Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1866-09-11
Speech of Gen. Wade Hampton.


derson District for the purpose of forming a
Soldiers Association, Gen. Wade Hampton
was waited upon by committee, and in re-
sponse delivered the following speech:
Brother Soldiers of Anderson 81 deem
myself fortunate that accident has given me
the pleasure of meeting with you to-day, and
of participating in the laudable objects con-
templated by your meeting and that pleasure
is greatly enhanced by seeing around me
many of the brave men whom it was my good
fortune to command during the war. These
mountain regions gave to the armies of the
South some of our best soldiers, and it is due
to them that [ should declare, what | do here
with Infinite qualification, that | had in my
ranks none better, braver or mare devoted
than the men of this and the adjoining dis
trlcts. lu your presence l desire to tender
to them my heartfelt thanks for their conduct
as soldiers. They have the proud conscious
ness OF having performed their duty to the
State, and this will be some compensation to
them for the result of the war And bro
ther soldiers, while we acquiesre in the re-
suit, let US not admit that the cause of it was
unjustihabie aud wrong. | accept the terms
upon which we laid down our arms in good
faith, and it is our duty to observe these terms
faithfully; but while I do this, l shall never
say that we had not right on cur 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. Success does not inevita-
bly, make right or truth or justice, nor does
failure always imply evil, wrong or falsehood
Ii the justice of a cause always insure sue
cess, Poland, Hungary and Ireland would not
now groan under the heel of the oppressor,
nor would the South be reduced to the sad
condition in which she finds herself to day
But, sad as is the condition of our beloved
land, we must not forsake it. She has need
OF all her sons. You know that in years that
are Just passed you regarded it as your high
est duty to stand by your colors. 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 go down
with her. For these reasons have discourts
aged emigration. | believe 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 endcavor to raise
our PROSTATE and bleeding country. Wemay
not be able to do much toward alternating the
suffering and sorrows of our people, but we
can at least take our share of them, and thus
Tighten the general burden by distributing it
among us all. To the accomplishment of
these objects-the highest that patriotism
can inspire-I invoke your earnest co-opera-
ton. 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 expect nothing from the Government
OF the United States, whatever party may be
IN power. Tie Convention at Philadelphia
where the North and the South, burying the
past, were to re- establish liberty, equality,
trgtn -haCH Il Al
which the Conservatives propose to enter the
next canvass In the declaration of princi>
pies which compose that platform, l see it
announced that the brave soldiers and sailors
who suppressed the rebellion arc eutitled to
the thanks OF the nation; that the debt in
CURED In that holy crusade is to be sacred,
and that all Confederate debts are null and
void. We pension the men who forged our
letters; but the soldiers of the South-men
with empty sleeves or on crutches, such as
are seen around me now-are to be branded
as outlaws rebels and traitors No fostering
hand of paternal Government soothes or
cares for their widows and orphans The
country and Government for which they
fought like their hopes are dead, and they
are thrown on the cUld charity of the world
1t IS our duty to open our hearts and our
hands to our brave disabled soldiers, and care
for the families of those who fell in our de-
tense. Whatever may have been the result
OF the cause in which they fell, remember
that they died for us, fighting, as they hon
estly believed, to make us free They offered
up their lives willing sacrifice for their
country, and shame on the man who would
not help those who have lost their all in our
behalf. shall never turn my back upon
any brave soldier who stood by his banner to
the last, though that glorious banner may be
forever furled; though now
''Fhere's not man to wavcit
And there's not soul to save it,
And there's not one left TO lave il
In tie blood which heroes gave it.''
'Tis true that we have but little left to us
that VIC are impoverished but we can at
least share our pittance with those who have
lost all. To record the names of these who
fought for us; to perpetuate the history of
the gallant troops given by our State to the
common cause; to extend aid to those whose
protectors fell in the war, are the noble pur>
poses of your proposed Association. 1 wish
you Godspeedi in this good work I congrat-
ulate myself that have been permitted to
participate in these holy objects. and 1 pray
that God may bless them to the fullest ex-
tent of your wishes. thank you. gentle
men, for the courtesy you have extended to
me, and for the kindness with which Won have
received me.
LYNcHBURG.-In the memory of persons
now living, this city was composed of two or
three tobacco warehouses on the bank of
james river, and few dwellings, belonging
to the Inspectors, the ferrymen, and half a
dozen store keepers