The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-05-25
Letter from Hon. q. F. Perry.

Letter from Hon. b. F. Perry.
GnEENvILnR, s. c., May %, 1872.
Hon. Simeon Fdir-MY DEAR SIR:
Your letter was received this morning,
asking an expression of my views in re-
gard to the course to be pursued in South
Carolina. as to the nomination of Horace
Greeley for President, and the sending
delegates to the Baltimore Convention.
10 my opinion, tho election of Greeley
is the only hope We have of reforming
the State and National Governments.
and restoring the country to peace and
prosperity. It would bo suicidal folly
for the Democratic party to think of
making q separate nomination for Prosi-
dent I will go farther, and say it would
be criminal to the South, and stamp the
party with want of patriotism, and q
narrow, contracted seGshness utterly.
disgraceful.
If the Democratic party will now unite
with the Liberal Republicans, our sue.
cess and VICTORY are beyond doubt in
the Presidential election. The military
tyrant will be hurled from his throne,
civil government restored, and the re-
public saved. There is no difference be-
tween Democrats and Liberal Republi-
cans, standing on tie Cincinnati plat
form. They have the same great and
patriotic objects in view-to restore re-
publican principles and the rights of the
States. to purge the Government, State
and Federal, of its corruption, extrava-
gance and roguery, to give peace and
prosperity to the Southern States. Why,
then, should we not unite heartily and
cordially with such friends and allies? In
fact, the Democratic party stands pledged
in honor and good faith to endorse the
Cincinnati nomination. It was 30 under
stood by the Liberal Republicans. from
the expressions everywhire of the Demo
cratic papers, before they met in Con-
vention.
Horace Greeley is an honest man, and
has all his life been governed by princi-
pie. He has great ability, and will ad-
minister the Government on sound Re-
publican principles. The issues on
which he so boldly and persistently op-
posed the South are dead and buried.
His antecedente, therefore, have nothing
to do with the present contest. Should
we not, therefore, exert all our influence
in securing his nomination by the Balti.
moro Convention? think it proper
that this Convention should meet, for
the purpose of uniting the party on
Greeley and Brown, aud showing the
werld that they are willing to sacrifice
all personal considerations aud all party
honors and aggrandizement for the good
of their country.
The Democratic Convention, which is
to assemble in Columbia on the 11th of
June, should, by all means. send delegate
to the Baltimore Convention. The vote
of South Carolina may, perchance, infu-
enee the nomination and endorsement of
Greeley and Brown. It would at least
show our willingness to cooperate with
the friends of reform, and accept rs
allies all who are disposed to help US in
our oppression and ruined condition
Not to send delegates to Baltimore, would
be unwise, unkind and supercilious. It
would be reproach to the State, under
existing circumstances, and weaken the
sympathy of our friends everywhere
North, South, East and West.
Unless the honest Republicans of South
Carolina, white and black, will take up
Greeley, there is no hope of his getting
the vote of the State. It would be the
basest ingratitude, on the part of the
colored people, not to support Greeley,
who has done more to set them free than
any other man in America. Thirty or
1orty years he mas fought mantully Tor
their emancipation and right of suffrage.
The corruption and extravaganza OF our
State Government ought to make all
honest colored people rise up and purge
it of the rogaes who are now administer
ing it for their own gain. aud TO the ssri-
GUS injury of the colored people. But
for the influence of the corrupt Office
holders. carpet-baggers and scalawags,
the colored people would all go for honest
men and measures. They are not bene-
fitted by the millions which have been
stolen to enrich the few.
I write you in great haste, and am
truly and sincerely your friend,
B. +. PERRY.
The New York Neos thus undertakes
to explain the singular attitude assumed