The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-12-15
SOUTH CAROLINA.
Inauguration of Gov. Hampton.
The Ceremony Performed in the Open
Air.
BEFORE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE
OF BOTH RACES.
THE HOUSE TOPS COVERED WITH
PEOPLE.
An Extract from His Admirable inaugural

COLUMBUS, Dec. l4.-The Inauguration
of Wade Hampton took place 10 front of
Carolina Hall this afternoon. The square
in front OF the hall was densely packed
with persons of both races, and the house
tops were covered with spectators. At $3.50
P. NJ. Gen. Hampton was escorted to the
stand amist demonstrations of great en-
thusiasm. The members of the General
| Assembly occupied the space Immediately
surrounding the stand, with the crowd in
the rear Gen. Hampton then read bis in
augural address, of which the following is
| an extract:
Gentlemen OF the Senate and House of Rep
reseRtdtives.:
1t is with feelings Of the profoundest So
llcitude that | assume the arduous duties
and grave responsibilities of the high po-
sition to which the people of South Caro-
lima have called me. 1t is amid events un-
precedented in the republic that | take
the chair as chief magistrate of the state.
In time of profound peace, when no legal
officer had been resisted in the proper dis
charge of his functions, we have witnessed
a spectacle abhorent to every patriotic
heart and fatal to republican institutions
federal troops used to promote the sue
cess OF political party. Undismayed,
though shocked by this gross violation of
the Constitution OF the country, our people,
with determination that no force could
subdue, 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 before which must be
tried the grave questions of the supremacy
of the constitution and the stability of our
institute
What the verdict of the people of South
Carolina has been you need not be told. Il
has reverberated throughout the state, and
its echoes come back to us from every land
where liberty is venerated, declaring, il
tones that cannot be mistaken, that, stand
ing on the constitution of our country W.
propose to obey its laws; to preserve, al
: Far as in us lies, its peace and honor ant
r to carry out in good faith every piedgt
made by US fox reform and honest govern
ment We intend to prove to the worl,
. the sincerity of our declaration that tn,
sole motive which inspired the grand con
> test we have SO successfully made was no
: tpaltry ambition for party supremacy, bu
the sacred hope of redeeming our state.
1t is due to my position, as chief magis
trate of this commonwealth, to place o
record my solemn and indignant protes
against these acts which consider as sui
- serisive of the civil liberty and destructiv
!, = of our form Of government.
I, : great task is before the CONSERVATIVE
. party of this state. They entered into thi
contest with platform SO broad.so stroni
so liberal. that every honest citizen coul
h stand upon it. They recognized and al
&c cepted the amendments of the constitutio
= 10 good faith; they pledged themselves ,
~ work tor reform and to establish goo
government; they promised to keep up a
efficient system of public education; an
they declared sGempiy that all the cit
zens OF South Carolina, Of both races,
ss both parties, should be regarded as equa
Is in the eye OF the law: all 10 be fully pr
4 tected in the enjoyment of every polite
Of right now possessed by them. TO ii
40 faithful observance of these pledges, "
"A stand committed.
|, as representative of the Conserv
No tive party, hold myself bound By evel
m dictate Of honor aud good faith. to III
IN every effort 10 have these pledges r
deemed, fully and honestly. Let US she
to all Of them that the true interest of bot
rt races can btst te tsecured by cultivatir
is peace and promoting prosperity among f;
q classes OF our fellow citizens. | rely CO
of hdently on the support Of the members
re the general assembly in my efforts to a
in tain these laudable ends. and trust tn
all branches of the government will uni
cordially In this patriotic work. If
unlted.and working with resolute will al
earnest determination. we may hope sol
to see the dawn Of brighter day for O.
Re state God iu his infinite mercy gra
- that it may come Speedily, and may I
. shower the richest blessings of peace al
happiness in our whole peoples
At the close of his address the oath
IS Office wss administered by Trial Justi
lae Ma arshall to Gen. Hampton as govern
= = and TO W. d. Simpson as lieutenant GO
i Az ernor.