The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-09-12
speech Of Gen. wade Hampton.

At meeting held by the solulels OIL An
derson District for the purpose Of forming
Soldiers Association, Gen. Wade Hampton
was waited upon by committee, and in re-
spouse delivered fine following speech
BRorEER SoLp1ERs OF ANDERSON: I deem
myself fortunate that accident has given me
the pleasures of meeting with you to-day,
and of participating in the laudable objects
contemplated by your meeting; and that
pleasure is greatly enhanced by seeing around
me MANY Of the brave men whom it was my
good fortune to command during the war
These mountain regions gave to the armies
of the South some Of our best soldiers, and
it is due to them that should declare, what
do here with infinite qualification, that l
had in nv ranks none better, drawer or more
devoted than the men of this and the adjoin-
ing districts. In your presence l desire TO
tender to them my heartfelt thanks Tor their
conduct as soldiers. They have the proud
consciousness of having performed their duty
to the State, and this will be some compen-
sation to them for the result OF the War.
And, brother soldiers, while we acqulesce IN
the result, let us not admit that the cause 1t
self was unjustifable or wrong accept the
terms upon which we laid down our arms in
good faith, and it is our duty to observe
these terms faithfully but while l do this,
shall never say that we had not right on
our side-I shall never hold my State as gull
ty or her sons as traitors. The cause is not
to be Judged By success or failure. Success
does not inevitably make right or truth or
Justice, nor does failure always imply evil,
wrong or falsehood. If the justice of accuse
always insure success, Poland, Hungary and
Ireland would not now groan under the heel
of the oppressor, nor would the South be re-
duced to the sad condition in which she finds
herself to-day. But sad as is the condition
of our beloved land, we must not forsake it.
She has need of all her sons. You know
that in years that are just passed you regard
ed it as your highest duty to stand by your
colors So now it is your duty to stand by
your State Her colors are nailed to the
mast and let us stand or fall with her. Give
her all the aid you can, and if she sinks, at
least let us go down with her For these rea-
sons have discouraged emigration. be-
lieve it is our highest duty to assist in the
reestablishment of law, order, peace; to help
the widows and orphans made by the war,
and to endeavor to raise our PROSTATE and
bleeding country. We may not be able to
do much toward alleviating the suffering and
sorrows of our people, but we can at least
take our share of them and thus tighten the
general burden by distributing it among us
all. To the accomplishment of these objects
the highest that patriotism can inspire-I
invoke your earnest cooperation. 1t will re-
quire all your energy, all your strength all
your endurance, to restore hope to our peo-
,>Ia .%ol.< 10 to<a
nothing from the Government of the United
States, whatever party may be in power
The Convention at Philadelphia the
North and South, burying the past were to
reestablish liberty, equality, fraternity-has
declared the platform upon which the Con-
servatives propose to enter the next canvass
In the declaration of principles which COM
pose that platform, I see it announced that
the brave soldiers and sailors who suppress
ed the Rebellion are entitled to the thanks of
the Nation that the debt incurred in that
holy crusade is to be sacred, and that all
Confederate debts are null and void. We
pension the men who forged our fetters but
the soldiers of the South-men with empty
sleeves OF on crutches, such as are seen around
me now-are to be branded as outlaws, reb-
els and traitors No fostering hand of pa
ternal Government soothes or cares for their
widows and orphans. The country and Gov
eminent for which they fought, like their
hopes, arc dead, and they are thrown on the
cold charity of the world. 1t is our duty to
open our hearts and our hands to our brave
disabled soldiers, and care for the families of
those who fell in our defense. Whatever
may have been the result of the cause in
which they fell, remember that they died for
us, fighting, they honestly believed, 10 make
US free. They offered up their lives will
ing sacrifice for their country, and shame on
the man who would not help those who have
lost their all in our behalf. 1 shall never
turn my back upon any brave soldier who
stood by his banner to the last, though that
glorious bannermay be forever furled; though
now
"There's not mar to wave it
And there's not soul to save il,
And there's not one left to lave it,
In the blood which heroes gave it,
IT'S true that we have but little left to us
that we are impoverished: but we can at
least share onr pittance with those who have
lost ALL To record the names of those who
fought for us; to perpetuate the history of
the gallant troops given by our State to the
common cause, to extend aid to those who
are disabled, and to those whose protectors
fell in the war, are the noble purposes ofyour
proposed Association. I wish you God-speed
in this good work. l congratulate myself
that 1 have been permitted to participate in
these holy objects, and pray that God may
bless them to the fullest extent of your wish
es. thank you, gentlemen, for the courtesy
you have extended to me, and for the kind
ness with which you have received me-
RATTLEsNAKE CHARMING TURKEYs.-A