The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-09-08
chancery of Heaven, where no hu-
man power can make the erasure.''

Mr.. Editor, crave your patience
little longer, and beg your attention
to the first sentence in the article of
which complain. It reads thus: eff
Mr.. Wade Hampton is anxious to add
o deeper shame to o dishonored
name, he has attained that END by
his renewed attempts to hold Gen.
Sherman responsible for the burning
of Columbia and its terrible conse-
quences," &c. Now, sir, I speak for
every honest man between the noun
talns and the sea-coast, and between
the Savannah River and the Pee Dee,
when I say, eff this opinion and this
epithet are not equally revolving and
insulting. then the common sensibili-
ties of nature are made extinct by the
sufferings we have endured" If
Hampton" is ''dishonored name,"
there is none within the limits of this
down-trodden and prosecuted State
that can be considered as unsulied.
Here in South Carolina, and through
out the South, every human being
feels that where the name of Hamp-
ton is best known it is most ravered,
and he who bears it is the most be-
loved. Before the present ntincumben
saw the light, that name was identi-
fed with all that is brave, and honor
able, and generous. What O noble
sire (who emphatically and habitually
'sdid the honors" of his native State)
has left impressed upon the hearts Of
his countrymen as legacy to his
children, this slandered Mr.. Wade
Hampton, late Lieutenant-G General of
the Confederate army, will transmit
to another generation bright and un-
tarnlshed. If there is one among us
more cherished than the rest, it is he
upon whom this gratuitous assault is
SO brutally, and yet so feebly, made.
And il to-day or Tomorrow canvass
should be opened for our ''represen-
tative man." to fill the highest Office
in the gift of a heart-broken but
grateful people, none could be found
strong enough to compete with him
for their favor. And it would be
untrue to the living and the dead if
such were not the unanimous deci-
sion.
I have said that the historian must
find evidence as to the burning of
| Columbia, and he will find it. The
foolish attempt to hold Hampton re-
sponsible Is beyond the tether of his
last calumniator, and is hardly worthy
Of a serious refutation. These few
questions, when they are asked, will
be found difficult to answer. Where
was Hampton, when the conhagra-
ton began to take its regular course,
at 8 o'clock at night? Did the cotton
which was burning at the East end
of Main street travel against gale of
wind to the extreme West, more than
a mile off? Was it not there and then
that we were called on to perceive
that our doom was sealed? Why talk
of putting out the fire in q church
yard, when it is notorious that the sac
ramental 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
a shelter? Did he burn every farm
house on the way-side and away from
the way.slde--every grist mill and
flour mill? Did he burn Camden,
and Winnsboro, and Cheraw? Was
the quantity of silver plate taken from
the citizens of Columbia sold for
Hampton's benefit in New York and
elsewhere? Is it the necessary pro-
vince OF war to obliterate all mercy
and all shame? But enough. When
the Searcher of Hearts commences
his investigations" Hampton will
be found entreDched by truth-sur-
rounded by that strength which
prosperity and victory" cannot give,
and which "adversity and malignity''
cannot take away.
MIR. Editor, we are doing our best,
with Heavens s help, to have country
once more. North, South, East and
West are enlisted in this holy enter
prise. All have joined hands in this
sacred work, and Chief Magistrate,
distinguished for his high sense of
duty, and for his inhexible courage
IN its performance, wisely tells us, 'if
we cannot forget the past, we can
never have future;" and standing as
l do, almost in sight of the grave,
among the Oldest men in the State
that gave me birth, will say amen"
to their sentiment Let the past be
forgotten, if such is possible; at any
rate, let it not be referred to, if the
object is ''peace" and tho "hope" is
in the future.
am, very respectfully, your obe-
dent servant,
ALFRED HUGER.