adopting GER
tain course Of action, when in fact our
rights are ignored complelely-we now
being under military ruIe-and the poor
privilege is only allowed us to act with
those who were 4once our slaves gand who
were made our political equals, notIbyour
will, as the following section of the bill
will showl:s -
ae.SEo. 6: That until the people ofssaid
rebel States shall,,beb by law admitted to
representation in Congress of the United
States. any civil government which may
exist therein shall be deemed provisional
only, and .in,all respects subject 10 the
paramountauthority of the United States
ut any time to abolish, modify, continue
or sapersede the same; and in all cleo,
tions to any office under such provisional
government, all persons shall be entitled
to vote under the provisions of the nth
section of this act" -,
We think this question narrowed down
to one point; either to take the terms and
act under them, or refuse them entirely.
No half way acceptance can avail US now I;
we have not the power to defeat the will
OF Congress, and the man who counsels
inaction now--covert hostility-is an1ene-
my to the State, and should such counsels
prevail, we shall all be treated as enemies
tothe United States, when Congress re-
assemblies. --sisi -.
From the Camden Journal =
Gov. Perry has spublished letter in his
worst style and worst temper, urging the
peoplelot the State to vote against con-
ventioi7. Wc2can sympathize with and
fully comprehend the bitter disappoint-
ment andSallsits train of irritations suf-
tered by this gentleman at having snatch
ed:tfrom his grasp, in the very moment
of their, fruiti0n, ithe luscious harvest OF
his labor and his hopes. But how can
Mr.: Perry fail to see in, the political doc
trines ot the day, consolidation.and uni
versal suffrage, the logical sequence OF
the ideas which placed him SO long, so
honestly .and4so tearlessly, in opposition
te the old South Carolina Democracy. :.
u But, have to, o,do with The future and
not.the past - Mr.. Perry says that we
are led by our fears Of confscation to
adopt a policy which will lead to confs-
c:ai,tion and the surrender OF the State
Government into the hands Of the negro
race. We think there is no reason to fear
confscalion in either contingency. Con-
gress has not the power TO con6scate
lands, nor has o State or q people under
the constitution. Article Fifth Of the
amendments OF the constitutionsof 1889,
declares that no person shall be deprived
of life, liberty or property, without due
process Of, law. So long as we remain
under the military law OF conquest, TO
whcli permanent condition MIR. Perry
would consign us by his counsels, we are
not under the constitution and lot pro-
tcctcd by its provisions, but the moment
W.. enter5intO State GuvcrnmenI legally
authorized, the mantle OF It's prUtectloi Is
thrown over us, and no person can be de-
prived oil l.s lille, liberty or property. but
Dr. due process of law. 1t Is for this pro
lection, that we enter earnestly upon the
work Of reconstlLction, ON terms accorded
us. Upon u conviction OF treason, 1t Is
true, tue property Of tile few unpardoned
rebels in the State, might be forfeited to
Ghe UniLed States, tor the lives OF the Of
renders, but this would hardly be sufficient
to excite the cupidity OF the lawless in
reconstructed State, while the readicst
way to imcite TO the prosecution OF such
;;lses, would be to adopt the contumacious
course prescribed by Governor Perry.
Now, ii Mir. Perry has any reasonable
ground to hope that the State can be
carried ut the next election agu;nsta coll
yentioa,, how much more reason isthere
tor hoping, as we do, that we can carry
tic election tor members OF q convention
upoll Il sound and safe platform, which
will secure just and moderate constitu-
zion and government, offering due protec-
ton to ull the people Of tlc State. Mr..
Perry twills the quondam scccssionists
with leading off in favor OF convention.
We accept the imputation, and thank
him for the valuable testimony he thus
bears. TO the wisdom and moderation OF
that long-suHering aud much revied peo-
plc-uf wholn some day it will be said
.shese are they who come out OF great
trbul;tion."
The Abbeville Press, ono of the faircst
papers of the State commenting on Major
Perry's second letter. says;
.Ex- Governor Perry has addressed
another letter to the people of the State,
in which he reiterates tho sentiments OF
his former letter, and even greater earn.
estness and feeling No one could feel
more sersibly than ourselves the injustice
OF the present military measure, or the
dangers which threaten US from universal
negro sutfra ge, but the argument OF Gov.
Perry has only served to impress US the
moro, with tile conviction that our only
hope consists in accepting the terms which
they propose, "lest worse evil befall US.
Ii unlimited negro suffrage is to be depre
.,I ,v,ar hn, top papot hV the slI ffr. ire