The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1868-01-22
Patriotic Letter from Ex-Governor
Perry,
cty ''uys
WIN. NJ. T.

Perry.
The following letter was addressed to the
Committee OF Arrangements Of the Banquet
held in Washington to celebrate the sth Of
January:
GaEEsvILLE, 8. c., Jan. 8, 1868.
y. ID. Hoorey, Esq, Chairman, &C., &e.,:
Your kind invitation to banquet given at
the Metropolitan Hotel. celebrating the any
third anniversary OF the battle Of New Orleans
was received yesterday morning.
Would to God Il were In my power 10 he
with you and tho generous patriots who will
assemble on that occasion to do honor 70 .
Southern hero and Southern soidiery," and
"re-arouse noble sympathy for the descen-
dants of those who 20 nobly illustrated the
patriotism and proves OF the American citt-
xen."
The Southern heart, crushed and broken by
terrific ealamities, social and political. appeals
at this time to every generous and manly feci
ing Of the North. Never before In the histo.
~ Of Christian and civiliEed people have
such infamy and ruin, wide spread aud uni
yersai, been Indicted on q whole section Of the
country, without distinction between the gull
~ and the innocent. II Is we'll known that
large portier Of the Southern people were
opposed TO the secession of the States from
the Federal Union, aud did all they could do
for years TO prevent the happening Of so dire
. calamity TO the republic. They haze suffer-
'a "e aes"ue"o" Oh ."e'r property, he ioss
OF the" homes, ana the aea'h Oh their sons
and husbands; and now, rs q reward for their
mes oeVouon 10 the oui"n, they are doomea
10 negro supremacy ana inc oaro"r'e ru'e OF
tner former slaves, stceped IN 'gho.ahee ahu
vice. virtue ana innocence renncmeho
wealth and inteihsenco are disiranchsoo anu
s"'Jee,cd 70 he governments " 'sno'""ee'
paupersm ana seihsn etue"y'
Tho future Of tho Southern ststcs Is fright
fully appalling. Experience, Cor the past two
years, has proved that the freedmen will not
work, and that they expect to live by the
bonniy Of the Government, or by depreciation
on the industry Of others! All over the
country, starvation threatens them, aud they
are stealing, robbing and numbering. The
prisons and penitentiaries are hlled with
them, till it has become Impossible to provide
4 " 1880 '~ff - r''~ 80
have the government OF the states In ther
hands' Seif-defence and sell preservation
will force q war OF raees--the most cruel I'M
naiural, and horrible war taat ever dcsoiated
the face OF the earth
! Ysu have we'll said, In your letter Of invita-
tion, that We arc "bone Of your bone and
flesh Of your hesh," and entitled to nation,
sympathy In our distress. We are all, NORTH
and South, the descendants Of q common an
cestry, the sons and grandsons OF Revolution
ary sires, who achieved American indepen
dence, and established the Union and tn,
Consultation "Ls ensure domestic tranquility
aud secure the blessings of liberty" to them
selves aud their posterity. How little did
those heroic. noble patriots suppose that they
were securing domestic tranquility and this
blessings OF liberty 10 their descendants b,
providing the means. within less than q cen
tary, Of their descendants being disfrsnchised
and placed under a government Of negroes
II tbOre Is 8 sense Of justice or manly senti