The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-10-21
COLUMBIA, S. c., October II. 1868.
General Wade Hampton:

COLUMBIA, S. c., October IL. 1868. :.
My DEAR SIR Absence from home and
constant engagements have prevented an ear
,er reply to your letter, III which you ask me
to give You "a statement of the real opinions
YOU U) entertain upon the issues OF the war,
its results and consequences, and those OF the
people at large, whom you u), TO great eX-
tent. represent" II the mass of the Northern
people have not been convinced Of the pacific
sentiments of the people OF the South By the
authoritative action of our Conventions ana
Legislatures; if the patriotic and truthful Ut
terances of Robert E. Lee, endorsed as they
have been with such entire unanimity by all
the trne men of the South, do Tot carry con-
viction, my words would, indeed, be powetloss
for good. But while am profoundly Inn pres,
sed by this fact it is due to you that should
respond to your inquiries IN the same sPlIlI
that prompts them. This l shall DO haakly, IN
the hope that all candid men among our QPpo,
who have so studiously perverted my sentl-
ments and actions hitherto. may at least give
me credit for sincerity end honesty OF pur-
pose. First, then, as to my real opinions as
to the issues, results and consequences OF the
war;" The main issues involved III the war were
secession aud slavery; the first the primary
one, the latter brought in at o later period. In
regard to these adopt fully, and without re-
servation, the principles announced by the
late National Democratic Convention IN New
York, and in the words Of the platform pro-
mulgated there, l consider these questions
as settled forever" l accept this as the re-
suit accomplished by the war, and as lts losl-
cal and legitimate consequence, Ihls nave
done from the day the war closed, ana nave M
same light. was strongly in favor OF the ac-
ton taken by this state comforting on the ne
gro equal civil rights with the white man, and,
more than year ago, 1 advocated the policy
of giving to him, as soon as we bad the power
to do 30 legitimately, suffrage based on quaii,,
fcation. The Democratic Convention held
here in April last recognized him as IAN In
tegral part of the body politic," and declared
that it would, when our party came into power,
grant him partial suffrage: The State Central
Club has Just reafhrmed this declaration,
and I have no doubt but that this de-
claration il sustained by vast majority
of the white citizens OF the State. We
regard the Reconstruction acts as unconstitu-
tional, but we look for their overthrow not to
violence, but. il the language of resolution
unanimously adopted by the Democratic party
iu convention assembled, Ito constitutional
agencies and peaceful remedies alone We
invoke a decision on the constltutionallty OF
these acts from the only tribunal competent 10
pronounce on them-the Supreme Court OF the
United States; and we we're prepared, IN good
faith, to abide by that decision. 1t may not be
inappropriate here, to correct a msrepresenta-
ton widely spread by Radical papers touching
these acts. In these have been charged with
having dictated" that portion OF the Demo-
cratic platform relating to reconstruction. This
charge I have more than onca denied, and do
40 again most emphatically. The sense in
which spoke of the words unconstitutional,
revolutionary and void" as being my plank. IN
the platform, referred to them as constituting
the plank to which I, as well as any other
Southern man, clung for safety. 10 Place TINS
matter beyond all question, shall state; hrlehy,
the action Of the convention on this point, and
my agency in it. ,.,
tions upon these reconstruction measures, upon
which debate arose. Northern delegates ask
ed us not to press our resolutions, but to trust
to the Democratic party, when successful, to
give us all the relief in their power. A distln-
guished gentleman from one OF the North west
ern States pronounced these acts ''unconstltu-
tional, revolutionary and vold, anu urgeo us
to leave this question to the Democratic party
for its proper solution. So anxious were the
Southern delegates to promote harmony; 81
solcitous were they. to avoid any action that
might endanger the success OF that party, to
which alone they could look tor relief, that every
one Of them who had offered resolutions with
drew their res buttons at once. In withdraw
ing those had the honor to submit (and
which, by the by, look ID to the Supreme Court
for the solution Of this question OF reconstruc-
tior), I said. the introduction Of those three
words into the platform would satisfy us entire
ly. add that We would trust to the Democratic
party to relieve Us from measures that we
knew must ruin our county. These words
were subsequently introduced by Jealous
and able delegate from that gallant New
England State which has proved herself
so ardent supporter If the constitution,
brave little Connecticut. This is the precise
history Of t!5;:s Poi ton of the Democratic plat
FORM In aluding to it, as uld IN an address
to our people, my sole object was to show the
spirit of Cancellation that marked the action or
the Democratic Convention; how sincere the
North was in assuring US OF relief, and now cor
daily the South conhded in these assurances:
How Radical ingenuity could have perverted
this into the charge Of "dictation" on the part
of any Southern delegate, I should have been
at q loss TO conceive, had not known from eX-
perience how skilful, and, regret to say. how
INSCRIPTIONS that party has proved itself to be
in the use Of their patent weapons OF party
warfare, Misrepresentation and falsehood.
You do me the honor to say that to "a large
extent represent the Southern people" AS
cannot flatter myself that this is the case. do
not venture to speak for them; but it ls my
honest and sincere conviction that they desire,
above all things, peuce-a just and honor9ole
peace-a Just and equitable settlement OF all
the questions that distract the country. Ihey
ash only truth, justice, ana tne consIlIu'lou'
They seek only the rights guaranteed to every
American citizen under the constitution OF
their country. They recognize that constltu-
ton, as amended, abolishins slavery forever.
They are willing to treat the negro with KIND
ness, giving to him every civil right, and,
think, to accord to him such political privileges
as he is fitted to enjoy. They feel that their
States should be restored to their old place IN
the Union, awith all thoir rights, dignity and
eonaltv unimpaired." They would be unwor-
thy of themselves ii they consented to resume
their places as iuferlors-they would be unit
associates for the freemen OF the North Ii the
people of the North wish to build up strong
and lasting Union, let them be maSnanlnous
and generous to the South. Let them conhde,
more fully than they have done, to the nonor
of our people, and they will meet cordial ana
heartfelt response The future destiny OF tie
republic is in the hands OF the North, ana upon
their action it depends whether there is again
TO be a Union based on fraternal feelings, OF
one held together by the iron hands OF military
rule We of the South are powerless 10
aid in the great struggle for constitutional
liberty; but we cannot be Indifferent spec
tators OF contest which is to Tx our fate
for all time to come. l pray, earnestly, that
wisdom and justice may direct those who are
called on to decide the momentous question,
and that God will, in his infinite mercy, give
peace to our distracted land.
Thanking you for the kind terms i'll which
you have been pleased to express yourself, l
have the honor to remain,
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
WADE HAMPTON.