The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1876-09-14
Proceedings of the Mass Meeting on
the 9th instant,
ADDRESS OF GEN. HAMPTON.


The Democratic meeting at this place. on
the 9th instant, was the largest and most en-,
thusiNstic ever held in The County, At an
early hour in the morning q stream of people
commenced pouring in from every section of
the County, and when the speaking began,
there were fully two thousand on the ground.
The Central and Pendleton ''Red Jackets
(bloody shirts). mounted, and compounded by.
Captains Sitton and j. j. Lewis, preceded 81
tho PendletOn Cornet Band, were the first to
make their appearance as an organization,
and were at once sent forward on the Easley
road TO meet General Hampton and his es-
cort from that place. They had been gone
but short time, when the Liberty ''Red
Jackets" under command Of Captain A. T.
Clayton, came galloping into town in splen-
did order, and were directed 10 follow the
Central and Pepdleton Companies and join
the escort. Iu the mean time the people had
collected on the side. walks on Main-strcet,
through which our distinguished and gallant
leader with the escort was TO pass, anxiousiy
awaiting their arrival. They wero not kept
waiting long, however, before the strains oc
music from the band and the cheers of men
in the distance indicated to them that Hamps
ton was coming. Everybody was now in tip
toe, and the words, champion is coming
passed through the crowd almost like eloc-
trioiy. In n very short time tho head of the
procession was seen turning the corner near
the Methodist Church-the band in front,
| followed by General Hampton and one or two
others in an open buggy, and carriage cons
tanning the other speakers. General Hamp-
ton was at once recognized by many of
of his old soldiers who were in the crowd and
pointed out by them to those who had never
seen him. AS the procession moved along
Main n-street, cheer after cheer greeted our
distinguished leader, and the mass Of people
commenced moving forward on either side of
the escort to tho stand, which had been erect
ed in front of MIR. ]. @. Griffin $, ir an ele.
CANT grove, and near the public spring. The
speakers were sccrted to the stand, and the
band placed in position, when Col. Bowen,
the County Chairman, arose, and in few
very appropriate and happy remarks intro
duced our gallant, distinguished and beloved
loader, Gen. Wade Hampton. When General
Hampton ar ose TO address the audience, the
most enthusiastic and deafening applause we
ever heard, grected,him. The old and young
men waved their hats and shouted, the ladies
waved their handkerchiafs and the hills re-
sounded with the echoes Of Joyous welcome
to our noble Hampton. After the applause had
ceased, General Hampton spoke substantially
as follows:
Mr.. Chairman and Felio,c> Citizens: l do
not feel that am n stranger amongst you-
This County gave to me in the war some of
| the best men in South Carolina. / have not
| forgotten that. This campaign has only one
purpose, and that is the redemption of South
Carolina, and ut request of the State Execu-
tive Committee, We have commenced in Pick.
ems, amongst the noble men~of the mountains
IN order to carry their enthusiasm with US TO
the seaboard.
He spoke in glowing terms of the meeting
at Anderson on the Saturday before, and said
there was to be no more compromise with
Radicalism. For eight years-the Democrats
had patrioticNlly worked under Republican
leadership to redeem the State, and all their
efforts had proven a failure. The true sons
of the State ore now making an effort to take
her once more into their own hands, and
place her on the proud pedestal she once oc =
cupied. He emphatically disclaimed that tho
present movement was for party ascendency;
| it's only aims were the redemption of the
| State and restoration Of fpeace and prosperisy,
| In the past, some of our best and most patri-
otic citizens had thought that by cooperation
with Republicans, the State might be re-
deemed; for those he had not a word of cen .
| sure. Their motives were pure and patriot
| ic, but their efforts had signally failed Many
of the gallant sons of PiGkens had rallied
around his standard in days pa.t, and he
came now in the name of the State to caIl
them again to rally around the standard Of
Reform and home rule. Six years ago when
| wing Of the Republican party, said by their
own words that the Republican party had be-
come n reproach to the civilized world, and
organized Reform party, the Conservatives
did not throw any difficulties in their way:
they did not even have q ticket in tho field
but supported their candidates, and assisted
| them in their effort to reform their own partv
| You worked with them to save the State and
| failed; now we call upon all honest Republi-
cans to work with as. He then referred TO
the efforts and failures under the leadership
of Judges Orr and Green, and said The Con.
serVatives had voted with them, and for Re-
| publicans since reconstruction. We had voted
| for Delaney Ito the colored people) which
shows the sincerity OF our purpose, and was
an evidence to Republicans that we did not
work for party, but to save South Carolina.
| In all these movements he had gone with the
| people, but at the time thought we were com.
mitting mistake. He had always made il n
| rule Of his life never to forsake his friends
Said there was but one way to save the State
and that was by nominating her own sons
and putting them in the field, and whose
character would be q guarantee of their hon.
esty, and they would carry our banner to
success. Said he did not want to be the
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