The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-08-28

Correspondence.
LETTER OF GIN. HAMPTON.
COLUMBIA, July 81, 1857.
GENERAL: The undersigned, in be-
half of many others of your friends,
as well as of themselves, very respect
fully crave your advice with regard to
their action in the very important
matters 81 n to be submitted to the
people of this State. We have no
intention to oppose the execution of
any law, even were'it in our power;
but under the Reconstruction Act,
certain latitude of action is left us,
which entails upon us entire respon-
sibility for all consequences which
may flow therefrom. We believe this
responsibility to be very grave, and
these consequences vital to every
class of our community, inseparably
connected as are the interests of all.
Recent events show that there is no
longer possibility of that entire har-
mony of action among our people,
for which you and we have hereto
AOAO AOPOo ouo noIANCu. 4uo YloWS
of the whole community are unset
tled by the new aspect of-affairs, and
the people look to those who COM
mand their confidence FOR course of
action upon which all may agree, who
truly desire the prosperity of the
State.
Hesitating to intrude upon you in
your withdrawal from public affairs,
but believing that your own apprecia-
ton of the emergency will excuse our
request; that your well proven pa
triotism will irresistibly plead it; and
that your calm and experienced judg-
menu will weigh supremely with your
friends, and command the deep con-
sideration of all honest men, we sub
scribe ourselves, very respectfully,
yours, D. w. RAY,
VIM. Fl. TALLEY,
j. P. THOMAS,
E. M. LAW,
And about sixty others.
To GEN. WADE HAMPTON, Colum-
bia.
GENTLEMEN: I Leg to acknowledge
the receipt of the letter, in which you
do me the honor to ask my "advice
with regard to your action in the
very important matters soon to be
submitted to the people of the State"
Though I cannot but feel that many
of those whose names are signed to
this communication are far more COM
petent to offer counsel on the grave
topics now agitating the public mind
than myself, as deem it to be the
duty of every man, when called on by
his fellow citizens, in times of peril,
to contribute all in his power to pro-
mote the general welfare, or to ward
off the common danger, I willingly
comply with your fattering request.
Recognizing, then, the duty i'm
posed on me by your call, and i'm
PEELED, also, by the great respect I
feel for those who have thus honored
me, I shall state with perfect candor
the imminent dangers surrounding
us, and point out with equal frank
ness the only course which, in my
judgment, we canSDursue with honor,
or with any hope of ultimate safety.
Before proceeding to the discussion
of the present condition Of affairs, it
is proper to let you know what were
the views entertained by myself i'm
mediately after the cessation of ac-
tive hostilities, and what was the
course [ thought our people should
then follow. This cannot be done
moro concisely than by giving to
you copy of letter addressed to
James G. Gibbes, Esq, chairman of
a public meeting, which was held
here in August, 1865. Not being in
the city at that time, I wrote the fol-
lowing letter, which, yielding to the
views of others, afterwards deter
mined not to publish:
AUGUST 20, 1866.
To his Honor James @. Gi6bes, Mayor
of Columbia.