The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1880-01-16
NUMBER 2.
LETTER FROM GOVERNOR B. F. PERRY.
The Meet Presidential EIcction- Ticus OF
Venerable Statesman.

1t seems, Mr.. Editor, that we have, in
deed, fallen on evil times, when dame ru-
NOR is trumpeting it abroad, uncontradictcd,
that General Grant is finding favor with
Southern Democracy for third term as
President Of the American republic. That
he should be the chosen favoritc of South
ern carpet bagScrs and seal!awags will not
surprise any one. But that the Southern
men, protesting to be Democrats, should
wish him sncccss in 1880 is incomprehcnsi.
ble Have they forgotten the eight Jlach
years that this tyrant had his iron heel on
the neck of South Carolina Do they re-
member that President Grant withdrew his
army from the defense of the frontiers of
tho United States, aud scattered it all over
the Southern States to sustain the ropues
aud scoundrels whom he had placed in Of
lice to plunder and rob an impoverished and
suffering people? lIavo they forgotten
shat ht filled our State House with armed
soldiers and fixed bayonets to keep out tho
legally elected representative Of the State !?
Like Cromwell, he dispersed the Lcgisa-
turc Of Louisiana, and drove them out of
their hall at the point Of the bayonet. IIo
sent his minious to Florida, South Carolina
and Louisiana, to sustain tho Returning
Boards in ialsiiying their returns and Civ
ing the electoral vote of those States TO
Hayes. Knowing that Tilden and Hendricks
had lccn elected and might be so declared,
Grant concentrated large military force
IN Washington to have Hayes and Wheeler
| inauguratcd President and Vice President.
When first elected, President Grant received
from wealthy men in New York and other
States and appointed these men members Of
his Cabinet. During the whole term of his
| Presidency he was surrounded by such cor
rupt scoundrcls as Bclknap, Babcock, Shop-
herd and others, whom he protected in their
rascality and who are still his associates
1t is a well known fact that Grant was con-
victcd by every member of Johnson's Cab
met of palpable lying and trcachory.
Now, if these quasi Democrats are in fa-
vor Of clcctng such man as u. S. Grant
i third time to the Presidential chair in Vi
olaton Of the example Of Washington and
| all the other American Presidents, they are
either fools or knavcs, or unprineinlcf
Swiss, ready to fight under any banner that
will pay and dishonor their State.
Who shall be tho next Democratic ee--
dldatc for the Presidency next fall ought TO
depend on who is supposed to be the most
available candidate Tildcn, Hen
dricks, Baya"d, Hancock, or any other truo
and honorable Democrat. The Southern
States should not be prominent in his NOM
nalion, but leave the selection entirely to-
Northern Democrats. No candidate should
be nominated whNis not able to carry New
York and Indiana. lr Tildcn and Hen
bricks could carry these States, their nomi-
nation would be 4 proper and hanlsomo
thing, as they were cheated out of their
election four years ago. But il would seem,
from the last election in New York, that
Governor Tildcn cannot unite the Demo-
cratic vote of that State. Governor Scy-.
mour, it is thought, could carry tho State
Of New York, but he will not consent to be
candidate. William Lowndcs, of South
Carolina, said that ''thc Presidency ought
not to be sought for or refused This
should be the doctrine Of every patriotic
statesman in the land.
The conduct of Tilicn and Hendricks,
| IN submitting to the inauguration OF Hayes
and Wheeler, under the circumstances, was
wise, unsclfish, and patriotic. The Demo
Gratis in Congress agreed to leave the whole
matter to arbitration. The arbitrators re-
fused to hear the testimony Of the gross and
well knowa frauds pcrpetrltcd in Louisiana
and Florida, and declared Hayes and
Wheeler elected, although they were beaten
by more than 100000 votes The Demo-
cratic party was bound in honor to abide
this unjust award Any attempt to inau-
guratc the candidates really elected would
have been revolution, and would have in.
volvcd the whole Union in bloody civil
| war.
South Carolina is now once more under
self government, and SO are all the other
Southern States and God forbid that Grant
and his army and his office thieves should
ever again have it in their power to disturb
these Democratic governments. 1t is all
nonsense to talk about dissolving old par
ties and forming new ones. Their princi-
Plies are inherent in our Federal Union, and
must always exist, no matter by what name
political parties may be called The Dem
ocrats arc for q strict construction Of the
Federal constitution, and the Republicans
for latitudinaran construction Of that great
charter. The Democrats arc in favor Of
States rights, free trade and no monopolics
clfgovcrnmcnt, and the equal protection
Of all the people, and an economical and
honest administration Of the Federal gov.
crnmcnt. The Republican party, under
every name they have assumed and dis
graccd, from that Of Fcderalists to that Of
Republicans, have been opposed to the rights
of the States and free trade. They have al
ways favored monopolies and legislated for
the benefit of wealthy capitalists. Thoy
have always favored prodigal expenditure
of public money and high salaries. In times
mast thew have attempted the liberty of tho