The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-01-21
Cfublished by Request.)
ADDRESSES DELIVERED BEFORE
A PUBLIC MEETING, HELD IN
RICHLAND FORK. NOVEMBER
REMARKS OF GEN. HAMPTON.

2a, 1865.
REMARKS OF GEN. HAMPTON.
|, fetlotc- Citizens of RiclLldad District /
thank You for the honor you have paid to
me by asking me to consult with you on
the grave issue before US. And, whilst your
partiallty may induce you to attach greater
weight to my opinions than they deserve,
you cannot, l assure you, over-estimate
the zeal, the earnestness, and the sincerity
which l would bring to any consultation
involving the welfare or honor Of our State.
And, If there is one thing in this world
which, moro than another, could stimulate
that zeal, or gain greater strength to that
earnestness, or deepen that sincerity, it
would be the fact that am addressing my
old and honored constituents, and that We
have for the subject of discussion the pros
perity of Richland District. Mr.. Randolph
once declared that " no man ever had such
n constituency as he had" I can, with
equal truth, reiterate that declaration
and do so with nm honest pride. Years
ago, without any agency on my part, you
called me from private life to represent you
in the Legislature. and at each succeeding
election l had but renewed evidences of
your regard and confidence. And when
legislation and craftsmanship failed to
secure to us our rights, and our State
trusting more to the Justice of her cause
than to numbers, buckled on her armor
for an appeal to the last great resort of
nations, it was my good fortune to lead
many OF the sons of Richland forth to
battle. No District in our State contribu-
ted moro largely of treasure, aud Of still
more precious blood, than ours did. Ihave
seen her sons bearing, with heroic forti-
tude, privations at which the boldest might
we'll be appalled,. have seen them on
many bloody battlefield, bearing a'oft
the banner of our State as far into the
fight and as nobly as did any others. Ano
have seen many, too many, alas seal
their devotion to their country with their
blood,
s'And sink to rest
By all their country's virtues blcst.''
All these memories come thronging thick
and fast upon me now, and should be false
to them, false to you, and false to the best
instincts OF my heart, could forget them,
or fail to respond promptly to any call you
could make upon me. I come, therefore,
most cheerfully, in response to your invita-
tion to consult with you upon our prospects
and our duties and your Chairman has
we'll said that no graver issues were ever
forced upon a people for solution, than
those now presented to us, and upon their
solution depends, in a great measure, the
future Of our country. On the surrender
OF the Confederate armies, the people of
bleeding, helpless and ell-nigh hopeless
Nearly the whole Of our territory had been
devastated by warfare, savage and inhu-
man to degree hitherto unknown amongst
nations claiming to be civilized. And, as
if to cut off all hope of recupcration, our
system of labor, which had existed for con-
turies, blessing the land with plenty, whilst
it christianized and civilized our laborers,
was violently swept away by q single des-
potic stroke of the pen. This was the con-
dition in which VIC found ourselves when
our armies laid down their arms. and one
more nearly despotic it is difficult to imu-
ginc. The President of the United States,
In his capacity not only as the Chief Execu-
tive of the nation, but as Commander-in-
Chief, i'll his proclamation of May 29th,
there offered terms to us under certain con-
dltions. These terms, with which you are
all familiar, We accepted, and we are now
bound, by every consideration Of self-re-
spect-every dictate Of honor-every i'm
pulse Of true manhood-to abide by man
fully and honestly. | do not propose to
discuss these terms nor will say that it
was the true policy of the South to accept
them. l only state the fact that our people
accepted them, and I, therefore, regard
them as binding. The main condition of
action Of the United States Government
hinges-was the requisition made upon us
to recognize the abolition of slavery Your
Convention has declared that slavery shall
exist in this State no longer. Your Legs-
lature has ratified the amendment of the
Constitution of the United States, abolish
ing slavery, and the freedom Of the negroes
Is fixed and irrevocable fact, and the
sooner we recognize and act upon this fact,
the better it will be for all parties. The
relative positions of the two races are
changed, but there need be no antagonism
between them. Our fields must be titled
Unless this is done, and done speedily,
famine will destroy what little has escaped
fire and the sword. How are these desc
lated fields to be cultivated? I answer, by
the same labor that reclaimed them from
the savage wilderness and made them rich
hal
staple which not only gave to us our wealth,
but built the cities Of the North and covered
every sea with Northern commerce The
same trained laborers who produced these
golden harvests are amongst us, and be-
heve that their services can still be made
available. How can this result, so desira-
BILE to the whole country, be obtained? We
can accomplish it, in my opinion, but in
one way, and that will be by dealing with
the negro fairly, frankly and equitabiy.
Let him sec that we not only recognize his
newly acquired rights, but that we will
protect h m in the enjoyment of these
rights. Necessity will soon teach him that
he is not exempt from the primal curse
denounced by the Almighty sIn the
sweat Of thy face shalt thou eat bread till
thou return unto the ground" When this
great lesson has been learned, he must
seek employment. Meet him kindly; en-
courage him when he is disposed to do
well !: offer fair terms to him, and whilst
you demand from him strict observance
of his obligations. carry out honestly and
fully your agreement with him. Show him
fhot tho white r,op of ;e l. So,