The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-09-14

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Hampton was brought in contact; and
the latter succeeded in inspiring him
with some degree of that caution which
Sheridan, in Virginia, had learned, after
much experience to feel.
| At this time it was-a few days before
the evacuation of Columbia-Generai
Hampton was promoted to the rank OF
Lieutenant General, which was fitting
recognition of such service as the govern
ment had received at his hands.
The last fight of Hampton's command
was near Raleigh, North Carolina, just
after the Confederates evacuated that
city. General Fitzpatrick charged Hamp-
toms rear guard. The Confederates
turned on the Federal, charged and drove
them back in confusion, taking prisoners,
and killing and wounding some.
In general estimate of these military
services, we must not forget the magni-
tude of the war. 1t is doubtless reason.
able estimate to reckon that General
Hampton saw ten times as much actual
service in the fields as General Washing
ton did.
When the war was over, he that had
been great in war, showed greatness
quite as honorable in peace. Temperate
in all his views, earnest in every issue,
clear-sighted when most others were con-
founded, he has spoken and written
words that the future will cherish as
words of wisdom, when such words were
so few.
On the 10Th of August, 1865, just after
public meeting of whites had been held
in Columbia, General Hampton advised
against any public movement until the
general government had indicated its
policy toward the State. He said: "The
State is either q member of the Federal
Union, or it is not. If member then
not only is it work ofsupererogation
for her to ask admission to the Union,
but she is, by the Constitution Of the
United States, guaranteed q Republican
form of Government, and she has the
right to administer her government under
such Constitution and by such laws as
she chooses. But if she is, on the con-
trary not a member of the Union, she
must be regarded either as Territory, or
as conquered province. In either con-
dition, the United States authorities are
charged with the duty of providing a
proper government for her, and think
the true policy of the State is to remain
passive until such government is given
her, or is forced upon her" He then
proceeded to show that Convention of the
people and an acquiescence in every de.
mand that Congress might make would
not result in restoring the State to her
proper relations to the Federal Govern.
ment-a fact which has become patent to
a good many since that time.
On the 9TH of August, 1867-two years
later, when two conventions of our citi-
zens had been held-he expressed the
same convictions. Aftershowing thatthe
faith kept by the North toward the South
had been Punic, he says: IT touch on
these points only to show the mistakes
committed by the South, when it con-
formed to those demands of the North
which were'interpolated into the condi-
tions after our surrender. Our State
Conventions were mistakes so were the
changes of our Constitutions; greater
than all other, was the legislation ratify-
ing the amendment Of the United States
Constitution known as Article 49,"
Again, he says: elias this policy of con-
cession to unlawful commands been pro.
ductive of benefit that we still desire to
pursue it9 Are we prepared, for the
sake of erpetlieacy-that fatal fallacy
which has lured us so far on the road to
destruction that Trojan Horse which
has brought with it an Iliad Of woesMto
barter away the few rights remaining to
u.s. Yet this is the course ne must fol-
low, if we accept terms which we know
to be contrary to the conditions on which
we surrendered, and which are in open
and palpable violation Of the Constitu-
ton Of the United States of that Con-
stitution which we swear to support at
the very moment we are grossly outrag-
ing its most sacred prorisions:" His ad-
vice at that juncture was: "Let every
man register, and cast his vote against
the Convention .. 49," .
In all his discussions of the difficult
problem of the relations between the two
races in the South, General Hampton has
never lost sight Of their identity of inter
ests. In February, 1867, addressing a
meeting of freedmen in Columbia; he
said: "Your welfare is inseperably link
ed with that of the whites of the South.
If we are unjust taxed, you will suffer; if
we are ruined, you will be destroyed.
Your prosperity depends entirely on that
of your country, and whatever fate awaits
the white people of the South will be
yours"
These are words of wisdom that the
unfortunate freedmen have been seduous-
ly taught to forget; taug ught by adven.
turers who grow rich upon the ruin OF
both races. 80
Upon the abolition of slavery he said :
t'The deed has been done, and !, for one,
do honestly declare that 1 never wish to
see it revoked. Nor do l believe that
the people of the South would now re-
mand the negro to slavery, if they had
the power to do so." ".''''. 80 't''
His idea of the course to pursue to-
ward the negro appears in these words,
addressed to his former companions in
arms, in the fall of 1866: ".As ia slave, he
was faithful to us; as freeman, let us
treat him as friend. Deal with him
frankly, justly, kindly, and my word for
it, he will reciprocate your kindness,
clinging to his old home, his own coun-
try and his former masters" This was
before the negro had been tampered with
by party politicians.
In 1869, he gave the most decided ex-
pressions of his opinion as to the policy
to be pursued-even yet pursued toward
the negro. This was his Grafton at the
Georgia State Fair in Macon, on the 18th
of November. These are his words: -.
"The negro is undoubtedly better fit.
con6guration and his adaptabilityy to all
the diversities of our climate, to make a
more efficient laborer than any other.
Especially is this true when the labor is
to be performed in the more malarial