The Greenville enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1870-1873, 1872-11-06

From tAe Colambie Phdenir.0
Letter from Ex Gov. Perry.

Letter rom Ex GOV. Perry.
TO the Democratic and Conserva-
ttVe Voters Of tile Fourth Con
gresstonaI District of .Somth
Carolina, comprising the Cou1a.
ties Of York, ab Chester, Fair.
field, Union,se Spartan5urq,
Laurens. Greenvslte, Psckens,
! and Oconee.
| FELLow.C CITIZENS: I desire to
address a few words to You on the
result of tho late Congressional
election. So far as | am person.
ally concerned, l have no regrets
to express. When / accepted
your nomination,- which was nnso-
licited and unexpected, had no
strong hopes of success, knows g,
as | did, that the Radical party
was in the ascendency, and would
not scruple at any fraud and cor.
ruption necessary, to maintain
their rower in the Congressional
District. My health, age and dis.
inclination to enter public life
again would have been a reasona-
BILE Justification in refusing the
honor You conferred on me. But
thought it duty every good
citizen owed his country, under
tile present alarming condition of
public affairs, to accept any posi-
tion which might be assigned him
By the people. ~ v"'
The canvass through which I
have just passed was very short
one, and entered it actively and
zealously. 1 may further say,
that it was both pleasant and
agreeable, and | enjoyed it exceed.
lngly.a In passing through the
Congressional District, l met
many Of my old and valued friends,
whom | had not seen for years,
and made great many new
f. lends, whom l shalt ever remcm
her and never cease to value
whilst life lasts. Everywhere,
my reception was most kind and
cordial, and fully compensates me
for all the time and trouble of the
canvass. But although l do not
regret personally, as | have said,
our disappointed, yet, as citizen
of South Carolina, | do regret, la.
ment and deplore to success of
the Radical party II oughou: the
State, in the recent election for
Congress and State officers. 1t
seems TO indicate that there is to
be no change in the present cor.
rnpt, oppressive and UNANIMOUSLY
rotten State Government, or hope
of representation tor the white
people of South Carolina in the
Congress Of the United States
10000 voters, representing nearly
100000 persons, owning, in n
great measure, all the property of
the State, agricultural, CONNER
cjal and manufacturing, and com
prising in the same ratio all the
intelligence, education, virtue and
patriotism of the State, are with
out the semblancc Of repi esenta-
ton in a government purporting to
be republican!
The State Government has, con-
fessedly, fallen into the hands OF
rogues, swindlers and corrupt
men, who have openly ,plundered
the public Treasury, robbed the
people, forged State bonds, in
creased the Indebtedness of the
State $27,0O0,000 in fonr years,
levied and collected iDtolerable
taxes, and enriched themselves by
the most bare faced bribery and
corruption as we'll as by arrant
rognery and plumber. And yet
tie resu!t of The recent election
shows that these rogues, swindlers
and robbers are to he reinstated
in authority for two years to come,
with carte Blanche to rob, steal and
plumber at libitunal o.. .'"
Ii is sad and melancholy to
think that the honest, patriotic
and virtuous white people of South
Carolina are in some measure res.
ponsible for this horrible and app
palIing condition of public affairs.
In many Counties, they did not
turn out to vote OIL the day OF
election ! Can human weakness
and human apathy exceed this
The negroes, carpet,baggers and
scalawags turned out, almost, to q
man Is it not passing strange
that tue stupid negroes should
feel more interest and. manifest
more zeal in sustaining q corrupt
rotten government, and electing tt
Office rogues and scoundrels, who
do not benefit him in the least
than an educated, intelligent and
patriotic gentleman does in trying
to over-turn such a government
and put honest men Id office, as
Legislators, Governors, Senators
Judges, &c. 2 He sees the corrup
4 | A.. IT. - I