The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1871-03-22
Letter from B. 7. Perry

GREENvILLE, >. o., March IL, 1871.
To his Ercellency Coz. Scott.
SIR: l understand that you are
consulting your political opponents,
in every section Of the State, rs tn
the best means Of preserving order,
peace and the enforcement of the
laws in South Carolina. You have
invited prominent gentlemen through
out the State to meet you in Colum-
bia for this laudable and patriotic
purpose. l believe, sir, tbt.t you. are
now sincere in this purpose, notwith
sra ding your "Wluchcs.er ride
a "a :s33is3sslgiE'Nasb sbingtou & Year or tw.,
fssi,6sy ms Shioh YOU 6eLdiSbly pro-
cist&eh thai this instrument Of death
iu he hands Of the ncgrossof South
Cn7"iina, Nas tho "ost effective
,,c,n, ,nf maintaining order aud quiet
III NJ s, IL. II rejyIne 10 find that u
change has ;.me over the spirit nf
yuur lhpnyh,a ami actions and |,
tor oue an' read, and willing, with ali
tho ,-o,d p"opio Of lha State, TO tuS'
tain YOU il yuhr present course. The
tone aud temper Of your recent mes
sage to the Legislature is evidence of
your sincerity. :
Permit me to say to you, sir, in NIL
candor and sincerity, that the signs
of the times indicate, Enthusiastically
to my mind, that we are on the, eve
of q. bloody tumultuous commotion,
unless something is done to quiet
public opinion. The inccndiary De.
struction Of property every. night, and
the rogucry of the Legislature In
their, appropriations aud. taxation,
amounting ultimately to conf scation
of all real and personal estate,, casil
not be borne much longer. Thore is q
point beyond which human endur'
ancc cannot 60, let the consequences
be what they may. :. VI, -" .
I know tits not in your power to
reform the Legislature, or stay CT
fectually their corruption, bribery
prodigalitg and roguory.. But. there
are two things which you can do and
should do, the sooner the bcttor-
disarm your militia and appoint goot
and Intelligent men to Office. Al
the lawlessness aud VIOLENCE. which
have disgraced the State have beer
owing to those two sources of mis-
chief. Never was there moro fatal
mistake, or more diabolioal wrong
committed, than whom you orgaa'
lied colored troops throughout the
State and put arms into their hands
powder and ball, and denied tn" sams
to the white people It was atro
cous. She bloody tragedy ut Lau'
rcns was owing to this, and nothing
else. The, murder of Stevens ant
other white men at Union by one O
your negro companies, and the subse
quent execution of ten colored pris
oners was owing,to the same cause
Che fearful killing and, murder Of ,
aumber of men at Chester was like
wise owing to your colonel militia
The violence and lawlessness a
Yorkville originated ip one Of you
worthless appointments. Heretofore
your appointments have been mostl.
made Of ignorant and corrupt men
who cannot enforce tho laws and pre-
sorve the peace.
The colored people Of South Caro-
lima behaved we'll during our civi
war and would have done SO, bu
for tho unpriucipled carpet-bagge
who came amongst them and stirre
UP hatred to the white race by tn
most artful and devilish appeals. I
their fears and bad passions. uG
prinoipled white men living amopgs
us, seeing an opportunity Of ofic
and plunder, joined tho carpetbagger
These two classes unitcd in persust
ing the negroes that they would b
put back 10 slavery, and that the
must apply to. the torch to redre'
thoirt supposed wrongsl It is nj
surprising that people % ignoral
and oreduloue as The negroes ar