The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1873-03-19
TIE LAST DAYS OF EIMROD.
The Date when the Relief Afforded by
General Wade Hampton Began.

TO TIE EDITORS OF TIE NEWS.
Mr.. Paul n. Hayne having chosen to appro-
pirate to himself and consider examples OF
'speryerse taste and feeling" some remarks of
| mine made In a lale communication to the
Boston Daily Advertiser, and republished In
| YOUR columns, deem some explanations due
him and due myself In reading Mr.. Haynes
memorial sketch Of Timrod, I was greatly
struck and delighted with ths exquisite taste
and deIlcacy which pervaded 1t from first to
last. and the unfortunate article which has 30
wounded Mr.. Haynes sensiblllty was written
with no thought of his share In having pro-
duced .'the impression widely prevalent at
the North that TImrod was neglected by hls
own people,"
It seemed to me the whole Southern people
must be partakIng OF the indignation l felt
that the Northern press could not even ap-
plaud our dead poet without traduclng our
ruined people. My article was, therefore,
simply an endeavor to defend my Injured
country from the asperslons which were being
cast upon her. As Mr.. Hayne has seen fit,
however, 10 bring this unpleasant subject
again before the public, must be allowed to
enter my protest against It's being asserted
that Tlmrod twas neglected by bis own peo-
ple." By reference to the letter In the Bos-
ton paper, 1t will be seen that, on the occa.
slon referred to on which General Hampton
made Tmrod's necessities known to my father,
Estate ''rhe snow was. falling heavily" The
letter also makes me state "lt was early In
the fall of 1857" This, 1t must easily
be perceived, is an error either In
writing or printing, II have no copy of the
manuscrlpt,) for even the poetlcal imagina-
tlon of Mr.. Paul q. Hasne could scarcely con-
cslve snow falling heavily In the latitude OF
Columbia, 8. c., "a few weeks previous to
October !" Not supposlng was to be subject
ed to 80 scorching crlticlsm, confess
trusted entirely to my memory In preparing
the hastily written article for the Boston Ad.
vertlser, and did not, as should have done,
copsnlt the references at my command.
find, by examining carefully kept record
OF those dark days, alike Illustrative Of mans
lnhunanity and Gods mercy, that the inter.
view mentioned took place on the 20lh De-
oember, 1866, nearly one year previous 10 the
date of Mr.. Timrod's death. During this time
assert that II he was in want It was 10 spite
of the watchful care oil constant and ready
friends, including his tender and faithful ply
sIcIau.
That before this period he may have been in
great need, is mournlully true-who was not
In great need ln burnt Columbia during those
sad years of desoatlon and famine9 Indeed,
there were few feeble women aud tender
children who did not know absolute want.
With the piteous tale OF Columbia's tate so
widely known, 1t Is strange and even hard
that she should be taunted with her inability
to surround The dying poet, her adopted son,
with all the mlnlstrations of wealth and ease;
but what she could do she did.
Iregret very much that my effort to rid my
country of como rart of tha ndium thrown
upon her, should have forced me to again
bring this painful theme before the public.
80 much as I have written believe just and
necessary, but promise you 1 shall not be
tempted 10 continue the discussion.
Respectfully, /.
Columbia, 8. c., March l3, 1873.