The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1858-10-20
Senator Hammond.


delivered in July last, is still the subject of
remark and speculation by the newspaper
press. That speech, il viii be remember
cd, as reported, gave considerable dissatis-
faction to by far the larger portion of those
persons who were eager for and instrument
tai in his election. This feeling of dissat-
isiaction, however, was arrested before it
had fairly developed itself b y the announce
mcnt CrOm what authority we never dis
tnctlv understood,) that Sena Hammond
had repudiated the published report of his
speech, stating that his remarks had been
misunderstood, or misronstrncd, and that
he would take an early opportunity of set
ting himself right before his constituents
This announcement of the Senator's inten,
tion to explain was credited everywhere,
and thus the war Of opposition to his
speech nipped in the bud, public opinion
suspended, snd many doubtless supposed
that when the explanation did come il
would be all that the most ultra of the
States Rights party could desire.
Perhaps it will but q period of about
three mon,hs has elapsed, yet no correction
has been made and ]. is being manifest that
the patience of the pabic is well nigh ex-
haustcd. Ample time has been allowed for
the most elaborate explanations and had
the announcement of his intention 10 cx-
plain come from Senator Hammond
himself, we believe, from his charac-
teristic promptitude and straight forward
independence, it would have been made
long ago. But we are now disposed to
question the authority of the rumor Of mis-.
reprcsel. tation and to adopt the inferance,
which his continued silence warrants, via
that the report o: the Beech Island speech
was n correct exposition Of the Senator's
views, or so nearly so that he considers no
correction Of il necessary.
The truth Is, the party that elected Sena.
tor Hammond, or many Of them at least,
have been deceived in him, and it is their
own fault that they have been deceived
They attributed to him ultra Southern no.
ti"ns upon the then questions of the day,
which he never entertained md his present
position, rs we are all led to understand il,
is not Inconsistent with his past political
character. PICKEss was defeated because
he was too national and HAMMOND elected,
contrary to his expressed wishes, under the
prevailing belief 'tha. he was sectional, that
he favored South Carolina isolation and
would disdain to, affiliate with any but a
Southern party, .Ne thought then, as we
DO now, that there was no material distinc-
ton between the two, politically that both
had taken, and that either would again take
high Southern ground unon any important
ISSUE before the conntry but that neither
would seek an issue unless the endangered
rights and honor Of the South required IL,
and that dissolution of the Union, under
all circumstance es was not desired by either,
but rather preservation Of it, under princi-
pies ofjustiee and equality.
Senator Hammond had been for a num-
Der Of years 10 retirement, but his name
was associated with the high and determin.
ed position which he at one time took upon
the slavery question, when our institutions
were threatened with immediate danger and
abolitionism was at its zenith. The ultra
party in Ibis State er:oneously argued from
this, that he was The man to carry out their
principles and hasten dissolution of the
Union but the aspect Of affairs have chan
ged within the last ten years and Senator
Hammond now sees no cause for buster
and strife and indignation speeches. lie
has not, however, lowered the tone and sen-
timent which gave him the character Of a
sf'unch Southern Rights man, and when
the danger which some apprehend and an
ticipnte really approaches, we venture he
will be found among the first TO buckle on
the armor Of defence and the last to yield
point where honor and principle are con-
cerncd.
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Ill