Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1867-09-06
the wishes of the people odtle State, is an
impossibility. But passig ovor this grave

imposs'bility. But passlg ovor this grave
objection, there remains 'e still graver one
AS to the adoption of onstitution. Are
the people of the STATE willing, by the
adoption ola new and totlly different con-
stitution, to ignore all theteachings of the
past, to subvert the wholeorder of society,
to change, in moment, it whole organi-
cation, and, in word, to commit (if the
expression may be used) plitical suicide 2
Yet this is the inevitable tndency of the
course recommended by themeeting. No
one, for moment, supposeslhat the State
will be admitted into the Inion with its
present constitution. To gin admission,
the State must come with, constitution
representing, not tthe views arl Interests of
the people of South Carolina but those of
Massachusetts. 1t may be ui;ed that the
State must come with such aconstitusior,
or not come at all. If suohis the fact,
then let her not come at all. The United
States Government will hold he country,
as it now does, by military occupation its
troops will be present to inagurate and
enforce the new system of laboldecreed by
the President of the United Stass, and the
people, though conqsarad, yill not have
the additional humiliation and reproach
which they would bring upon themselves,
if they consent to destroy their own con-
stitution, which was bequeathed 10 them
by their fathers.
Besides these various reasons against
the policy advocated by the meeting, it
appears to me that it is premature for the
people to move at present. The authori-
tics at Washington have not indicated tue
course they propose to pursue towards the
State, nor have they manifested great zeal
in the restoration Of that Union for which
they have professedIy been fighting for the
last four years: They have not asked the
State to. return to the Union, nor have
they announced the terms upon Which it
can do so. When they have done these
things, it will be time enough for the State
70 take counsel how to act.
I recommend, then, with all Difference
to yourself and the, gentlemen over whom
you presided tue other day, that the peo-
pie should remain perfectly quiet, taking
no action whatever in public affairs.
Leave all these matters to the United
States Government, which will, doubtless,
in good time, provide a government for
you. Until THAT is done, the csrtridge.box
can take the place of the ballot-box, aud
the bayouet is good substitute for the
law: 1t is better to be governed by these
than to give to your State constitution
which misrepresents the wishes of the pco
pie, humiliates their pride, debauches their
society, destroys their prosperity, and de-
grades their State.
have the honor to be, very respectful
ly, your friend and feIIow-citizen,
WADE HAMPTON
It was clear to my mind that the true
policy Of the South was to remain passive,
observing. with the most scrnpulous fideli-
ty, the obligations we assumed when we
laid down our arms, and making 10 con-
cessions beyond those embraced in she
terms upon which we surrendered. / held
that the United States Government had
not only offered terms to the South, but
that its faith was pledged to the observance
of those terms. Every official act.of every
department of that Government, during the
war, declared that the Southern States
were still members of the Union, ana Con-
gress, by an almost unanimous vote, in the
most solemn manner,
Rssolued, That this war is not waped
on our part in any spirit Of oppression, mol
for any purpose Of conquest or sukiugation,
NOR purpose of overlhrowing or interfering
with the rights or established institutions
Of the States, but to defend and maintain
r.. supremacy Of the Constitution, and to
preserve the Union with all the dignity
equality and rights Of ghs several sraes
uuimpaired. That as SION al these objects
are.accompli.hed, the kar epstis TO cease"
The same body gske the strongest evi-
.dencs that they refrded, tue Union un-
broken, even during gthe war, by their recog-
|iniiion of Mr.. Garlic as Senator from Xir-
ginia--I mean ID noble aold Dominiou, p
aud no. her Legitimate and degenerate
child, West Wfginia-snd allowing him
TO retain his fat uu.iI near the close ofshs
war. The very paroles given to the sonth'
tsrn soldiers promised the protection Of
the United States Government to those
| holding them, so'long as they obeyed the
lays of Estates shessin thsy resided =
athus recognizing, nos only the southeru
States % Saatss, but the laws Of tboss
! States. We had efsry reason, - far al
!. we could trust to the filth Of our opps-
luepts, TO believe that the Southern. State
would be received Into theiU Union with al
shsir,a ,adignity. eqpsiisyY and rights ,unim'
1.pairea,r - saon As ihey renewed their a
Ileeiapcs TO the General Governnisht, an