The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1875-12-08
LeGter from Tx -Govermcr Perry.
TO tie Editor Of the Ne,ps &c
COtLriey

Courier (:
1 concur most heartily with you
in your controversy with the Green
vile Daily Ne'os, rs to the organi-
zntion of the democratic party for
the purpose of running q straight
ticket at our next election. In my
opinion it would be folly to GO SO.
The only question at issue now in
South Carolina is reform, and an
honest administration of tho govern
ment All who arc in favor of hon
esty, light taxes and economical ex-
penoiture of public money, whether
republicans or democrats, white or
colorcd, should unite in purging tho
Legislature and our public Offices of
roguery, corruption and incompe-
tcncy. There is nothing else worthy
of entering into the canvass next fall
for State officers, county officers and
members of the Legislature. II l
Thought n Republican, white or
colOrcl, more honest and more
competent than Il democrat. + Ishould
certainly vote for him. notwithstand
ing my strong life long Dcmocraiic
feelings and principles.
I In the last election 7 opposed
Governor Chamberlain with all my
influence, bocause I Thought he
would sustain and encourage his
party in their corruption and dis
honesty, in their oppressive taxation
and ext'avagant expenditure Of the
public money. I now checrfullv
confess that III all this L was mis-,
taken, and that his alministro zion
has been honest, wise and patriotic,
rs far as it WAS possible for him to
make it such.
If Governor Chamberlain contin-
ucs to pursue the course he has
done for the last twelve months, L
think it would be exceedingly mwisc
|and ungrateful for the party to OPP
pose his 10 election. 1t is said that
many Of his appointments have been
bad, and this he could not We'll
avoid when he had to make from his
own party and supporters iii the
election. Unsupported, as he ought
to be, in the next election by tho
democratic party and tho honest
portion Of tho republican party, he
will have II wider and better field
to select from.
I think tho great mass Of the
colored people are beginning to see
that they arc i'll no way benefited
by clccting corrupt mon to Office
having heavy taxes to pay. Ii the
white people will pursue u liberal
policy towards them, my impression
is they would discard the scoundrcls
who have governed them since their
emancipation, by making them be-
licvc that they were in danger of
being thrown back into slavery, or
having their political rights taken
from them.
II is urged by those who arc in
favor of a straight Democratic
ticket, that We can, by proper ex-
ertion, triumph in South Carolina, as
the democratic party has done III
mississippi, Alabama ond Georgia,
s%They should remember that wo
have a, larger colorcd majority III
South Carolina to overcome than
they had in any of those States
They should likewise consider that
such course would only tend to
keep the colored people united,
rndcr their mprincipled leaders.
Instead of declaring to them That
VIC arc determined to knock them
down and destroy them as Il party,
wo should say to them, unto with
us in reforming the government, and
you shall share with us tho Offices
and distinctions under our State
government when reformed.
They who arc in favor Of triumph
ing over the moj jority Of thirty or
forty Thousand colorcd voters, as
they did in Mississippi, should have
commenced their policy sooner, and
determined not to employ or patro
nize those who would not vote with
them. There is no obligation in
morals or policy onu man to keep
in his employment, or patronize in
any way, ono who steals from him
or enables others to steal from him
and oppress him.
You are right i'll leaving it with
each county in the State to pursue
in the next elections the course which
the county may think most advisable
Charleston has acted wisely in this
respect, and the State has proftcd
by her wise policy.
In conclusion, L would suggest
that there should be convention by
delegates of all who are in favor OF
Governor Chamberlain's policy OF
having IN honest State government,
light taxes, competent and honest
officers, and an economical cxpcndi-
fture of public moneys. Let this
convention be composed of both
parties and let them act separately,
as parties, i'll making all their nomi
nations and laying down platform
for both parties to stand on in the
noxt campaign. The nominees anl
the platform to be adopted by both
parties rs compromise. I make
this suggestion for your considera,
ton and that of tho people OF
the State, B. r. PERRY.
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