The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1886-12-09
A NOTED CAROLlNIAN GONE.
Dca,l, Of the Venerable Ex-cov. rorr,

GEEENvILLE, December 9.-Hon.
Benjamin Franklin Perry, Ex-Governor
OF the State of South Carolina, died at
Sans souci, his country residence, four
miles from, this city, at half.pastl O'Clock
this morning. Death was produced by
vnvular disease of the heart, and was
sudden and, Mt the moment, unexpected,
although the family had been warned by
the Governors physician that the dread
stroke might come at any moment. a
month ago he had an attack similar to
the one which caused his death, and three
weeks after The attack was repeated in a
more violent form, but for the past few
days his condition has been regarded as
more favorable. Last night, however,
his condition was manifestly worse, and
his family were with him until a late
hour, although no physician was sum-
moned. He seemed to improve, aud the
members of the family retired. A little
after l o'clock servant, who was in the
room, noticed difficulty in the Cover
nor's breathing, and to relieve it he as
sisted him in turning over. In q few
moments, aud before his children could
reach his bedside, the venerable Cover.
nor had breathed his last, peacefully and
seemingly without pain. His wife, two
of his Sons, Congressman William II.
Perry, and b. +. Perry, Jr., and his only
daughter, Mrs. VIM. Beattie, were near
him, although the sudden stroke did not
permit them to watch his last moments.
Intelligence of the sad event was imme.
diately brought to this city, and messages
were sent to the Governors other son,
DR.. Hext NJ. Perry, in Philadelphia, and
to his young grandson, B. F. Perry Beat
tie, who is attending the South Carolina
College.
The funeral ceremonies will be per-
formed in Christ (Episcopal) Church on
Sunday morning. Since his retirement
from active political life Governor Per-
~ has lived quietly at his elegant coun-
try home near this city, where he has
been surrounded by his family and by a
people who have always lavished upon
him the highest regard and yenera.
ton, amounting to reverence. He has
nominally remained member of the
law firm of Perry, Perry & Hayward, and
it has been his custom for many years to
spend part of every day in the Office OF
the firm. He continued to do so until
his first attack month ago, but since
then he has been confined to the house.
Aside from this daily visit to the law
Office he has mingled little in the active
affairs of life, though he was from force
of nature close student of current events
and political phenomena. The public
have caught glimpses of him only
through occasional newspaper sketches
and The publication of his book, "Re.
miniscences of public men," His closing
days formed fitting finale to life OF
burning and restless activity. At the
ripe age of 81, surrounded BY devoted
and afectionate family, he has performed
peacefully the last act in the drama OF
life, which he had acted so we'll.
BENJAMIN Franklin Perry was born in
Pendleton District, South Carolina, on
November 20, 1905. His childhood and
youth we're given to farm work and study.
From his boyhood he manifested passion
for books, and read everything he could
Law his hands on. At Asheville. North
Carolina, he commenced the study OF
the Languages, and it is related of him
that in less than week be committed to
memory the,whoe of the Latin grammar.
In the course of ten months he read all
the Greek and Latin books required for
entering the junior class of the Charles
ton College.
In 1924 Mr.. Perry entered the law
office of Judge Earle, and in 1926 was
admitted to the Bar. Commencing the
practice OF his profession at Greenville
he speedily took an active part in public
affairs. In 1892 he was the editor Of a
newspaper published at Greenville, in
which he vigorously championed the
Union cause as opposed to Notification.
His paper, the Mountaineer, soon became
powerful organ of the Union party.
In the Union Convention. which met in
Columbia in 1882, he was the associate
of such men as Judge Huger, Chief JUS
tice O'Neall, Governor King, Judge
Richardson and James l.. Petigru.
Iu 1884 Mr.. Perry was the nominee OF
the Union party for Congress. and was
beaten by only sixty votes. Soon after
he withdrew from politics and devoted
himself to his profession and to literature.
In 1886, however, he was elected mem.
Der of the Legislature, aud in that body
strenuously opponcd the agitation of the
slavery question and the annexation OF
Texas. Among the measures of reform
he introduced were bills for the establish.
ment of penitentiary system, for the
election of the Governor by the people,
for the election of Presidential electors
by the popular vote, for the equal repre-
sentation of the upper and lower country
in the Senate, and for the blending OF
the Courts of law and equity.
He was elected to the State Senate in
1874 and was in that body when Mr..
Hoar was sent by Massachusetts to South
Carolina for the purpose of effecting the
release of certain colored sailors, citizens
of Massachusetts, then confined in Jail
according to the laws of South Carolina
in force at that time. 1t is related of
Governor Perry that be was the only
Senator who spoke and voted against the
expulsion of Mr.. Hoar FROM the State.
In 1850 the political excitement in the
State was commenced, but Governor
Perry remained Union man, and in his
paper at Greenville advocated boldly the
anti. secession cause. In the Legislature
he made vigorous speech on the Union
side. Mr.. Perry was a member of the
State Convention of 1851, and in the
Spring of 1860 was a delegate to the
National Democratic Convention which
met at Charleston. When the South
Carolina delegates withdrew from that
Convention Governor Perry declined to
depart and remained in the Convention.
Later n the year, when secession was
contemplated, he warned the people that
they were about to plunge the country
into bloody civil war. Even in Green.
Vile, where he had never failed in thirty
years to secure a majority of votes in
every election when he was a candidate,
ne was beaten as 8 Candidate for the
Convention.
The State having seeded, Governor
Perry announced the broad principle that
,,d r;otsoro rontiro,1 III IN