The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-12-21
HAMPTON,s INAUGURATION.


HAMPT0N'l INAUGURATION. j..
The Peoples Governor Takes the Oath
Office-An Enthusiastic Demons.ra-
tiOn.
The Inauguration of General Wade
Hampton as the Governor of Snuth
Carolina took place in Columbia ON
Thursday, 18th inst, and the ceremonies
of the occasion were in keeping with the
orderly and peaceful programme upon
which the campaign has been conducted
on the part of the Democrats. twas an
imposing civic display, and all its fea-.
lures were in striking contrast with the
sham Inauguration Of the pretended
Governor, Daniel n. Chamberlain, who
was stealthily inducted into office week
before. The State House never looked
more gloomy than the day in which
Chamberlain wept through the form of
taking the oath of office, and seeking to
assume the duties of another term as
Governor, when he had been rejected by
the people at the ballot-box. The en-
trance to the capitol was guarded by his
minions, the State Constabulary, and
United States troops paced the corridors
as if grim war prevailed. The Repre-
sentative Hall was occupied by City or
sixty negroes. together with Il few white
allies, and the doors were securely barred
against intrusion. The approving smiles
of an honest people were lacking, and
the participants seemed conscious that
miserable farce was being enacted within
those walls The conspirators against
the peace and happiness OF the State
were determined that the chief Of the
robber band should not be confronted
with the gaze of an indignant and out
ragged people, and the dismal ceremonies
were gone through with in the manner
described. Never has such scene been
witnessed in South Carolina, and never
has there been such an attempt to throttle
the expressed will of the people by seek.
ing to foist upon them man whose name
will live in history as the synonym of
falsehood, treachery and cowardice.
Gen. Hampton's Inauguration presen-.
ted an exactly opposite picture. Called
by an honest majority of the voters to
the honorable and digni6ed station of
Chief Magistrate Of the State, there was
no incentive for concealment or stealth
in the arrangements for his installation.
In broad, open daylight, beneath genial
sky, in the presence of large concourse
of his fellow-citizens, with the grateful
homage of freemen and the approving
smiles of the fairest women of Carolina.
Gen. Wade Hampton was invested with
the rightful authority to serve the State
as Governor for the next two years.
The arrangements for the Inauguration
were perfected on Thursday morning by
the House of Representatives. The re-
fusal of the Secretary of State to deliver
the election returns to Speaker Wallace,
as required by the State Constitution,
rendered it necessary to publish the re-
suit from secondary evidence, which was
the certified copies of the statements
made by the county canvassers. obtained
by the State Executive Committee from
the clerks Offices in the various counties.
At two o'clock Speaker Wallace an
nounced the total vote in the State for
Governor and Lieutenant.Governor as
follows: Hampton, 92,26l votes; Cham
berlain, s1,127 votes. Hampton's ma
jority, 1,l34 votes. For Lieutenant
Governor, Simpson received 1859 votes
and Gleaves 81, $50 votes, making Simp-
sons majority 199 votes. In addition to
this evidence of the result, Speaker Wal
lace produced certificate from Henry
E. Hayne, Secretary of State, giving "a
true and correct statement" for Governor
in the exact figures already stated, which
proves incontcstibly that Gen. Hampton
carried the State by the actual majority
always claimed by the Democrats.
After the declaration of the result,
Messrs. J. c. Sheppard, of Edge6eld,
Thomas Hamilton, of Beaufort, and Jas.
L. Orr, of Anderson, were appointed
committee to notify the Governor and
Lieutenant Governor of their election,
and ascertain the hour when it would be
convenient for the Inauguration to take
place. This committee subsequently re-
ported that Gen. Hampton and Col.
Simpson had signified their readiness to
be inaugurated at o'clock Of that day.
Owing to the probable causes of embar-
rassment to the Supreme Court, in case
matters now pending were submitted for
their decision as to the legality of the
election, neither of its members were
asked to administer the oath of Office,
and the services of Judge Mackey were
procured for that purpose. He was as
sisted by J. @. Marshall, Esq, of Colum-
bia, officiating as Trial Justice.
When the hour arrived for the inaugu-
ration, the members of the House and
the Democratic Senators marched down
to the large platform erected in front of
Carolina Hail, and were joined by mem
bers of the State Executive Committee
and others. Around the stand and in
front was assembled an immense throns
of citizens, who greeted tue appearance
ofthe Governor and ant.Governor
elect With deafening cheers Yh. Open
s -. -: ell,.l NTH ncntlnIffa1 Xnfd alI