The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1868-02-13

LETTER FROM GOV. PERRY, OF
-: SOUTH CAROLINA.

The following letter, addressed by
Ex-Governor Perry, of South Carroll
ma, to Captain 0. N. Butler, of that
State, but now residing in this city,
gives graphic and dep!orable picture
Of the present condition and future
prospects of the great Southern Sec
ton of our country:
., GREENv1LLE, S. c., Jan. l9, 1868.
o. N. Butler. Esq.-My Dear
Friend: In your letter to my son you
say that the Northern people are not
aware of the true condition of the
Southern States, and that you wish
me to write something on this subject
for publication. l am willing, as |
always have been, to do anything and
everything in my power to, enllghten
the Northern mind as to the frlghttul
and appalling condition of the South.
But it does seem to me that | can say
very little not already known, through
the public press, to the whole reading
community.
Itis we'll known to the world that
ten of the Southern States have been
stripped of every vcstige ofrepubllcan
liberty, and placed, by the wicked
and unconstitutional legislation OF a
Radical Congress, under a military
dcspotism, for partisan purposes. 1t
is equally well known that negro con,
yentions haveb been ordered in all those
States, for the purpose of establish
ing in them negro supremacy. In
order to accomplish this, very large
portion of the most intelligent, virtu-
tuous and patriotic of the white race
have been disfranchsed, and are
hereafter to be governed by their
former slaves and unprmcipled ad-
venturcrs from the North ! These
facts arc we'll known, and their con-
sequences every intelligent mind may
we'll anticipate.
> When slavery was abolished in the
Southern States, if the people had
been let alone in their State iegisla-
ton, and restored to the Union, all
would have been well. They would
soon have recovered from their cx-
hausted and crushed condition, and
been once more happy and prosper.
Gus people. They would have added
hundreds of millions annually to the
wealth of the republic, instead of cost
it, as they now do, hundred million
every year, through the Freedmen S
Bureau and standing army. But
the unjust, unconstitutional and sui
cidal legislation of Congress has par
aIvzed them forever, | fear. The ne
gro is no longer that industrious, use
ful and civil laborer which he once
was, but an idle dronc and pest to
society. Inflated with his new sand
marvellous political Importance, he
has abandoned his former industrious
habits, and spends his time in attend,
ing public meetings and loyal league
gatherings by day and by night
The whole race seem disposed to quit
their work and resort to the towns
and villages, where they may eke Out
an idle and wretched existence in pill
fering and begging.
The consequences are that our fields
and plantations arc uncultivated, the
country pauperizcd, at the point OF
starvation, and filled with every grade
of crime. Not a day passes over our
heads that we do not hear of some
theft, house burning, robbery, rape or
murder. | will mention one or two in
stances out of thousands which might
be enumerated: Five men, last week,
in Darlington District, went armed
with guns, to country store, robbed
the store, killed the clerk, shot wo
man in the house, and went to tho
dwelling of the owner and killed him
A short since, a parcel of negroe:
placed distractions on the South Car
olina Railroad, which threw off traii
OF cars in the night time. Again
st smother point on the sase road
> parcel II negroes fred into tn,
tseia and es,ae very near KILN:
saser.l passengers. Last Fall, a
Pickeas court, seven OF eight negroes