Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1867-05-11
= Q L I T I O ~ /,
Letter from Ex- Governor Perry.


To the Editors Of Mc COlumLiu YAouic:
The people of South Caroline were pcrsua,
ded SIX or seven years ago. thnt their on'y
hope of maintaining African slavery was in
tho destruction OF ti" .snrrican Union and
the formation Of Il Southern Cnnfc,leracy. !
did not think So and raise my warming voice
n"sl"'' t,''e "tl a"lnsion, sid IT, them that
slavery was <rt". IL the .pn tIlan it could
as in . scnarase confedcracy. told them
tll;it the extinction Of the t;non would be the
adeat''.knell death OF slavery. They spnrncd my
counsel, and mady rushed into IL blon,ly civil
war, which ended in the abolition of slavery.
Now they are being persuaded, again, that the
only way to save their lands from The cnuGs.
cation of Congress, is in adopting the provis
ions of the military bill, giving universal suf.
frage to the negro, and DISTINGUISHING their
lending public men. 1t is with ii sad heart,
that see indications, all over the State of II
preparation to adopt this second d.lusinn.
Which will prove more fatnl to the State than
the first has been. 1t is true. they lost by
the first, their property in sl,v 8, and involy-
cd their country in Il long aud bloody war,
which dcsolated the State and sacrificed thnus.
ands of their most gallant sous it is tr,,c.
also, that they were conquered, and have h"r,
placed under military rnvrru,nrn IN!
now they are goingto sacrifice their honor
q people and lose their lands into the bargain
They arc going to cnir,nrhiSe 60 600 black
votes, and surrender the prIi,inaI power o,
the State iutO the hands a.! the negroes The
inevitable result of this drluSion and criminal
folly will hc the establishment Of The nos,
atrocioua government and horrible state Of so.
ciety that civilized people were ever Suhjuc.
ted TO-
Already the negro watchcry in Virginia
and elsewhere is, Lands for the ,nd!,.Ss ~
" Homes for the housclrsS ~ Political
equality tO all men, regardless o.! caste or col
orr What avail will 10000 wl,ite votes
hnvc in South Carolina, with this watcl.cr
ringing at tho polls? 1t is against natu G
md rc,soa to suppose that an ignornt and
debased majority will not pursue their own
interest regardless of right, and carry out
their wicked purposes, whatever they may be.
1t is possible to restrain them at first, before
they acquire concert of action. Hence the
Importance of defeating the call of conycn.
ton at the first election. before this majority
is organized and cmbodencd by agitation and
eyia ceunscs. 1t cannot be controlled after.
wards, but will make South Carolina polti.
cal and social pandcmonium. Is there an in
stance in the worlds history of class of men
invested with political power, who did no,
Mnite to promote their own interest?
Just rs sure as general suffrage is given tc
the negro, in South Carolina, he will feel his
numerical strength, and sooner or later, under
the vile lead Of Black Republican cmissarics
seize the political power Of the State, and cx
crcso it to opprcss and plumber tho white race
There are thousands of unprincplcd whit.
men amongst us, who will unite their destiny
with the negro for the sake Of spoils and plum
der. They will cnsily he persuaded, and per
,suade themselves, that it is right and propc
TINT the lands of the State should be divide,
out equally amongst all Of her citizens. Ev
cry one should have home the poor freed
man as well as his former ricl, master. IIav
ing the power in their hands, with this belief
dtis folly aud stupidity to suppose they will No
execute 1t. They must serve on jurics AM
hold Office ride with you and your wives an
daughters in tho cars, and eat with YOU Mt tn
ihotal, and ait with you at church. All thi.
N;and ten timcs more, you must endure fro,
5your. black political masters, And oan It i