Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1868-10-07
Letter from Gov. Perry.

tne Statc, n2Q turned Cuclr atleDllOE ltOIn Tue
usurpations, tyranny and corruption of the
radical Congress, to the wild, cxtravasant,
and atrocious legislation Of that "unawful
assembly," composed Of carpet-baggers, ne
groes and scalawags, now sitting in Colum-
bia, and styling themselves +" the General AS
sembly of South Carolina"
This heterogeneous and motley group of
would be legislators. really seem disposed to
bankrupt the State, and drive the people to
acts of violence, or goad them on to revolu-
tion Never before, in the history Of civiliz-
cd legislation. was there spectacle so re-
voting and disgusting, as wa now have in
South Carolina. A greedy swarm of unprin-
cipled adventures from the North, without
fortune and without character many of them
escaned convicts from jails and peniteptisries
have come here, under the protection of
Federal bayonets, and by pandering to the
ig.orance prejudice and bad passions of our
former slaves. have had themselves elected
to the Legislature, so-called, and are filing
all the high offices of the State.
It is in vain to say that some of them may
be honest and worthy. No gentleman, or
honest man, with the instincts of a gentle
man, could be induced by any earthly consid-
Grafton, 10 come here as they have, and occu.
py the places they do, against the wishes of
all honest and respectable citizens. Their
sole purpose is to get money, and to get OF
flee, aud to protect themselves against the
possible and dscricd vengeance of an out
ragged and oppressed people. Whilst stealing
and plundering the public treasury, and be-
ing bribed for all their pretended bogus leg
islation, they are trying, like towards, with
20 I'd araipct Y1proODoI
danger, by tyranny, oppression and despo-
tsm.
Impoverished and ruined as the people Of
South Carolina are, this bogus Legislature
have not only increased salaries of all the
State officers one-third, but have created
multitude of officers, before unknown and
WHOLLY unnecessary, with extravagant sula
rirs aud ptrqaisites, for the express purpose
OF providing fol~,heir hungry and worthless
position, .here and at tue North. For former
Years the most llustrious men of the State,
learned and profound lawyers, We're willing
TO accept seat on the bench, with salary.
of 5000. Now, parcel of ignorant, low
and groveling men, carpet-baggers and seal
awaes, have been elected to the bench, with
salaries Of four and five thousand dollars
So it is with all the other officers of the
States.
x bach "f Cau,ty flicsrs have been crea.
tel, whose salaries viii mm NIT to two or
!hr,e hundred, thousand d,Asars, whose duties
we're fo;uc:ly perr3rmed hy gentlemen OF in
.rl;igSacr ard public sbiril, without compeR-
>a,ion! These Offices are now filed by the
:aosl ignorant and unp;inclhcd men in the
ce,nn.uiiry. .'who lave declared themselves
L.. 4 Nh
s,!aJir, u the luo:ic officers ui the State and
Cun'ics will amount to six or seven hun
i:r.d Thousand dol as! Iris IS two or three
hundred thousand dollars mf,rc than the
wuoie expenses Of lhc State amnuntcd 10 in
iortner years! The expenses of ihe Legisla.
tnre. Pemtensiary and Jsi!s, (wnr,hy assnci-
a:ions.) will cost tue State fiveor six hun
dred thousand more. The free school sys-
TEN, for the education of the negroes will
lYqnire over one million Of dollars annually,
10 put it in operation and keep it up The
police Of the State and-the maintenance Of
!. negro force in each County, provided for
By law, will require over million of dollars
The pay OF jurors, the support of paupers.
and o,herincidental appropriations. will prob
ably cost the State five or six hundrt d thou
sand dollars more-making an aggregate OF
four millions of dollars! This enormous sum
cannot be paid, and should not be paid by
the impoverished people of South Carolina.
1t is ten times the taxation which we Were
required to pay, in our days Of wealth and
prosperity!
But not satisfied with these enormously
extravagant and prodigal expenditures and
appropriations for poverty stricken people.
this ,nongrel, stupid and unprinciSed bogus
Legislature, have issued bonds aud endorsed
bonds for thst body, amounting to several
millions of dollars. They have likewise been
bribcd by the bill holders OF the Bank of the
State, TO issue bonds for thuse b lis, at their
par value, when they we're purchased blythe
holders for ten cents in the dollar
The. most alarming feature, however,.o
this wicked and stupid legislation, so.called,
i, the bill recently introduced to suspend the
writ Of haJsas corpus, seize the railroads aud
tcicgraphic wire. aud call out q standing ar
my o.; negroes, to protect the cowardIy ty
rants and usurpersin heir 5eSpotism, oppres
sion and .piunder. This bill authorizes the
Governor, so-called, aud his minions all over
the State. to arrest and 1iDprison any one,
without charge or accusation, aud confiac
;hem in dungeons as long as ii may suit their
p!easure-no trial to be had. In the mead
tlme. these black troops arc to insult and
outrage our families, and pundcr aud destroy
our homes and property. a more Infamous.
cruel, atrucious ard degrading despotisn, was
never established by the Grand Bashaw Of
Turkey. or the Imperial Car Of ali tie Rus
sieSl If here is nature Or EnanhDod left in
the white race, it will not, cannot be borne
e. ~. I,of,
gers and scaawags, and not on the poor de-
Iuded negro. Retributive justice, sooner or
later, ever has and ever will over,ake tyran-
ny and crime.
IL high time, i have said, fo.; the people
Of South Carolina 10 turn their attention from
national politics TO these terrible State wrongs
end grievances. They must not be overlook
ed in oar present political excitement, for the
time viii come, and that speedily, when they
will crush us to the Garth. We ought to pre-
pare iomeet them. Not by violence AMI
revolution, but by exposing their atrocity to
the colorel people, whose interest is ours,
AMI who have been made the dupes and tools
If these vile men from tae North. They have
Come here for money, and will quit the eoun
try when they STE here is no more TO De mad,
or there is personal dagger in their path:
Orr line OF policy is clear. patent, manifest
We must commit no aegres,iun, no act of vi
olcuce, but be prepared to act on the defen
sve. with spirit and vigor, when action is
imperative. Patience and forbearance, in
suffering and oppression, are high and patti
ot.c virtues.
Let us consider and reflect on our cond
ton. A man from 0aio pN fesses TO DE our
the Appeal Court, are from New York aud
ID I Tya our ci-rpit .luN0as