Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-12-15
7,sauov-atiou orGor. EaamnsOn.

densely packed with persons OF both races, auu
the housctops were covered with spectators.
AT $50 O'Clock Hampton was escorted to the
stand anid demonstrations Of great enthuSl.
asm. Members Of the General Assembly oc
cupied the space Immediately surrounding tie
stand, with TITO crowd in the rear. Gen. Hamp'
ton then read his inaugural address, of which
the following is an extract
Gentlemen Of the Senate und House Of Rep
ysseutotitcs:: 1t il With feelings Of the pro-
toundest soIic;tnde that | assume the ardnou5
duties and grave responsibilities OF the hlgn
position to which the people o! South CaFo'lua
have called me.
It. il amid cysots unprecedented ia the Re
public that [ take the chair as chief magistrate
of this State. la a time OF profound peace,
when no legal officer had been resisted 10 the
proper discharge cf bis functions, we have Wit
messed q spectacle abhorrent to every patriotic
heart, and fatal to republican Institutions
Federal troops used to promote the success OF
o political party. Undismaycd, though shocked
by this gross violation Of the Constitution OF
the country, our people, with a ~deterIInation
that no force could subdue and no fraud could
defeat, kept steadily aud peacefully 10 the
path Of duty, resolved to assert their rights as
American freeman at the ballot box. that great
court of final resort, before which must be tried
the grave questions OF supremacy OF the Con
s%titution and the stability OF our Institutions.
What the verdict Of the people Of South Caro-
iinu has been you need not be told.
II has %reyerberated throughout the State.
and its echoes 20 back to US from every land
whera liberty is yenerated, declaring IN tones
that cannot be mistaken that, standing OF the
Constitution OF cur cOuuLry, We propose 70
obey its laws, to preserve as far as In US lies Its
peace and honor, aud to carry out III good faith
every pledge made by US for reform and honest
government. We intend TO prove to tho world
the sincerity OF our declaration, that the sole
motive which Inspired The grand contest We
have 80 successfully made was not the paltry
ambition ,1r party supremacy, but the sacred
hone # redeeming our State. But it was
sought to wrest the fruits vi this victory by =
gigantic fraud and a base conspiracy. When
the mcmbers.e elect OF the General Assembly re-
| haired to the Capitol to take their seats armed
soldiers Of the federal Government confronted
| them, aud their certificates Of election were ez
| amined and passed upon By a corporal Of tho
guard. Il was amid Ties: appalling scaDca
| that the members OF the General Assembly
were called on 10 assume their duties IS repre-
| seutatives of u free State, aud that State one
Of the original thirteen who Won our iodepend-
| ence aud framed our Constitution. Declared
| the tree exercise of their rights by the presence
of armed force, 3 legal quorum OF the lower
House, after placing 90 record q protest, quiet
" withdrew FROM the Capitol and proceeded 10
organize that branch Of the General Assembly.
| You have seen g minority OF the House usurp
| the powers Of the whole body; you have seen
| tie majority expelled from their hall by threats
Of force; you have seen persons having no
shadow ui Il claim rs members admitted to
seats az representatives by the votes OF men
| who themselves were acting III direct violation
| OF the constitution, and you have seen the last
| ~crowniDg act Of inlamy by vhlch 9 candidate
| for the ethca of Governor, defeated by The Pop.
| uIar vote, had himself declared elected BY his
! co.couspirators. Its due TO my position as
the Chief Magistrate Of this Commonwealth to
| place on record my solemn aud Indignant pro
test against acts which | consider as snhserai9e
| of civil liberty and destructive OF our form OF
| government. A grca! task is before the dem
| o~cratic party Of this State. They entered OH
| this contest With "A platform So broad, So
| strong, So ilaelat, that every honest c:tiZ:n
could stand upoa Ii. they recognized and ae-
ceptcG Tie amendments Of the Constitution IN
good faith; they pledged themselves to work
reform and to establish i good government;
| they promised to keep up ~ efficient system
| of public education, and they declared saiamnly
| that all citizens of South Carolina, Of both
races aud Of both parties, should be regarded
as equals ia the eye Of the law, all to be iul'y
protected in the enjoyment OF every political
right now possessed By them. TO the faithful
observance nf these Pledges we stand eoln
mitted.
|, as representative OF the CONSERVATIVES par
ty, hold myself bound By every dictate ol hon.
or and coed faith to use every effort TO have
these pledges redeemed fully and honestly.
Let us sLow to aI men that the true inter.
ests Of both races eau lest be secured by cult
waiting peace and promoting prosperity among
all classes Of cur fellow citizens. | rely conf.
IDENTITY Oh The support OF the members Of the
General Assembly in NY efforts TO attain these
laudable cGds, and | trust that all branches or
the government will unite cordially 10 this pa.
triotic work. Ii 81 united, and working with
r~esoluta vii! aud earnest determination, we
may hope scun to gee the dawn OF 4 brighter
day for cur State. God ia his Infinite mercy
grant that it may conc speedily, and may he
shower the richest blessings CT peace aud hap
riness on Gu: whole people"
At the close OF the address the oath of oilics
was administered by Trial Justice Marshal to
Hampton as Governor md to w. ID. Simpson
az Lieutenant Governor, The crowd standing
uncovered while the ceremony was being per.
formed. The chair in which Gen. Hampton
was seated was then wrapped in the national
colors, end he was borne on the shoulders OF a
dozen men 10 his hotel, escorted b. The entire
crowd. Several prominent gentlemen address
cd the multitude from Tho front OF The hotel.
| The Congressional couimittec were occupying
a prominent position On one OF the balconies.
After which the crowd quietly dispersed.
Troops In Petersburg.
The following is the Presidents message, re-
| ceived by the Senate yesterday: