The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-09-27
Letter from Gov. Perr

MIR EDITOR: T have been appointed
q delegate to the Democratic Conyen.
tion, which id to assemble in Ooium-
bis, on the 9Th Of October, for the
purpose Of nominating candidate for
Governor Inasmuch as am afraid
my health will not permit me to at.
tend the said convention, and meet
once more my friends and acquaint-
auces there assembled from all parts of
the State, have determined, with
your permission, to express my views
in regard to the nomination Of Go
vernon, through the medium of your
paper.
The only issue now before the peo
pie of South Carolina is one Of reform
q question OF honesty and roguerv.
All good men, whether Republicans or
Democrats wh::o Or colorc;', should
unite in trying to rescue the State
from the hauds Of the rognes, swim
dlers and corrupt men who have had
control of it for seven or eight years
past, and have utterly destroyed the Gre.
dit and honor of the State. Iu the Sc
lection of candidates for Governor und
Lieutenant.Governor, VIC should only
inquire whether they are honest and
capnble. It matters not what may be
their color or race-whether they are
Democrats or Republicans. There is
now, in fact, no difference Of politics
between the two great parties in South
Carolina, so far as the State Govern
ment is concerned.
In selecting candidates for Cover.
nor and I1ieutenantGovernor, it is
all.important that we should nominate
honest and trustworthy men, cupable
OF discharging the responsible duties
of their respective Offices. And next
to this. we should throw aside all per.
soual considerations, aud nominate the
most available candidates. Acting on
these principles, think the Demo.
cratic party canno: dc better than to
nominate Judge Greene for Governor,
and Major Delaney for Lieutenant
Governor. They are both Republi-
cans, and the latter is q colored man
Judge Greene is known to the people
of South Carolina as m honest mau
and an upright Judge, having had no
connection with the fraudulent bonds,
Land Com mission, school fluid, Blue
Ridge Railroad scrip, or the bogus
pay certificates. In other words, lie
has had nothing to do with the mon
strous frauds which have been prac.
ticed on the State. and which have
brought her to bankruptcy and dis
honor.
I have observed, with some particu-
larity, the course of Mujor Delaney
during seven or eight years past, and
l must say he has exhibited, in his
speeches and addresses. more wisdom
and prudence, more honor and pa
triotism, than any other Republican in
South Carolina, white or black. say
this deliberately and after mature re-
Election. He has. over and over again,
expressed to his race. whilst address.
ing them, my own views, feelings and
sentiments. The other day he said, in
a public speech on reform, that he
wished platform large enough for
both of us to stand on. I can assure
him that this political platform need
not be- very broad, for I am very near
to him in politics.
General K6rshaw is my personal
friend, and there is nc man in South
Carolina for whose honor, wisdom, pa
triotism and purity, have higher
regard. And know him too we'll to
suppose that be would permit for a
moment his own advancement to stand
between him and the interests OF his
State. He has already publicly de-
clared that if Judge Green is nomi-
mated by the Republicans and is likely
to secure strong support from that
party, the Democratic or Conservative
party should unite on MIN.
do not intend to charge Mr.. Cham
berlain with all the frauds which huve
been practiced by bis party in South
Carolina. He is man of talents and
requirements, and may be honest. for
aught know but this is certain, that
he was member of all the fraudulent
boards, and must have known the
frauds they practiced if he was not
concerned in them, and yet he never
disclosed them, or exposed the other
members of these various boards. He
is now warmly supported by the very
men who committed these frauds.
Can we hope for reform from such O
candidate, surrounded by thieves,
swindlers and corrupt men?
The support of Judge Greene and
Major Delaney, by the Democratic
party, will chow to the world that we
do not regard party or color where the
candidates are honest and capable, and