The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1866-09-05
[From tho American Patriot. I
Speech of Gen Hamilton,


aud was invited by the meeting to ad.
dress them His speech may therefore
DO regarded rs the spontaneous utter.
ancos Of that noble sentiment Of his
heart and viii be responded to by the
people Of thc State.
1t having been asccrtaincl that Gen.
Wade Hampton was in tho village,
upon motion a Committee Of three con-
Slsting oi Mai. John B. Moore, Col.
Samuel b. Pickcns and y. K. Brea
zealc, were appointed to wait npon and
invite him to attend and participatc in
tho meeting. Aftcr an absence of
few minutes. the Committee returned,
escortng tho General, who was rccciv-
ed with enthusiastic applause. The
Chairman having introduced him to The
assembly. before taking bis scat Gen.
Hampton delivered Il most appropriate
and bcau,llul speech.
"''->' ""O'' nN"''"N
Dro'hcr Soldiers Of dndcyson deem
myself fortunate that accident has given
mo the pleasure OF meeting with you
today, and OF participating in the lauda.
bic objects contemplated by your meet.
ing ;and that pleasure is greatly en-.
chanccd by seeing around me many Of
the brave men whom 1t was my good
fortune to command during the war.
These mountain regions gave TO the
armcs ot the South some Of our best
soldiers, and 1t is due 10 them that
should declare, what do here with in.
tlnitc qualification, Mat had IN my
ranks none better Drawer or more ,lrvol.
ca than the men ot this and the ad'oia-
ing Districts. Ii NoHi presence dc.
sire to tender to them my heart!ui thanks
tor their conduct rs soldiers. They
have the proud conscIouSM nss Of having
performed their duty to the State, aud
this viii TO some compensation to them
, tor tho result Of the war. And, brother
soldiers, whilst we acqucscc in the re,
suits OF this war, let us not admit that
the cause OF twas umJusliliablc or wrong.
l accept the terms upon which we laid
down our arms, in good faith, aud It is
our duty to observe these terms faithful
~; out whilst | 10 this, shall never
say that we had not right on our side
shals never hold my STATIC as gmlty
CT her SONS rs traitors. The cause is
MT TO hr jmgcd by 'ucccss or failure.
Success does not inevitably make righ,
or JnSllcr, nor docs failure always imply
evil wrong or lalsohood. II the justice
OF cause always insured success po
land, Hungary and ireland would no,
now groan under the hr"i OF the opprcS
sor, nor would the Sonth b" reduced to
the SAD condition IN whiri, She Iinds her
sell 10 day, But sad as IS the c""d-
ton OF our beloved land, we must no,
'orsaEe IT. S'he has need Of all her
sons. lou know that IN years that are
luSt passed, 80" regarded it rs your
ng"est onty TO Stand ny your colors
20 now II Is your duty to stand by your
state. iler colors are nailcd to the
mast, an" ict us stand or i'll with her.
H'Vc hrr AT he ald YOU can, and il she
s,nNS' ~ 'caSt ict us 60 down with her.
for these reasons have discouraged
em'S'a''oh' ! oei'cvc '''s our highest
anly 10 assist III the vc establishment OF
'aw' orIr', peace; to hrl? the widow $
"'t' ''"'N y '"c WIZ hHl I"
e""'a'"t !" r"'%r our FroS'ra'c and bleed.
lhS country. we may not be able to
40 mnch towards a'l"N'annE tho suffer.
hg ana sorrows OF OR people, but We
ca" "t 'caSI take our snare OF them, and
mus ighten tho general burihcn by dis
tr'o"l'hS 1t amongst us all. To ;hc
accomplishment OF these Objects the
m8hes! mat pate'ot'sm can inspirc--l
mv"Ne your earnest co operation II
~,'Afc9hrc your chdnrance to restore
nope 10 our people or vitality to our
o@a,c'
we can expect nothing from the
government OF the United States, what.
eyer party may bo IN power. The
convention at fmadclrla--whcrc the
1Vo''" ana 'o""'i'; A"rymS the past,
"e.' 10 r',cS''n's!' liberty, equality,
lro'ofh,y--has declared the platform
uPo" "''cn 'hc conservatives propose
~ e''et we n'N' canvas. In the dc.
c'ar"'''h or principles winch compose
''Iut pllllprIn, see in announced that