The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1870-10-20
From the Charleston Neaos.
What the Bayard Of South Carolina Thinks
of our Cause and Candidates.

OF our cause anu CAnuluhUtSs
The following letter has been addressed by
General Wade Hampton to Colonel Charles a
Simonton, of this city: .'-
@ COLUMBIA, October 8.
My Dear Sr-Some time since your letter
asking my opinion as to the Reform movement
in our State reached me, and whilst reasons
both of public and private character have re-
strained me from taking an active part in the
canvass which has grown out of this movement
I have never had the slightest hesitation as to
the course should pursue, nor reluctance in
expressing to my friends what that course would
be. Whatever differences of opinion may have
existed among the honest citizens of the State
as to the best mode of redressing the grievous
evils under which they have labored for the last
few years, there were and could be none as to
the existence of those evils, and of the vital
necessity of making vigorous effort to reform
them. It was this conviction on the part Of
our people which gave birth to and now lends
impetus to the Reform movement. 1t was this
which induced the originators of this move
ment, if estimate their motives correctly, to
make an earnest and patriotic struggle to res
cue the State from those who are disgracing
her hitherto proud name and dragging her to
ruin. No aim can be higher, no object wor-
thier than this, and though the means adop-
ted to accomplish the purpose are not such
as I should have suggested, 1 sympathize too
fully with the object in view, to withhold any
assistance in my power from those whose mo-
tives are the same as my own and whose judg-
ment may be better. If this movement has for
its sole purpose, what trust it has, the redemp-
ton of our State, the nominees of the Reform
party should command the support of every
true son of hers. The effort to save the State
deserves success, even should it fail to win it,
and as have not yet made it the chief article
in my political creed, that success can sancitify
q cause that is wrong, or justify apostacy from
one that is right, regard it as my duty to sup
port the candidates of the Reform party. Be-
fieving that they are moving in the right di-
rection, 1 shall not, from mere pride of opin-
ion, refuse to accompany them, because they
have taken a different road from the one l
have chosen. Icannot vote for the nominees of
the Republican party because, to quote the en-
phatic though ungrammatical language of one
whose high official position in that party makes
him an authoritative exponent of its true con-
dition, as his political character renders him a
fit type of its officials, Sin some of its depart
ments Retrenchment and Reform is, doubtless,
greatly needed. Some of its Offices are filled
BY incompetent and corrupt men, who should
be driven from the high places they occupy.
More economy in the appropriation and dis
disbursement of public money should be Prac-
ticed." Because their nominee for Governor
is, to my knowledge, false and treacherous; be-
cause this party is notoriously corrupt, venal
and profigate, and because in my opinion, any
native white citizen of South Carolina who
votes for that ticket will cover himself with de-
served disgrace. l can we'll understand how
honest and true men may doubt as to the pro-
priety of the Reform movement and question
the soundness of its platform, but cannot
comprehend how any South Carolinian can
identify himself with set of adventures and
plunderers, who have made the government of
Ills State what an influential Radical paper has
Justly characterized as "a disgrace to civiliza-
tion," and am uncharitable enough to believe
that none will do SO, except such as have been,
or expect to be, paid for forming an alliance
which they must feel is disgraceful. could as
readily be persuaded that Benedict Arnold &C.
ted from conscientious motives, and in good
faith to his countrymen, as that any true son of
South Carolina who yenerates the ancient hon
or of his State, who is jealous of her past fame,
and desirous of her future welfare, could, from
patriotic impulse, affiliate with men whose only
tie, to- bind them to our State is the cohesive
power of public plunder." Some of the recent
converts to, this new faith-that faith whose
cardinal doctrine it is that the strongest side is
always right-may boast of their devotion to
their State and, as proof point to the scars they
have received in her defence; but to these l
beg to commend reply once made to this same
patriot Arnold, who asked friend what the
Americans would do with him if he was cap
tured. "They. would bury the leg which was
wounded in their service with military honors
and hang the rest of your body" was the
prompt and suitable answer. Unfortunately
for our State, this wholesome discipline cannot
be administered to the patriots of this same
stamp among us, who parade their patriotism
while they are selling their country; but it is
in the power, as tits the duty of every honorable
man, to treat them with the scorn their treach-
ery so richly merits. Let them find, if they
can, in the price for which they have sold them
selves and their kindred, compensation for the
loss of their own self-respect and the esteem of
all honorable men. "The OK knoweth its
owner, and the ass his masters crib" The few
who have joined the ranks of the enemies Of
their State in this supreme hour OF her trial,
can neither give character to the party to which
they have allied themselves, or weaken, that
which they deserted. Their desertion should
but stimulate those who are honestly working
IOT u VI ap0oOo w ASa0WSo SNSA
tions. Even if the nominees of the Reform
party should be defeated, an event which seems
now most unlikely, infinite good will result to
the State by sending honest men to the Legis,
lature and, in any case, it is far better to fall
in good cause than to succeed in an evil one.
It has been said that the nominations of both
parties are alike in presenting Republican to
the people as candidate for Governor, no real
difference exists between the two tickets. Is
this the case2 1t is true that Judge Carpenter
is, like Governor Scott, Republican, but does
that make them alike in all other respects
The Bar of Charleston, composed of gentlemen
of the highest standing and character, have
borne willing testimony to the ability, the i'm
partiality and the integrity of Judge Carpen-
ter. Can an equal number of gentlemen of like
in our sta1e St Pe Suna s5 TO emo endorse
decent man be found to do so? But admitting,
for the sake of argument that the nominees of