The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-10-13
COLUMBIA. j I
Tuesday Morning, October IS. 1868.
The Now York Meeting.
For Vice-I President, RI'-,' ''.s't
GEN. +. p. BLAIR, OF MISSOURI
IiETTER FROM GOV, PERRY.

Gne NOW Ork uIcettnRs
nETTHR FROM GOV, PERRY. 4.
The following letter from Hon. B.
F. Perry, Of this State, was read at
the monster Democratic meeting in
New York, on Monday night last:
GREhNv1rhE, s. O., October 1.
Douglas Taylor Esq, Chairman, DC.
DEAR SR; [ received, this evening,
your kind invitation to be with you
on the 5thyinstant, and address your
''grand mass meeting" I thank you
most sincerely for this honor, and be
assured that nothing could give me
greater pleasure than to be present
at ethe enthusiastic gathering of the
people which will then be convened
in Tammany HalL"iT -
But, althoughit it is impossible for
me to be with you in person, my
heart and soul will unite with you in
oil your efforts to elevate to the Pre-
sidency your distinguished states
man, Horatio Seymour. I believe
that the salvation of the country and
the existence of our republican form
of Government depend on his cleo
tion. If the radicals should carry
this election, I have no idea that the
American people will ever have an
opportunity of electing constitu-
tional President of these United
States. F'
I am justified in this conclusion by
the usurpations, expressions, tyran-
ny and extravaganza of the radical
party in Congress. They have al
ready, in utter disregard of the Fede-
raj Constitution, stripped the Presi-
dent of his highest and most legiti-
mate prerogatives and conferred them
on the Commanding General of the
army-their candidate for the Presi-
dency. They have denied the Pre-
sldent the power of selecting his own
Cabinet, or dismissing from Office
those who have proved recreant and
betrayed their trusts. They have en-
croached on the Judiciary Depart
ment Of the Government, and refused
to let the Supreme Court of the
United States decide on the consti-
tutionality of their legislation. They
have struck down, at one blow, ten
sovereign States Of this Union, and
hold them, under military despotism.
They have disfranchised the white
race in the Southern States and en-
franchised the negroes.
1 feel assured that if the Northern
people could only see, or be made
sensible of the miserable condition
OF their fellow-citizens aud kinsmen
OF the South, they would not sustain
party in power who had brought
this great calamity Of negro :supre.
macyon one-third of the republic.
In the Legislature of. South Carolina
there are eighty negroes and only
forty white members in the House Of
Representatives. The greater part
OF these forty white legislators are
the lowest and worst of men, without
property, intelligence or character,
and were! elected by the negroes
Their legislation has been wild, extra
VACANT and atrocious. Paying no
taxes themselves, and their, constitu-
ency, by whom they were elected,
paying nothing into the State Trea-
sury, they have made appropriations
and levied taxes which bankrupt the
State.
But their Legislation in other re-
spects is still worse and more alarm
ing. They have authorized the sus-
pension Of that bulwark of Anglo
Saxon liberty, the writ Of f1abeds cor
pus, and have authorized the raising
OF standing force of negro troops,
In violation of the Constitution of
the United States, which forbids
State keeping a stending army. Un-
der these laws, this negro Govern
ment will have the power of impri-
soning any citizen without warrant
or accusation as long as they please,
whilst negro force will be left to
insult and outrage his family, and
plumber and destroy bis property. .
In the meantime, the State will
be, as the whole South must be. ut
terly impoverished and desolated.
Instead of being an advantage to the
North, as the Southern States for
merly were, they will be an expense.
an incubus on their Industry, enessl