Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1866-09-14
SPEECH OF GEN. HAMPTON

Lieutenant.General Wade Hampton was
passing through Anderson, 8. G. q few days
since. A number of people, among them
many soldiers once commanded by the gen.
eral, had assembled to organize q soldiers
association. The general was invited to
speak, and he did 50. After highly and feelS
ngly complimenting his former comrades, be-
said:
fnd, brother soldiers, whilst we acquiesce
in the results Of this war, let US not admit
that the cause Of it was unjustifable or
wrong. | accept the terms upon which we
laid down our arms in good faith, and It is
our duty to observe those terms faithfully,
but, whilst do this, | shall never say that
we had not right on our side--I shall never
hold my State as guilty, or her sons ss trsis-
ors. The cause is not to be Judged by success
or failure. Success does not inevitably mako
right or justice, nor does failure always im-
ply evil, wrong or falsehood. II the JUSTICE
of cause always insured success, Poland,
Hungary and Ireland would not now groaH
under the heel of the oppressor, nor world
the South be reduced to the sad condition In
which she finds herself to-day. But sad %
is the condition of our beloved Lad, we must
not forsake it. She has need of an her sous.
You know that in years that are inst passed
you regarded it as your highest duty to
stand by your colors. So now II Is your du-
ty to stand by your State. Her colors ass
nailed " the mast, and let us stand with her,
Give her all the aid you can, and IL she sinks,
at least let US go down with her, For those
reasons, have discouraged eihigration.
believe it is our highest duty to assist In the
establishment Of Law, order, peace; to
help the idows and orphans made by the
war, and TO endeavor to raise our PROSTATE
and bleeding coustry. We may not be able
to do much towards aleviating the suiferiug
and sorrows Of our people, hut We can n least
take our share of them, aud thus tighten the
general burden by distr'bu,ing Il amongst 10
all. To the accomplishment OF these objects
the highest that patriotism can inspire-f
invoke your earnest cooperation. IL will re-
quire all your endurance to restore hope to
our people or vitality to our State.
We esn exact nothing sfom tie government
OF the United States, whasevcr party may he
in power. The convention al PhiIalelphia-.s
where the North and the South, burying the
past, were to re- establish liberty, equality ira
ieudty---has declared the platform upoHshscb
the conservatives propose to enter the next
canvass. In the declaration Of principles
which compose that piatforln, see IL announ-
ced that the brave soldiers and sailors who
suppressed tue rebellion, are ertitfsd to he
thanks Of the nation; that the debt incurref
in that holy crusade is 10 be sacred; aud that
all Confederate debts are nun and void. We
pension the men who forged owr fetters; bse
the soldiers of the South, men viii. snapty
- ,I... a
me now-4-;ire TO be branded ssoutlKyss, rebels
and traitors. o. The fostering hand of the % :
ternal government foy which they Hoght, like
their hopes, Is dead, and they are thrown ON
the cold cha,Ay OF tlie world. Hlsour duty
to open our hearts and our hands 70 our brave
disabled soldiers, aud care for the G,miiies Of
those who fell In our defense. Whatevev
may have been the result on she tssAe IA
which they fsii, fenrember that they dicd fof
us 6ghting % they honestly believed, 10 mskss
us free. Thsy offered up their lives q wiIling
sacrifice for their country, aud sbause spos
the maa who would not help tsse wh0 have
lost their all in our behalf sAs~dl sevef turn
my back spon any brave sofdseT who stood
by his banner to t1ef last, tlo'Ugh that glofi.'
Eous banner may be forever futled; though
now
I "Yhsre's not rhati IL wave Il, II'N
And there's dot a soil 20 ssye II, fs
| And there's not one left 10 lsye IL,
In the blood which heroes gsve Il. I"
'Tis tue that We have but Halle left TO us :.
that we are impsverArst; hft we can at least
share our pig,anes Sah 'soss who have lost
all.
4 H N-.- 4-- 'f
Spr,rrya of the .x tent 10 which aazrieulti-.