The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1866-09-08
Speech Of General Hampton.
Lieut. General Wade Hampton was

passing through Anderson, S. c., few
days since. A number ofpeople, among
them many soldiers once commanded
by the General, had assembled to Or
ganize Soldiers Association. The
General was invited to speak, and he
did so. After highly and feelingly
complimenting his former comrades,
he said
And, brother soldiers, whilst we
acquiesce in the results of this war, let
us not admit that the cause Of it was
unjustifiable or wrong. / accept the
terms upon which we laid down our
arms, in good faith, and it is our duty
to observe those terms faithfully: but
whilst | do this, shall never say that
we had not right on our side--I shall
never hold my State as guilty or her
sons as traitors. The cause is not to
be judged by success or failure. Sue
cess does not inevitably make right or
justice, nor does failure always imply
evil, wrong or falsehood. If the JUS
tice of q cause always insured success,
Poland, Hungary and Ireland would
not now groan under the heel of the
oppressor, nor would the South be re
duccd to the sad condition in which
she finds herself to day. But sad as is
the condition of our beloved land, We
must not forsakc it. She has need of
all her sons. You know that in years
that are just passed, you regarded it as
your highest duty to stand by your col
ors. So now it 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 60
down with her. For these reasons, |
have discouraged emigration. / be-
Iicve it is our highest duty to assist in
the establishment Of law, order,
peace to help the widows and orphans
made by the war, and to cndeavor to
raise our PROSTATE and bleeding coun-
try We may not be able to do much
towards alleviating the suffering and
sorrows of our people, but we can at
least take our share Of them, and thus
tighten the general burden by distribu-
ting it amongst us all. TO the, accom-
plishment of these objects-the highest
that patriotism can inspire-I Invoke
your earnest corporations. 1t will
require all your energy, all your
strength, all your endurance, to restore
hope to our people or vitality to our
State.
We can exact nothing from the Gov
crnment of the United States, whatev-
er may be in power The Convention
at Philadclphia--where the North and
the South, burying the past, were to
re establish liberty, equality, fraterni-
ty-has declared the platform upon
which the conservatives propose to
enter the next CANVASS. In the declara-
ton of principles, which compose that
platform, see it announced that the
brave soldiers and sailors who sup
pressed the rebellion are entitled to the
hanks Of the nation; that the debt in
cured in that holy crusade is to be sa-
,rcd, and that all Confederate debts are
null and void. We pension the men
who forged out fstters; but the sol
liers of the South-men with empty
sleeves or on crutches, such are seen
lround me now--are to be branded rs
outlaws, rebels and traitors. The fos-
;ering hand of the paternalG Government
or which they fought, like their hopes,
S dead, and they are thrown on the
cold charity Of the world. 1t is our
luty to open our hearts and our hands
10 our brave and disabled soldiers, and
,are for the families of those who fell
II our defence. Whatever may have
)een the result of the cause in which
hey fell, remember that they died for
Is fighting, as they honestly believed,
o make us free. They offered up their
ives willing sacrifice for their coun-
ry, and shame upon the man who
would not help these who have lost
here all in our behalf l shall never
urn my back upon any brave soldier
Who stood by his banner to the last,
housh that glorious banner may be for
ver furled; though now,
"There's not man to wave 10.
And there's not a soul to save it,
And there's not one to lave 1t.
In the blood which heroes gave it,
'Tis true that we have but little left to
IS: that we are impoverished; but we
an at least share our pittancc with
hose who have lost ALL
TO record the n.,mes OF those who
ought for us; to perpcsuate the history
f the gallant troops given by our State
0 the common cause to extend "ld TO
hose who are disabled, and those
hose protectors fell in the war, are
be noble purposes of your proposed
association. / wish you God-speed
1 this work. / congratulate myself
hat have been permitted to partici-
ate in these holy objects, and / pray
hat God may bless them to the fullest
xtent of your wishes. l thank you,
entlemen, for the courtesy you have s
xtended to me, and for the kindness