The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1866-09-19

their fate. 1t is the historians business
to find evidence to meet the case, not
mine, aud my voice would never have
ben heard had I not been unjustly
dragged before the public. The "truth
and tho whole TRUTH" will probably nev.
er appear but it IS ''recorded in tho
High Chancery of Heaven" where no
human power can make the erasure.
Mr.. Elitor--I crave yonr patience a
little longer, and beg your attention to
the first sentence in the articleof which l
I, complain. It reads thus: "If Mr.. Wade
Hampton is anxious to add a deeper
shame to dshonored name, he has at.
tanned that end by bis renewed attempts
to hold General Sherman responsible for
the burning Of Columbia and ts terrible
consequence" &c. Now, sir, I speak
for every honest man between the noun.
tains and the seacoast, and between tho
Savannah River and the Peedee, when
l say, "If this opiliion and this epthet
are not equally revolving and insulting,
then the common sensibilities of nature
arc made extinct by the sufferings we
have endured" If Hampton is eds
honored name," there is none within Tie
limits of this down.trod len and pcrsecu.
TED State that can be considered as un.
sullied. Here in South Carolina, aud
throughout the South, every human be-
ing, feels thut where the name Of Hamp.
ton is best known it is the most rcvcred,
and he who bears it is the most beloved.
Before the present incumbent saw tho
the light that name was identified with
all that was brave and honorable and gen.
erous. What noble sire (who cmphat.
cally and habitually "did the honors" Of
his native stale) has left impressed
upon the hearts of his countrymen as
legacy to his children, this slandercd Mr..
Wade Hampton. late Lieutenant. Gene.
raj of the Confederate army, will trans
nit to another generation, bright and
unta .nished. IF there is one among us
more cherished than the rost, it, is he
upon whom this gratu,tous- ssault is so
brutally and yet so feebly made. And
If to-day or tomorrow a canvass should
be opened for our representative man"
to fill the highest Office in the glft Of
brolen.heartcd but grateful people,
none could be found strong enough to
compete with him for their favor; and
il would be untrue to- esfsumg and tife
dead if such were rot the unanimous de-
cision. 1 have said that the historian
must get evidence as to the burning Of
Columbia, and he will find it; the fool.
ish attempt to held Hampton responsi.
bic is beyond the tcther Of his last ca
lumniator, and is hardly Of serious re.
futation. These few questions, when
they are asked, will bc found difficult to
answer. Where was Hampton when
the conhagration began to take its regu-
lar course at eight o'clock at nlght7
Did the cotton which.was burning at
the east end Of Main street travel against
a gallo of wind to TIC extreme west,
more shan mile OFF, Was it not there
aud then that we were called on to per.
ceive that our doom was sealed? Why
talk of putting out the fire in church
yard when it is notorious that the sacra.
ment silver belonging to the altar was
stolen, and think, subsequently, given
up Did Hampton burn the country
seats surrounding Columbia, leaving his
kith and kindred without shelter? Did
he burn every farm house on the way
side? every grist.mill and -four mill 2
Did he burn Camden, and Winnsboro,
and Cheraw? Was the quantity Of
silver plate taken from the cltizers Of
Columbia sold for Hapton's benefit in
New York and elsewhere ? Is it the
necessary province of war to obiiterate
all mercy and all shame? But enongh';
when the Searcher Of Hearts com,nen.
ces His investigations" Hampton will
DO found entrenched by truth-surround.
ed by that strength, which ':prosperrity
and victory cannot give. and which ad
versity and mallgnity" cannot take
away.
Mr.. Editor: We are doing our best
with Heavens help, to have country
once more. North, South East and
West, are enlisted in this holy enterprise.
All have Joined hands in this sacred
work, and Chief Magistrate, dstin.
guished for his high "sense of duty" and
for his infoxible Courage" in its perfor
nance, wisely tells us, 'f we cannot
forget tho past we can never have Il
future aal standing as I do, almost in
sight ofthe grave, AMONG thu Oldest men
in the State that gave me birth, will
say Amen to their sentiment. Let the
past be iapaptten, il such Is possible; at
any rate, Let it not be referred to if the
object is "peace, and the hope is in :, the
future.
am, veryrcspectfully, your obedient
servant,
ALFRED HUGER.
Tho Richmond Examiner says :
"Passengers from Hampton report
that General Armstrong has recently
made a speech to the freedmen at
Hampton, informing them that on the
lst of January they must leave the
lands they now occupy, and cinigratc
to Florida. eSomc forty families We
hear, have enrolled their names. This
is the only mode by which they can
escape great suffering from want dur
ing the coming winter"
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