Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-05-05
wade Hampton 10 the Rescuei !

General Wade Hampton, the chival-
: rous South Carolina traitor whose ragged
tagamufins Kilpatriek's raiders whipped
all the way from Milledgeville to Colds
boro, land whose cousin has just become
Postmaster of Pittsburgh by the grace OF
President Johnson,) is neither dead nor
in Mexico. He has turned up in a place
called "Wild Woods" Mississippi. He
has heard Of General Sherman's letter
throwing the responsibility of the burn
ing of Columbia upon the rebels, and he
writes to Senator Reverdy johnson
wrathy and insolent contradiction Of it.
As we read the letter we are amused to
observe that Mr.. Wade Hampton, Traitor,
is indignant because he is denied his
rights. 1t was scarcely, a year age, if
we remember correctly, on the occasion of
the surrender of Johnston TO Sherman,
that this doughty rebel refused to be in
cluded in that surrender, and announced
his intention to fight the hated government
of the United States until he died, if he
had to fight alone. 1t is proof of the
sovereign efficiency of Johnsons policy |
that under it Mr.. Wade Hampton is fully |
reconstructed" The fre-eater is trans
formed. He "roars as gently as suck
ing dove" But twelve month since, he |
swore, by the honor of Carolinisn, to
die in arms against the Government.
Now he whines pathetieally because he is |
not represented in that Government. any |
State, : he tearfully remarks, 'hss no rep |
resentative in that city" What city Mr..
h. refers TO is somewhat indefinite, but |
we are left to infer that it is the city of |
Washington, still girdled with forts to
protect her from the ravsges of Mr.. H.
and his friends. He continues "Those
"whoshould be there are debarred the right
"ofentranee." (So doubtless, he felt in
1864, when General Early twas debarred
the right of entrance" to Hthat city" by our
brave Ohio boys.) '1n those halls there
''are none to participate in the legislation
Hwhich governs her, none to impose the
"taxes she called upon to pay, and none
10 defend her or to vindieate her sons
"from Misrepresentation, injustice or SIAN
der" Too bad, isn't it, Oh, wronged
and innocent South, oh, unhappy and
ill-starred rebels, oh, outraged and
insulted Hamptonl But he contin-
ues. "Under these circumstance"
he does the best thing he can.
There being no out-and-out rebelsi Con-
gress, he very naturally sends his COM
plants to Copperhead We.admire Mr..
Hamptons shrewdness, and beg leave to
assure him that he and all other traitors
W Ill not lack for defenders in the United
States Senate, SO long as there is Sauis-
bury, a Cowan or Garret Davis in that
hon orable body. After this flaming exor-
dium, Mr.. Hampton denies "most emphati-
callyn the charges of General Sherman de-
clares that Columbia was burned by our
soldiers, deliberately, systematically,
strociously !" and asks Congress to inves-
tigate the matter, and thus "fx upon the
proper author of that enormous crime the
infamy that he deserves"
Some papers Seem inclinedto to blame Mr.
Reverdy johnson for having this letter
read in the Senate of the United States.
We, on the contrary, feel obliged to him.
It affords the country the most complete
and characteristic specimen of rebel inso-
lence which we remember to have hoard
of. 1t is ''rare and perfect ehrysolite'
of contumacy. 1t is the sublimity of i'm
pudenee. The burning of Columbia is an
act for which no loyal man will shed many
tears. 1t shortened the war, for it taught
Mr.. Wade Hampton and his friends that
the North was in earnest. But, whether
this be so or not the attempt of this un-
hung scoundrel to raise an issue of veracity
with General Sherman, and to make Con-
gress arbitrator between Jkhe loyal con-
dueror and the conquered traitor is beyond
expression sudacious and insulting. 1t
affords us an example of the perfect fruits
of the Presidents policy, and the course
which things will take should that policy /
succeed. /