The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1876-12-21

enthusiasm. The members of the
General Assembly occupied the space
Immediately surrounding the stand,
with the crowd in the rear. Gen.
Hampton then read his inaugural
address, of which the following is an
extract;
Gentlemen ofMe Senate and House Of
Representatives:
Itis with feelings OF the profound
est solicitude that assume the ardu-
Gus duties and grave responsibilities
oil the high position to which the
people of South Carolina have called
me. 1t is amid events unprecedcnt,
ed,H ne republic that | take the
cha SShiefmagistrate of this state.
In EprofoundeSt peace, when
no lee icer had been resisted in
the discharge of his functions
we messed spectacle abhor-
rem patriotic iheart and fa5
tai TO our republican institutions.
Federal troops used to promote the
success of a political party. Undis-
mayed, though shocked by this gross
violation of the constitution of the
country, our people, with a determin-
alton that no force could subdue and
no fraud could defeat, kept steadily
and peacefully in the path of duty,
resolved to assert their rights as
American freemen at the ballot box,
that great court of final resort, be-
fore which must be tried the grave
questions of supremacy Of the Con-
stitution and the stability Of our in
stitutions. What the verdict of the
people ofSouth Carolina has been you
need not be told. 1t has reverberat-
ed throughout the State and its
echoes come back to US from every
land where libertyis venerated, de-
claring in tones that cannot be mis-
taken, that standing on the Constitu-
ton of our country we propose to
obey its laws, to preserve as far rs in
US lie peace and honor, and to carry
out in good faith every pledge made
by us for reform and honest govern
ment. We intend to prove to the
world the sincerity Of our declaration
that the sole motive which inspired
TIE grand contest we have 80 success
fully made, was not the paltry am
bition for party supremacy, but the
sacred hepe of rcdeeming our State,
and it was sought to wrest the fruits
of this victory by gigantic fraud
and base conspiracy. When mem
bers elect of the General Assembly
repaired to the Capitol to take their
seats, armed soldiers of the Federal
government confronted them and
their certificates of election were cx-
amined and passed upon by a corpor-
al of the guard. 1t was amid these
appalling scenes that members Of the
General Assembly We're called on to
assume their places as representa-
tivcs of free state, and that of the
original thirteen who won our indie
pendence and framed our Constitu-
ton. Debarred Of the free exercise
of their rights by the presence of an
armed force, a legal quorum of the
lower house, after placing on record
our protest, quietly withdrew from
the capitol and proceeded to organize
that branch of the General Assembly.
You have seen u minority of the
House usurp the powers OF the whole
body; you have seen a majority ex-
PEELED from their hall by threats of
force; you have seen persons having
no shadow Of claim Us members ad-
mitted to seats as Representatives by
men who themselves were acting in
direct violation of the constitution,
and you have seen the last browning
act Of infamy by which a candidate
for the office Of governor, defeated by
the popular vote had himself declar.
ed elected by his conspirators, 1t is
due TO my position as chief magis-
trate of the commonwealth to place
on record my solemn and indignant
protest against the acts which con-
slider as Subvcrsive of civil liberty
and destructive Of our form of gov.
eminent. A great task is before the
conservative party of this State.
They entered on this contest with a
platform so broad, so strong and so
liberal that every honest citizen could
stand upon it. They recognized and
accepted the amendments to the Con-
stitution in good faith; they pledged
themselves to work reform and estab.
fish good government; they promised
to keep up an efficient system Of pub.
lie education and they declared sol.
emily that all citizens of South Car
olina, of both races and of both par
ties, should be regarded as equals in
the eyes of the law, all to be fully
protected in the enjoyment of every
political ight now possessed by them.
To the faithful observance of these
pledges we stand committed. |, as a
representative of the Conservative
party, hold myself bound by every
dictate of honor and good faith touse
every effort to have these pledges re.
InnnnI fill, and hnnnstlv of ne