The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-12-08
SOUTH CAROLINA.
inauguration OF Governor Cham.
lnIn.

COLUMBIA, s. c., December 7.--Gov.
Chamberlain to-day took the oath OF
Office a. Governor in tho State House
before Probate Judge Boone, u joint res.
olution repeating the law that the oath
should be taken before the Chief Justice
or Associate Justice having been passed
previously.
Governor Chamberlain delivered his
inaugural address. He said that he &C.
cepted the Office to which, by a majority
OF the people, he had n second time
been called, with the knowledge OF
grave responsibilities and difficulties.
No consideration but duty impslled him,
to accept he regarded the present hour
In South Carolina, rs crisis in which
no patriotic citizen should shrink from
any public trust he Is called. The pre-.
sent struggle, Is In defence Of tho founda-
ton Of our Government and institutions,
II We fail now, the Government oi south
Carolina will no longer reAt on ,hs con.
sent Of the Governed, US expressed by
the free vote OF the majority u the peo.
pie. II Our opponents triumph, under
whatever guise OF legal forms, free
Government In the State IL over thrown.
His chief care will he toIcOnttibute his
utmost efforts to defend the
rights and gnard the peace and
promote the welfare OF all the people ot
the State. Other pressing dntics hsd
prevented his preparing the usnnl recon-
mendations respecting public anairs.
These will be made in time. The pressing
duty now is to stand firmly against the
aggression Of our opponents. The pnAi'
tion heretofore has been within the law.
Only cOwardice or treaChery can rob
the Republicans Of victory. Ii the Re.
publicans yield now we shall witness tho
contamination OF the cruel conspiracy by
the Democrats to overcome by brute
force the political will OF 10000 lawful
voters. He had mourned over previous
public abuses. He had labored for
honesty, but he stood appalled, at
the recent crimes against free
dom and good government recently
witnessed here. More go because the
North -is divided and the judgment on
such question is written in blood. No
nation can safely rest on enforced slavery
or degradation Of race, yet the Ameri-
can people are divided on the question Of
disfranchisement and degradation OF the
same race 1t freed, and what is more as.
tonishing the Republicans have permit.
tederrors attending the first efforts Of this
race in self government TO 80 chill their
sympathies as to stand and practically
say that the peace Of political seryi.
tude Is better than the abuse newly
acquired freedom has brought. lie dc.
nonnced the conduct Of the Democratic
campaign, as brutal outrage, depending
on fraud persecution, intimidation and
murder. Hampton, said that he held,
not only the peace ot tho State, but his
(Chamberlain's) lie in his hands. This
be did not doubt, his life could be easily
taken, but nothing could make him ahate
his hatred and opposition to the enslavc.
ment Of the people OF South Carolina
All other considerations must yield 10
the duty TO resist the final success Of that
outrage attempted by the Democrats. AZ.
ter delivering his inaugural, the LegislH.
.ure adjourned.
The Democratic House met with u
Constitutional quorum OF members hold.
ing certificates from the Secretary Of
State. They confirmed oil acts previous.
" done, and finally seated the EdgeGeld
and Laurens delegation.
A committee was appointed 10 inform
the Senate that the House was ready for
business, and to ask Gen. Ruger to re.
move the troops from the State House.
A CARD FROM wADEHAMrroS.
Gen. Wade Hampton has issued the
following card to the public: The follow.
wing paragraph appears In tho address
Of D. H. Chamberlain, delivered in the
Capitol to-day: 1.-THE gentleman who was
my opponent for this Office in the late
election has recently declared, rs I am
credibly informed, that he holds not only
the peace OF this city and State hut
my lie in his hands. I do not doubt
the truth Of this statement. Neither the
public peace nor the life Of any man Who
opposes the consumma,ion Of this policy
OF fraud and violence IL safe from the 81.
sauls OF those who have enforced that
policy. pronounce this statement in.
iamously false. /, by my renewed ezer.
tions, have tried 10 preserve the peace ot
this State, and ] have in this man.
ner contributed 10 shield from popular
Indignation one who has proved himself
4 disgrace to his rank and \ traitor 10
lis trust. His conscience may make
him tremble, but neither I nor tho men
with whom I act countenance the hand
OF the assassin.
[signedl WADE HAMPTON.