The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1866-08-23
SPEECH OF GEN. WADE HAMPTON.

Brother Soldiers Of anderson deem mySelf
fortunate that accident has given me the pleasure
of meeting with you to-day, and of participating
in the laudablo objects contemplated by your meet
ing; and that pleasure is greatly enhanced by see
ing around me many of the brave men whom it
was my good fortune to command during the war.
These mountain regions gave to tho armies Of the
South some of our best soldiors and it is due to
theu that should declare, what do here with in
finite qualification, that had in my ranks mono
better, braver or moro devoted than the men Of
this and tho adjoining Districts In your pres
enco desire to tender to them my heartfelt thanks
for their conduct as soldiers. They have the
proud consciousness of having performed their
duty to the State and this will be some compensa-
ton to them 70 r the result of the war; And,
brother soldiers, whilst we acquiesce in the results
Of this war, let not admit that the cause of it
was unj njustifablc or wrong l occept the terms
upon which we laid down our arms, in good faith,
and it is our duty TO observe these terms faithful
y; but whilst do this, shall never say that we
had not right on our side-I shall never hold my
State as gully 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 docs failure always imply evil, wrong or false.
hood. If tho justice of cause always insured
success, Poland Hungary and Ireland would not
now sroan under the heel of the oppressor, nor
would the Sout. be reduced to the sad condition
in Which she finds herself to-day. But sad as is
the condition of our beloved land, we must not
o1-o
know that in years that are just passed, you re-
garded it as your highest duty to stand by your
colors. So now 1t 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 SO down with
her. For these reasons, have discouraged emf
grafton 1 believe it is our highest duty to assist
in the rc-establishment of law, order, peace; to
help the widows and orphans made by the war,
and to endeayor - raise our PROSTATE and bleed
ing country. We may not be able to do much to-
wards allcviating the suffering and sorrows Of our
people, but We can at least take share of them,
and thus tighten the general burden by distribu-
ting it amongst us all. To the accomplishment of
these obiects-tho highest that patriotism can in
spire-I invoke your earnest cooperation. 1t
will require all your energy, all your strength, oil
your endurance, to restore hope to our people or
vitality to our State
We can expect nothing from the Government of
tho United States, whatever party may be in pow
er. The Convention at clphia-whcre the
North and the South burying the past, we're to re-
establish liberty, equality, fraternity-has de-
clared the platform upon which the conservatives
propose to enter the next canvass. In the decla-
ration of principles. which compose that PLATFORM
see it announced that the brave soldiers and sail
ors who suppressed the rebellion arc entitled to
the thanks of the nation; that the debt incurred
in that holy crusade is to be sacred, and That al