The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1868-08-05
Ratification Meeting in New York.
SPEECH OF GENERAL WADE HAMPTON.

feiioW-cltlZenS OF Jew 7 ork-I am yio-
latlng rule that / imposed on myself
when L came on here, in addressing you
in speaking at all-and that do violate #
is dae wholly to the people of New York,
who have met those of the South with
such kindness and such cordiality. TAP
plause.1 But, gentlemen, I come solely
that might thank you for the cordiality
that you have extended to us, and to all
the Southern State delegations, and that
might explain to you why it was that we
were here, and what good we hoped might
be effected by our presence. 1t was deter
mined by us when we came on that we
would take no part in this Convention
no prominent part; not because we did
not feel that we were the equals of any
other delegates, but solely because we were
afraid that if we of the South-cut off as
we have been for the last few years from
the political world-we were afraid that
if we should indicate our preference we
might accidentally select man who would
bring defeat upon the great Democratic
party. We determined that we would let
the Democracy of the United States, in
convention asserlbled-let them indicate
who was to be their standard-bearer, and
then that we would come up in solid pha-
lanx and pledge our support to confirm the
nomination. Acting upon that determine
ton we cast our vote for the President of
the United States, Andrew Johnson-[ap-
plause who had stood between us and
rum. We wished to show him that we an.
preciated that Kindness, and to pay him the
compliment that was due him. TCries of
+" Good, good."l 1t was then seemingly the
work OF the Democracy to take the great
young statesman of Ohio. When that
appeared to be the case, North Carolina
rendered him her support. When that
distinguished soldier-that honored Penn
sylvanian, whom 1 have met on many q
bloody field, [applanse] who I take pleas
ure in saying was one of the most gallant
of your soldiers General Hancock-Tap-
plause j when. his name was presented we
took him up, and we voted until the last
for him. tApplause.l And when the
name of Horatio Seymour, of New York,
lapplausel was presented, and State after
State rolled on and swelled the grand col
umn, ourlittle State came next to your
own at last, and declared that he was their
choice emphatically and fully. These,
gentlemen, were the reasons that prompted
us to take the course that we did. IF we
have been mistaken, am sure of one thing
at least. that you will believe that we have
been inspired by but one single motive,
and that was to promote the success of the
Democratic party. [Applause.] 1t has
been the earnest desire of the South since
the war closed to join with the Demo cratic
party and I want you all to know that if |
We had been willing to go with the Radi-
cal party we could have made any terms
that we chose. But we determined to
take defeat with the Democracy, rather
than by sacrificing our principles to gain
success with the Radicals. Applause.l
We believed that if we were true, if we
were true to those principles, if we were
true to ourselves, that God would not for
sake US; and that these broad principles
of liberty underlying the principles of the
Democratic party would triumph, and that
we would at last be free, and delivered
from the ruin that has been impending
over us. [Applause.] And now, gentle
men, you of the North do not know-you
cannot conceive the condition of the South
srn States. f,3.re i.!nd 81
A Voice-"By God, I can"
Gen. Hampton am glad you can.
The voice" have been there"
Gen. Hampton will only state few
acts, for it is thing upon which dare
not speak. In the Legislature of South
Carolina, composed of one hundred and
ifty-six members; Of that Legislature from ,
whose halls used to 60 as high intellect as
eyer came to the halls Of Congress-of
hose one hundred and ffty-six members.
here are nearly if not quite, now, one hun
lred negroes. Kisses, and cries of
Shame From these negroes, and all
II that Legislature, the whole taxes that ]
hey are liable to pay, amount to seven
hundred dollars. ("Oh, OH, and laughs,
Of that, about FIVE hundred dollars have
'een paid by one of the Conservative men, !
ers, and the two hundred dollars that are
o be paid by negroes and carpet baggers,
alf of it is under execution. (Applause
nd laughter.) Well, that Legislature,
ompcsed in that way, has the right to i'm
ose q levy or taxaon South Carolina to :
he amount of sl0,25o,oO0. (Laughter.) =
Tow. gentlemen, if that state of things e
oes on, what will be the result? Why N
ou know it means that in a few years n
ON this time there will not be white e
an, woman, or child in the State of South II
arolina. (Cries of Shame.") l only p
ention that as one of the Southern CT
tates. It is true that it IS perhaps in a d
orse, condition than most of the Others, 81
it they are all afflicted by that fearful ca I"