Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1868-08-06
~WApE HAMPTON made speech

kE w AIDE llAMf ION HAdOS opCCOu
in Charleston, upon his return from
the New York Convention, which
presents the matter of a democratic
triumph in very different light from
that which Northern democratic ora
tors furnish you. These Southern
s-rebels- speak right out,
while your Northern copperneaos
make up false issues-using words
to conceal rather. than to reveal the
real purposes of the party in case OF
success. These Confederates pro-
pose to gain through the democratic
organization-through the election
of Seymour and Blair-the results
which they failed to secure by war.
Here is what he says of the plat
form. Though it is not quite up to
his standard In words, yet the spirit
is there, and he has the assurance OF
the committee that, in case of sue
cess, the administration will be fully
up to the requirements of the South.
He says:
GAS you are aware the committee
on resolutions consisted of one mem
Der from each State. On assembling
it was found that very great differ
ence- of opinion existed. Among
other resolutions offered were some
declaring that the right of suffrage
belonged to the States, and this was
announced to be good Democratic
doctrine. I agreed to the PROPOSE
tions, but at the same time said, that
it seemed to me they had omitted one
very vital point, which was to declare
to what States the doctrine applied.
I thought it was necessary to guard
and limit that declaration, and to the
end that we might know at what time
we could 90 back and say who were
the citizens of the States, 1 asked that
Mev wouzd declare that these questions
Jezonged to tile States under their con-
stitutions up to the gear 1865. Gen
tlemen were there from North, South,
East and West, and by all we were
met with extreme cordIality. They
said they acre aOiIling to give as eUery
thing we desired; but aOe Of tie South
mast remember that they had a great tight
to make, and 1t qo6uLd not be policg to
place upon that platform that sohich
aoould engender prejudice at tile North.
They, however, pledged themselves
to do all in their power to relieve the
Southern States and restore to us the
Constitution as it had existed. AS
we were met in such a kindly spirit,
I could not but reciprocate it.
knew that 1 was representing the
feelings of my people when l did so,
and ! told them that / would with
draw all the resolutions l had offer
f ed, and no doubt other Southern del
egates would do the same, and ac,
cept the resolutions offered by the
Hon. Mr.. Bayard, the Senator from
Delaware, which declared the right
of suffrage belonged to the States.
! I said I acOuld take tile resolutions :,
they would allow me to add bm Mret
auords, which you aoM find embodied IN
the platform. I added this: "And sCt
declare that the Reconstruction Acts arr
revolutionary, unconstitutional and goid. y
Immense cheering When / pro
posed that, every single member oi
the committee-and the warmest m Ell
in it were the men of the North
came forward and said they would
carry it out to the end; Having thus
pledged themselves, l feel assured
that when the Democratic party come
to triumph they will show us rene
dy for our misfortunes in their owl
good time, for which / am perfectly
willing to wait.
"Such is the history of our plat
form, and such were the motives
which governed the committee in it
formation"
"Such were the motives" DC
What motives? Mere policy
nothing else. The North chad
o great fight to make, and it would no
t be policy to place upon that platform
t that which would endanger preju
:, dice" there! In other words, we
the democrats of the North, having
a strong Union sentiment to face
n must conform to it as much as pos
sible-in order to get votes must us
q deceit and fraud-but wait until tn
: election is oyer, and then, if we ar
y successful-you shall have all yo1
want. This is the democratic pro
gramme, agreed upon at New York
this is what it meant by "policy.
o The word should have been Jraud
e for it is nothing else. The eountr.
will thank Wade Hampton, thougI
: innocently done it was, for unmask
!. ing the hideous monster.
Before coming to the platforr
v Gen. Hampton used these words:
n Gentlemen, hope and beliey
h that the blessed day of our deliver
ance is drawing near. The signs i
;. tue political skies are full of hope
N and we bring back to you from tn
" united democracy of the North tic
a ings of great glee.''
Put the. two together, and th
n story is all told. The "democrac
e of the North" have promised ther
"deliverance," but that that ''deliy
:. erance" may be wrought out by tn
: : election of Seymour, ''policy"-dt
ceit and fraud-must be used.
IS "Agree among yourselves, and az
r firmly ON this agreement, that yo
" will not employ any one who vote
:, tho Radical ticket -