The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-08-14

the purposes Of that Conveion, that OF gre
forming the State Constitutn and restoring 7
civil authority in the State, der the Consti-
tuition and laws of the Unid States" And
in still more comprehensive TINS docs he state
the purpose and power of thSonvention, when
he speaks of it as having thpower "of alter
ing or amending the presentonstitution or re-
modelling and making Nv one, which will
conform to the great changewhich have taken
place in the State; and be pre- in accordance
with Republican Principle and Equality OF
Representation
Again, in his message oDctober "a, 1865,
Governor PERRY says that .e did not derive
his authority '':rom the Leg,laturs or the peo-
pie Of the State" That heYas selected to or
ganize State government or South Carolina;
and have her restored to all.her civil or politi-
cal rights as member of the Federal Union.
The mode and the temper wit! which this was
to be accomplished vas acknowledged, when he
approved and commended ne people of the
State "who had accepted tie DEGREES of God
and submitted themselves to the dire fortunes
of war;" Governor (RR adQted the teachings
of Governor PERRY true;and said the war
had decided, among otherthings, that "the
doctrine Of secession, Vhict was held to be or
thodox in the State Rihts School of politics,
is now exploded for allpratical purposes"
Thus then spoke the STATE; and thus spoke
the men whose veice vas that of the State
And when the State hashts spoken, and when
they who were its representative men have thus
spoken, by what authory does any one refer
us to the political doctras of the State in 1860
as the test of consistency; and, therefore, OF
the propriety Of poltic.l conduct; when that
doctrine was renouncd by the State in its Con-
vention in 1866, and onsidered by those who
could speak for it as exploded.
Who, then, can, will any fitness, ignore the
purposes and doings othe Convention Of 1865,
and go back to these things, which were undone
in that Convention, to est now the consistency
of its citizens in that cnduct, which they must
adopt, in what Governo PERRY called the "new
and extraordinary condition of the State 7"
there are such, as we pesume from what has
been so much heard of.bout consistency, there
must be some; why do hey not openly declare
that they are not boum by the action Of that
Convention; nor will rgard. its remuneration
of the doctrine of Safes sovereignty! Ii
there are any such, WHY do they not declare
that they adhere to tn opinion they formerly
entertained; and refus to render now more
obedience to the GoNrnment Of the United
States than they did fom 1860 to 1855: Ii
there ore any such, AMI such there may be-
although we do not know them, we can better
understand their consistency; when they openly
and avowedly proclaim to the people that thoJ
still advocate and will maintain and adhere tt
the same doctrines thy professed in le6o
But with all of those Who publicly profess tt
have acquiesced in the results Of the war ire
suits which have been accepted, and can only
be accepted as involving in the overthrow OF th'
Government of these States and the subJector
of the people, the overthrow also Of the polltl
cal opinions under which they were led init
the war; who yet also declare that they have
and do cherish as rules for their guidance IL
political conduct, the same political opinions
they formerly maintained; we feel sure that il
this there is too much Of Inconsistency, to justi
fy them in taunting others with the same &C
cusation. Have they not accepted their situa
ton as one which has involved the complete
change of the political doctrines they formerly
professed, and created for them new duties, tht
performance of which has been enforced by
the highest obligations; and disregard o.
which would now be considered as character
lied in mild terms when it is said to be on
inconsistency? We speak plainly, but fur be II
from US to speak unkindly. With what has beer
the past; with what is tho present; with what
NAV be the future; we have with our people
a sympathy too deep, to cherish other feelings
than those of regret for the mistakes into which
they may fall. If, as was well said by MIR
PORTER, our Lieutenant Governor, "the great
obstacles we have to encounter are in oul
pride and prejudices, in feelings and opinions
that are traditional with u.s." by the same e1'
cellent man we have been told that 'our people
have pledged anew their faith to the Govern
ment of the United States This is matter o.
honor, and they will well and truly redeem
their faith"
We trust that the question of consistency if
thus placed in its true light; that tho proper
tests have been explained. And the further
consideration of it we propose to take along
with us, in review of the advice and counsel
which Governor PERRY has given to the people
of the State; advice which, however, full o.
bonaatv ia much more flll of mischief