Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-09-10
GOV. PERRY, OF S. G. ON RECON-
STRUCTION.
A Vigorous and Able Letter Oh the
Situation.
Hard Sense and Hard Facts for the Peo-
pIe

10 the Editors Of the Columbia Phenir.:
The action of the Rump Congress the other
day, in extra session, ought to convince every
one that the Radical party have no intention OF
restoring the Union until the Southern States
are thoroughly Radicaized, and will elect sena-
tors and members of the House OF that party.
The Kentucky representatives IN num-
ber, and all Democrat ats-have been denied their
seats in Congress, simply because they were
not Republicans Ii the Southern States, un-
der the reconstruction policy OF President John
son, had elected Radicals, and given any assu-
rance of their adhesion to that party, no one
can suppose that their representatives would
have been excluded from Congress. In the
fall of 1865, one of the first things done by Con
gress was to purge the Senate and exclude
Democrats enough from that body to give them
two thirds majority.
The question will be for the people OF the
Southern States to decide in the coming cleo
tions, whether they prefer to remain as they
are, or by calling conventions adopting negro
suffrage and electing Radicals, go back into the
Union. What advantage to the South will it
be to increase the Black Republican majority in
Congress? How can we be benefited by
strengthening the hands of our oppressors Z
What interest can We possibly have In being
represented in Congress by traitors to the
as Judas Iscariots in politics? 1t is sad and
melancholy reflection on human nature, to see
men who inaugurated the war, and were going
to die in the last ditch, now seeking to go back
into the Union stripped Of every principle and
right which they vowed to defend, with Black
Republican collars around their necks. How
disgusting to see base, unprincipled white men
seeking office and position by hypocritically
panderng to the Ignorant criminal and ruinous
prejudices and aspirations OF the negro! |
would greatly prefer seeing every office in the
State filled by honest intelligent negroes, than
by such unprinclpled and shameless men,
+ ,rnce said to President Johnson in reply to
d;SnatcS sent me, about Union men being ex-
olodnJ from office under the Provisional Gov
ernment that [ had made it rule through life
to confide in the politics OF no one who was not
morally honest and trustworthy In private llte,
and that nv experience had taught me the TACT
that a man who had no moral principle could
have no nolitical principle. Hence it is that
we see those who were foremost in secession,
whilst secession was in the ascendant and the
road to honor and distinction, power and posi-
ton. now fawning at the feet OF the oppressor.
They care not whom they serve, or what prin'
ciples they advocate, provided they can pro,
mote their own selfish views. But they would
even have us believe that the great interests o1
| the country were foremost in their thoughts.
Immediately after it was known that slavery
| would have to be abolished, l expressed the
opinion that it would be wise and prudent tc
| permit negroes, who had acquired a property
and educational qualification, to vote in all the
Southern States. | thought this would be q
safety valve for political society. 1t would graf
ify and appease the intelligent and most in1u
entail of that class, and make them good citi
zens, instead of being disturbers Of the peace
It would hold cut an inducement to all who hao
any disposition or wish to rise above the com
mon herd And no evil could result from it
as [ suppose very few, comparatively, wouio
ever be able to attain the privilege, and wher
they did they would always vote with the higher
and better educated class Of whites | ex
pressed similar opinion many years ago, il
regard to recapturing slaves | thought it vel
for society that when slave had acquired sucl
a love for freedom as to prompt him to flee tt
the Northern States, and possessed intelligence
sufficient to make bis escape, he ought not tt
be brought back. In this way the bold, dar
ing, and reckless-they who were most likely
to disturb the public peace-would be out O
the country, and there would be greater safet.
from those left behind.