The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1871-03-30

has been consulting the public men OF
that State for the purpose of ascer-
tanning their views upon the subject
of Ku Klux outrages and the means
to be adopted to cure the evil. Among
the responses he received was letter
from Ex-Governor Perry, one of the
calmest and most practical states
men of that State. In introducing
this letter. the WoTld says: Govern
or Perry was one of the few public
men in that State who vigorously op--
posed secession, his Union record was
unimpeachable, and it was into his
hands that the United States govern
ment placed the control of the State
the instant the war was over. When
such a man arraigns the policy OF
Governor Scott and the Radicals in
South Carolina, it cannot be urged
that this is another effort of the eX-
Confederates to confuse the subject
and SHIFT the blame of the recent
troubles from their own shoulders to
those of their political opponents
Governor Perry's letter sets forth the
true condition OF the State, plundereG
by Northern adventurers and raided
over bean ignorant and insolent ne
gro militia. If the good people in
this part of the Union who think
Buffers Ku Klux legislation for the
South is necessary will imagine Gov
ernor of New York or Massachusetts
arming the savages in their midst and
refusing arms to all who possess a
spark of intelligence or a dollars
worth of property, and the conse-
quences that are likely to flow from
such discrimination, they may, per-
hays, realize how much they have mis-
judged the facts in the case. Under a
similar condition of affairs here we
would be very likely to feel, with
Governor Perry, that ''there is point
beyond which human endurance can
not go, let the consequences be what
they may"
GREENvILLE, S. c., March 13, 1871.
To his Ecce1ency, Gocer,eor Scott:
SIR: l understand that you are
consulting your political opponents, in
every section of the State, as to the
best means of preserving order, peace
and the enforcement of the laws in
South Carolina. You have invited
eminent gentlemen throughout the
State to meet you in Columbi for this
purpose, Notwithstanding your .sWin-
chester rifle speech" in Washington a
year or two since, in which you fiend-
ishly proclaimed that this instrument
of death, in the hands of the negroes
of South Carolina, was the most eff
fective means of maintaining order
and quiet in the State. L rejoice to
find that change has come over the
spirit of your thoughts and actions
and L for one am ready and willing,
with all the good people of the State,
to sustain you in your present course.
The tone and temper of your recent
of your sincerity. Permit me to say
TO you, sir. in all caDdor and sincerity
that the signs of the times indicate,
" lH3t we are
on the eve of bloody, tumultuous
commotion, unless something is done
to quiet public opinion. The, incendia-
ry destruction of property every night
and the roguery of the Legislature in
their appropriations and taxation,
amounting ultimately to confiscation
of all real and personal estate, cannot
be borne much longer. There is a
h2r sal, i
cannot 60, let the consequences be
your power to reform the Legislature
or stay effectually their corruption,
bribery, prodigality, and roguery.-
can do, and should do, the sooner the
point good and intelligent men to Of
flee. All the lawlessness and violence
which have disgraced the State have |
been owing to these two sources of
mischief. Never was there more |
fatal mistake or a more diabolical
wrong committed than when You or |
ganized colored troops throughout |
the State, and put arms into theil |
MED the same to the white people. It |
was atrocious. The bloody tragady
ut Laurens was owing to this and |
nothing else. The murder of Stevens |
and other white men at Union by one
of your negro companies, and the sub
sequent execution of ten colored pris-
The fearful killing and murder of
wise owing to your colored militia.
s<1a To ,lx,ec 90
vile originated in one of your worth
less appointments. Heretofore your
have been made of ig-,
enforce the laws and preserve the
peace. The colored people of South
Carolina behaved well during our
civil war, and would have continued
to have done so but for the unprinci-.
pied carpet-baggers who came among
them and stirred up hatred to the
white race by the most artful and dev-
ilish appeals to their fears and bad
passions. Unprincipled white men
living amongst rs, seeing an opportu-
nifty for office and plunder, joined the
These two classes
united in persuading the negroes that
they would be put back into slavery,
and that they must apply the torch to
redress their supposed wrongs. 1t is
not surprising that people so igno-
rant and credulous as the negroes are
should thus have been led astray.-I
They were told that lands would be
given them and their children educa-
ted. Hundreds of thousands of dol
lars have been appropriated for this
purpose and all squandered or stolen
by their pretended friends. A multi
plicity of offices have been created to
reward political partizalA salaries
have been increased, millions appro-
priated for railroads, and the most ex-
waste of public moneys in
every way. The public officers and
members of the Legislature are charged
with the most shameless corruption, !
bribery and roguefy. tits impossible