The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-12-21
"A MEMORABLE DAY.
Graphic Account of Hsmpton's In
auguration-The Men who stood
SpOnsOrn for Oh erlain.

Graphic Account of Hampton's In !
auguration-The Men who stood
sponsors for Chamberlain.
Special Correspondence OF the Baltimore
Gazette.
COLUMBIA. December l4.-ln the Ian
guage of distinguished orator: South
Carolina has her ownp General Wade
Hampton was insugurated Governor of
the Palmetto State to-day. After an
elspse of many weary years of oppression
by strangers, and robbery and plumber
ing by csrpet-bag adventures, South
Carolina enjoys this blessing of one of
her own sons at the head of her govern.
ment. She enjoys more than this; she
enjoys the luxury OF two Gov
ernors. To-dsy's proceedings are the
beginning of the end, and will lead to
speedy solution of this unhappy prob
lem. Time will soon tell whether force
and fraud or the will of the people are to
control this government. Either Hamp-
ton or Cham berlain will soon be in the
dust. As the hour for the opening of the
exercises approached, the open space was
speedily filed with people, most of them
seemed ~ be farmers from the surround
ing country. There were thousand
whites present and half as many blacks.
The assembly in responsibility would.
compare favOrably with gathering in
any of our northern towns. There were
no red shirts visible. There were
no men with their pantaloOns
stuck in their boots and revolvers
in their belts, swearing and staggering,
and thirsting for the blood of carpet
bsggers. 1t was quiet, orderly congre-
cation, and the negroes mingled with
the crowd without insult or molestation.
All the roofs and windows of adjoining
houses were crowded with ladies, whose
brilliant toilets made bright fringe on
the oorders of the sombre crowd. The
day was glorious. The sun shown bright
and warm in u sky rs soft and blue as
any that bend over sunny Itsliss most
favored cline. The air was balmy, and
all nature wore an aspect as calm and
serene as q May day in the cold and sui
len North.
A committee of the two houses called
on the Governor to escort him to the
platform, and while awaiting their COM
ing looked aronnd the crowd to study
its makeup. There was no levity, no
boisterousness. All cenversed in low
tones and solemn spirit pervaded every
heart, rs though each man, woman and
child comprehended the gravity of the
occasion. All seemed TO feel and show
by their conduct that the end of free gov
eminent for South Carolina or new ex-
isteuce for il was at hand. Among those
present was Colonel Rhett, a scion of the
Oldest family in the Common wealth, the
members of which have figured in every
important event since 1910, conspicuous
among others was Colonel John
Il. Preston, hale and aged; over
7 years of age, with hair as silvery as
SOW, he seemed to be an embodiment of
,e spirit of the revolutionary times; the
m of a man who fought and legislated
tpr the republic an hundred years ago,
h, WAS fitting witness of the rebaptism
the death OF u peoples government, as
Grant may determine by his bayouets
General Gary and General Butler were
prominent figures and worthy represen-
tutives of the cavaliers of the South The
former slaves were there on an equality
with their former masters; and TO COM
plete the romantic details of the impress
sive picture, on the platform set wit
ness and representative from the
mother country, in the person OF Hon.
Grington, member of the English Par
lament. The people of the United
States were represented by members of
the National House: Messrs. Sayler, of
Ohio; Phillips, of Missouri; Cochran, of
Pennsylvania; Lawrence, of Ohio; Jones'
of Kentucky, and Eden, of Illiauis be-
ing among the crowd. There were no
soldiers uniforms in sight.
A DRAMATIC SCENE.
Presently the members of the two
houses came down from the hall and took
their stand around the platform, and the
committee then escorted Gov. Hamp
Ton to the front. The minute all eyes
caught sight of him the crowd, so solemn
and silent, sent up shout that it was
music to hear. l never saw a man who
seemed to be so embedded in the hearts
OF the people rs General Hampton. His
influence over them is something wonder
full. He came forward smiling, and re-
moving his soft hat he uncovered head
inclined to badness for the sun to shine
upon, and waited for the demonstration to
subside. He was plainly dressed and car
ried in one hand his inaugural address
and in the other bouquet of beautiful
flowers, the gift of some lady sdmirer.
HE is twice u wldower.) Gen. Hsmp-
ton is man of about sixty years or age,
rather over than under, and is well pre-
served. He is fully six feet, and his
frame is magnificent specimen OF robust
msnhood. His skin is dark; his face full
and round, with bushy side-whskers
that give him an English look.
His brow is square and high, and
he has merry eye that wrinkles
mischievously. As he stood there
hush fell on the assemblage and
every mans heart seemed full. As |
looked around me saw silent tears
creep into the eyes of old, grsy-headed
men, and they brushed them away and
bit their lips to restrain their feelings.
Their minds seemed to be going back
over the dark period in the history of
their unfortunate State, and their hearts
were glad at the prospects OF once more
having one of their tavorlte sons at the
head of the State government.
The General read his inaugural ad-
dress in clear, musical voice. 1t only
required about fifteen minutes for its de-
livery, and he was frequently interrupted
BY applause. Having concluded, he
sand Il am now ready to take the oath
OF office to which l have been elected by
the people Owing to the position the
ildges of the Supreme Court occupy in
the present crisis, it was not deemed ex-
pedient to call on any OF the supreme
Judges to administer the oath, conse-
quently this duty was discharged by
Judge Mackey, OF the Circuit Court
a Republican in politics and native
of South Carolina. Tie Governor laid
L., hand r,pOp tho Rihla swora