The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1865-1866, 1865-12-01
Wade Hampton's Letter.


days, for an uncertain period, I cannot
do so without expressing to my fellow
citizens my profound sense of the honor
paid to IN, bv the vote given to me in
the resent election for Governor. In re-
turni, & my thanks to them for the late
spontanip;ls and extraordinary maniScsta-
ton Of their kiudress, It is due to them
that | should site the reasons which i'll
duccd me to decline to be candldate.--
In the first place, the Convention which
gave tie election of Governor to the pco>
pie, had, with singular unanimity-
though not III lher public capacity-re.
quested the distinguished gentleman who
has been elected, to become candidate
tor the Office. This lie consented to do,
though, doubtless, at great personal incon-
veniencc and Heavy sacrifice to lis per-
sonal interests. - Uudcr these circum>
stances | Was unwilling to do any thing
that might cause political contest in the
State. I thought that no good could ar
ise at home from such a contest, whilst it
might do us Infinite mishicf abroad. The
President of the United States had ex.
hibited not ouly strong disposition to
protect the South from the radicalism of
the North, but to rcinstate US in our civil
and political rights. feared that my
clcction-by embarrassing lin in his la
hors and poliey-misht incidentally do
harm to the State. oupcraicd to these
considerations Of a public character, de-
terring me from appearing as candidate,
there were others Of a private nature not
less strong. My affairs, neglected for five
years. inperativcly demanded my person
al attention. Had | believed that my
election as Governor could really benefit
the State, or subsere any of her true: in
tcrests, no sacrifice of a private nature,
however great, would have deferred me
from accepting that or any other position
to which She night lave called me ; bDt
regarding my nomination only as COM
pliment from some of my former cons
rades, l felt at liberty to decline, thsugh
deeply sensible of the honor paid me by
the nomination. and the manner in
which it was received throughout the
State.-These reasons, which | hope you
will understand and appreciate, impelled
me to withdraw my name. Having CIV
en- the reasons for the course I pursued,
and expressed my thanks for your gen,
erous confidence in me, I should p,rhaps
close. But the evidence lou have Civ
cd of your kindness to and confidence in
mo evidence as unexpected as it is
neutrality-suspicious. me, | trust, with
out presumptieI, 70 adj a lev words q
counsel.
For years past it has lecn..tle boast of
our State that there was but one party
within her limits. CommenAable and
vital as that state Of affairs was during
the war, lis scarcely, if at all, less so
now. Every association c. the past, every
duty of the present, every hope of tie
future, bids. us still to stard "siInuldcr to
shoulder" The work before us demands
all the patriotism, all the courage, all the
endurance of our whole people. Let no
party strife, no minor issues, 10 party
politics, divert US from tic great ana
pressing work of the hour-that of rcau.
imating, as far as possible, nur PROSTATE
and bleeding State, and rchabitipg her
as speedily as may be, with the forms,
the rights and the sanctity of government
and Of law.
That bark, which was launched a few
years ago amid such joyous accamations,
which was freighted with such precious
hopes, aud which was waited on by such
earnest prayers, has suffurcd Ship
wreck. 1t bebocyes us, as wise men, to
build of its broken timbers, as best we
may, raft, whenever We may hope to
reach haven of rest and safety.
1t may he that when the forms of gov.
erument are restored, and freedom of
speech allowed to lis, your late Conven>
tion will be subjected to harsh criticism
and its action impugncd. Should such,
unaappily, be the case, remember that
you, the people of South Carolina, ac-
copied this Convention as part and par
eel of the terms of your surrender, The
President had no shadow of authority,
admit-under the Constitution of the
United States-to order Convention
in this or any other State; but, as a
conqueror, lie had the right to offer, if
rot dictate, tcrns. The terms offered
BY him you have accepted, and you arc
by every dictate of honor and of
siness, to abide by them honestly,
essecp, in good faith, the pledges you
have Z iven. | 90 not, myself, concur
fully in all the measures adopted 10y the
Convention, but shall chcerfnlly acqui-
csce in the action it took 10 carry out
faithfully the terms agreed on, and kwiI-
lingly accord to it high prais- for t!u
manner in which it discharged its arlu
GUS ami unwcIconlc labors. No simil;l
body ever represented more largely than
it did the dignity, the learning, the virtue
aud the patriotism Of the State, and ar
sure that it WAS actuatcd by pure anc
high motives.
! Entertaining these views, tthink thai i:
| Ie Al.