The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1866-10-25
Wade Hampton on the Crisis.

| vi tuo bp6tCu VI OOu' w "u0 -AA'sA' PN~
delivered before the "Soldiers' Assocla
ton" at Walhalla, South Carolina, on tn
| 22d ultimo:
I have placed before you the record o
the South and that of the North. LIE
the world decide which is entitled to hon
or-which to shame. have drawn il
dark colors, but alas in too true ones
the condition of our country, and I nov
turn to the discussion of what should b'
our policy. In the anomalous condition
in which we are placed, it is a matter o
great difficulty to mark out the proper
course for US to pursue, but there arc Ger
tain cardinal principles of which we shoulc
never lose sight. The first of these is
that as we accepted the terms offered tc
us by the North in good faith, we are
bound by every dictate of honor to abide
by them fully and honestly. They are
none the less binding on us because the
dominant and unscrupulous party ct the
North refuse to accord to us our just
rights Let US, at least, prove ourselves
worthy of the rights we claim; let US set
an example of good faith, and we can
then appeal with double effect to the JUS
tice and magnanimity of the North.
These virtues, 1 would fain hope, are
not totally extinct among that people,
and there are brave men there, who are
battling for justice, for constitutional lib
erty, for the equality of all the States,
and for the rights of the South. The on
ly hope, not alone for the South, but for
freedom itself, on this continent, lies in
the success of this party. We are their
natural allies, and l would sacrifice much,
where honor and principle are not inva-
ded, and then would not yield one jot
or title, to strengthen their hands in the
great contest, which is soon to decide the
fate of Constitutional Liberty and Repub-
lican Institutions in the United States.
The President of the United States has
lent the great influence which his high
position, bis strong intellect, his firm pur-
pose and his indomitable will, give, to this
new conservative party, and to his sup
port every Southern man should rally
cordially.
We may, perhaps, feel that he has not
gone to the extent of his power or of our
expectations in carrying out his policy to
it's legitimate ends, but we cannot forget
that he has been the only bulwark to
stand between our unhappy country and
certain, irretrieyable and everlasting ruin.
But for him, the horrors we endured du-
ring the war would have been tar sur
passed by those of peace. And though
differing with him in many points, l
cheerfully accord to him the highest praise
for the brave and patriotic stand he has
taken in defence of the South and of the
Constitution. There is one other point
on which there should be no misunder-
as to our position, no loop on
which to hang possible construction as
to our views, and that is the abolition of
slavery. 1 have already intimated that
the mode by which the North secured the
of the South in the consum-
nation Of this purpose was breach OF
faith on her part.
Of all the Inconsistencies of which the
North has been guilty-and their name is
is greater than that by
which she forced the Southern States,
while rigidly excluding them from the
Union, to ratify the constitutional amend
ment abolishing slavery, which they could
do legally only as States of that Union.
But the deed has been done, and 1, for
one, do honestly declare that l never wish
to see it revoked Nor do I believe that
the people of the South would now re-
mand the negro to slavery if they had the
power to do so unquestioned. Under our
paternal care, from q mere handful, he
grew to be mighty host. He came to
us heather, we made him Christian.
Idle, vicious, savage in his own country ;
in ours he became Industrious, gentle,
civilized. Let his history as slave be
compared hereafter with that which he
will make for himself as freedman, and
by the result of that comparison we are
willing to be judged. A great RESPONSE
biGty is lifted from our shoulders by this
emancipation, and we willingly commit
his destiny to his own hands, hoping that
he may prove himself worthy of the new
position in which he has been placed. AS
slave he was faithful to us; as o freed
man, let us treat him as a friend. Deal
with him frankly, justly, kindly, and my
word for it he will reciprocate your kind
ness, clinging to his old home, his own
country and his former masters. If you
wish to see him contentcd, Industrious
useful, aid him in his effort to elevate
himself in the scale Of civilization, and
thus fit him not only to enjoy tho bles
sings of freedom, but to appreciate its
duties.
The essential points, then, in the policy
we should pursue, are, it appears to me
these: That we should fulfil all the obli
cations we have entered into, to the let
ter, keeping our faith so clear that nj
shadow of dishonor can fall on US /; tha
we should sustain Mr.. Johnson cordially
in his policy, giving our support to tha
party which rallies around him., that. W.
should yield full obedience to the laws o