The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-04-12
Letter from Ex.GOv. B. F. Perry, Of
Greenyille, s. C.

d. WYATT AIKEN.
Letter from Ex.Gov. B. F. Perry, Of
Groenville, S. C.
GREENvILLE, S. c., April 9, 1877.
Messrs. Editors: I am in receipt of
your letter of the 9TH inst, asking me to
furnish you for publication my views in
reference to President Hayes Southern
policy, and whether Democrats should
accept Office under his administration.
received, few days since, similar
letter from the editor of the Augusta
Chronicle d Constitutionahst, and an
swered this letter very fully, stating that
I saw no impropriety in Democrats
accepting Office under President Hayesif
they still adhered to their Democratic
principles. 1t is certainly a matter of
the greatest Importance to have all public
Offices we'll filled by honest and compe-
tent men. The great curse of the South
ern States, for the last ten or twelve
years, has been that al! the public offices,
with few exceptions, have been filled
with corrupt or incompetent officers.
This evil must continue unless Democrats
will consent to hold Federal Offices. I
have such a contempt for the carpet
baggers and scallawags of South Carolina,
that I do not think they have in their
ranks the number of honest men required
of old to save the cities of Sodom and
Gomorrah, much less to save the State
from infamy and ruin! President Hayes
can accomplish no reformation of the
abuses and corruption in South Carolina,
unless he goes outside of the Radical
party to make his appointments. A true
Democrat does not become Republican
by accepting a Federal office for the best
interests of his State under Republican
President. I have no doubt the Post
Master General is as good Democrat as
he was before be accepted that high
Office.
President Hayes, although not elected
President of the United States, has be-
come so by consent of the American
people of both parties. The contested
election would have resulted in civil
war, but for its reference to arbitration.
The infamous returning boards in Lou
isiana and Florida fraudulently and most
corruptly reported Hayes elected by one
vote. The Republican Senate had re-
solved to declare him elected, and Fresi-
dent Grant was concentrating the United
States army in Washington to sustain
this declaration. The Democratic House
of Representatives would have declared
Gov. Tilden elected, and civil war
would have been the result In order to
avoid this terrible calamity, the whole
matter was referred to the adjudication
of FIVE Federal Judges and the same
number of Democrats and Republicans.
This high tribunal grossly disappointed
the Democratic party, refused to hear
testimony exposing the Infamous frauds
of the returning boards, and decided that
Gov. Hayes was elected. All were in
honor bound to accept this decision, how
ever grossly unjust it may have been.
Therefore I regard him as President de
jurc as we'll as de tacto, and if he ad-
ministers the government we'll, we should
do all in our power to sustain his admin
istration.
I have strong hopes that President
Hayes administration will be favorable
to the South. He has the reputation of
being fair minded and honorable man.
He was certainly opposed to the corrup-
ton and tyranny which had crept into
the Federal government, and so expressed
himself in the Cincinnati Convention.
His inaugural promised fairly, and his
Cabinet is good one, composed of high
toned, liberal Republicans and one Dem
ocrat. His Secretary of State and Secre-
tary of the Interior both voted with the
Democratic party against General Grant
in the previous Presidential election.
His Attorney General is a gentleman of
great learning, distinguished ability, fair
minded and liberal in his politics. This
was shown in his centennial speech, at
Lexington, two years since.
Iapprehend no division in the Demo-
cratic party, in accepting Office under
President Hayes and sustaining those
measures of his administration which are
wise and patriotic. He has already re-
moved the troops from the State House
in Columbia and restored civil govern
ment to South Carolina. I hare no
doubt this will be followed by similar
movement in Louisiana. The disgrace
full sight of military force occupying
the Capitol Of State and refusing to
permit members of the Legislature take
their seats, will no longer be witnessed or
tolerated in Republic.
My decided conviction is that the Re-
publican party will never be in power
again after the end of President Hayes
term of Office, and I am sure the infamous
Radical party of South Carolina will
never again present candidate of their
own party for&Governor of the State.
They may support some mean Democrat
as an independent candidate. The col
ored people are beginning to see that
they have gained nothing by electing to
Office roguish carpet-baggers and scala:
wags. The Democratic party should
prove their sincerity to the colored people
by sharing with those who are COM
petent aud faithful the Offices and honors
! of the State.
In the course of time new Issues will
rise up, and new parties be organized. The
old ,vor ;oauoa ond hIondv ehirt will he