Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1872-09-19
LETTER FROM GOVERNOR PERRY.
GREENv1LLE, S. c., Sept. II, 1872

| j. II. Rl0n, u. Il. Duncan ana .. L. Hanlt-
tom, Esqs., Committee, dc.
GENTLEMEN: had the honor of receiving
your communication of the 9th instant, last
evening, informing me that "the Democratic
Convention for the Fourth Congressional Dis
| trict had unanimously nominated me as the
candidate of the Democratic party, for elec-
ton to the House of Representatives of the
United States Congress from said District" I"
and that you "beg to urge upon me the &C
ceptance of the nomination."
This unsolicited and unexpected expression
of confidence, on the part Of the Democratic
Convention of this Congressional District, has
made deep impression on my feelings, and
I can assure the members of that Convention,
representing the counties of York, Chester,
Fairfield, Union, Laurens, Spartanburg,
Greenville, Pickens and Oconee, that highly
appreciate the distinguished honor they have
conferred on me. At this time, and under ex-
isting circumstances, it is one of peculiar and
extraordinary distinction. The intelligence,
education and wealth of the State of South
Carolina, comprising 10000 or $4,000 voters,
possessing, in great measure, all the COM
merce, agriculture and manufactures of the
entire State, are unrepresented in the Con-
gress of the United States, and only partially
represented in our State Legislature. This
anomalous condition, in a government pur-
porting to be Republican, has existed in South
Carolina for the last seven years, and brought
the State to the lowest depths of political in.
fanny and to the verge of bankruptcy and
ruin, the loss of civil liberty and personal &C.
curity This Congressional District is the
only one in the whole State in which there is
chance of electing representative of the
white people. If elected, therefore, I shall
have the proud distinction of being the sole
representative of the virtue, intelligence and
wealth of South Carolina in the National
Congress.
There must be change. This condition
oe affairs cannot last much longer, without
the most terrible results. 1t, therefore, be-
hooves every one who loves his country, and
values its peace and prosperity, to exert him
self and make any and every sacrifice necessa-
ry to restore republican principles, and the
purity of our Government, both State and
Federal. Profoundly impressed with these
sentiments, I did not feel myself at liberty to
refuse, few days since, the nomination of
the Democratic party Of Greenville county as
a candidate for the State Senate although it
was made against my earnest protestations,
on account of my health, age, and disinclina-
ton to enter again public life. But my
friends urged that could be of service in re-
deeming the State from its degradation and
ruin. I accepted their nomination. This
embarrasses me, now, in determining my duty.
But as Greenville was represented in the
Congressional Convention, and consented to
my nomination, feel that it is the wish of
the county I should accept the higher and
more responsible position now assigned me.
In accepting the nomination now rendered
me, it is proper that should state all my
feelings and principles are in sympathy with
that great national party, whose purpose is
reconciliation between the two sections Of our
country, and the two races which live in the
Southern States, and whose aim is, under the
leadership of Horace Greeley, to purge the
Government of its corruptions, restore repub-
lican principles, and promote the peace and
prosperity of all sections and classes. The
Radical party, North and South, see and
know that their success as a party depends
on keeping up the hatred of the North to the
South, and the hatred of the colored race to
the white race. When these hatreds and
prejudices are crushed out the Radical party
will lose their ascendancy in the Government
The colored people will no longer be the po-
litical slaves of selfish and designing Office
seekers and holders, who are basely and most
treacherously using them for their own pro-
motion and plunder. The interests and
rights of the colored people have been sacrifi-
ced and betrayed by their pretended friends
and guardians, the carpet-baggers and scala
wags! The moneys appropriated for the
education of their children have been stolen
and squandered The free schools are closed !
The hundreds of thousands of dollars appro-
priated to purchase for them homes have gone
the same way, to enrich scoundrels and leave
them homeless and houseless Their taxes
have been increased, until the burden is op-
pressive and intolerable! It is well known
fact in political economy, that the laboring
classes have ultimately most Of the taxes to
pay, although in the first instance levied on
property. The merchant adds the duties he
pays to the price of his goods and the consul
mer restores the tax. So the tax on lands
and personal property causes the owner to
charge higher rents and pay less for labor.
The two best and sincerest friends the col
red people ever had are Horace Greeley and
Charles Sumner. These gentlemen have
urged the colored people not to antagonize
themselves, as race, to the white people; but
vote independently and for honest and intel
ligent men. Their political rights are secured
by constitutional amendments, and they have
nothing to fear except the bad men they put
in Office, and who falsely tell them that there
is danger in voting for or conGding in their
former masters and friends.
How any one, who loves his State and val
ues civil liberty, can prefer General Grant to
Horace Greeley is strange, passing strange.
sued his proclamation, ordering the people to
disperse and return to their homes, in certain
counties! They were at home at that very
time, and no disturbance had taken place for
months previously! The civil authorities
were not resisted and we're capable of making
any and all arrests required But notwith-
standing all this, the President, Immediately
after his proclamation, sent his military into
seven or eight counties, and made arrests with
out warrant, and the persons arrested, inno-
cent and guilty, were hurried off to Jail, and
the sacred writ of habeas corpus denied them.
In your communication notifying me of my
nomination, you express an earnest wish for
me "at once to enter in thorough and rigor-
GUS canvass to secure my election, which, by
the Convention, is deemed matter of vital
interest," not only to the Congressional District,
but to the whole State" In obedience to this
Injunction, will, as soon as the court is over
at this place, visit all the counties in the Con-