The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1876-08-24
Gen. Hampton Delivers an Eloquen
Address.


General Hampton was greeted with pro-
longed cheers, and as soon as they had SUBJ
sided spoke as follows:
Mr.. President and Gentlemen of tho Convention:
In accepting the honorable position to
which you have called me, that of your STAN
dard bearer in The great struggle for Reform,
which you have begun, do so with the most
grateful appreciation of your Kindness, and
the most profound sense of the high duties
and the grave responsibilities pertaining to
the position.
In the better days oc our country, whom the
surest prospects to official station were found
in The ability The honesty and the integrity
other public servants, the most distinguish cd
sons Of South Carolina looked upon the Chief
Magistrate of the State as the goal of their
highest ambition, ana the best reward of their
public services. If men of whom Carolina is
justly proud held in such deserved estimation
thc distinction OF being thought worthy by
their fcllow-citizcns of the highest office in
The gift of the State in The days of her pros
petity and peace, how much more highly
should l esteem the honor you have done me
by calling mo unanimously 70 lead you in
this hour Of gloom ana of peril? You are
struggling for the highest stake for which a
people ever cOntendea, for you are striving
TO b'ing back TO your PROSTATE State the in
sstimable blessings which can only follow
orderly and regulated liberty, under free and
good government.
We believe that these blessings can only
be secured by complete change in the ad-
ministration of our public affairs, National
and Sta.e; and believing that our sympathics
and our interests lead us naturally and in
evitably into alliance with that great party,
upon whose banners are inscribed the watch>
words Of Democracy, Reform, good govern
ment, hard money and home ,ule, you have
indorsed and ratified the platform of tho Do
mocratic party. adopted at st. Louis; and
planting yourselves firmly on that, you look
forward hopefully and confidently to victory,
in which you will not only share, but to which
yoe will have contributed. Tho platform
which you have adopted here is so catholic in
its spirit, so strong in its foundations, and
so broad in it's construction, that every man
in South Carolina who honestly desires Reform
can find room to stand upon it.
With such platform, where our citizens of
all parties and all races can stand, assured of
equal rights anu full protection, you can
sdrely bring back 20 our distracted State the
grcaC blessings of good government As for
lnyself, should be elevated to the high po-
sition for which you hive nominated nc, lay
sole effort shalt be TO restore our State gov,
er0mcnt 80 decency, 10 honesty, to economy,
and TO integrity. | shall be the Governor Of
the whole people, knowing no party, making
no vindictiYe discrimination, holding the
scales Of justice with firm and impartial hama,
seeing is far as in me lies that the laws are
enforced in justice, tempered by mercy, pro-
tectiDg all classes alike, and deyoting evory
effort to the restoration of prosperity and the
re establishment Of honest government
Thanking you gentldmen, for the honor you
have conferred upon me, and Invoking the
blessing of God on your praiseworthy effort
to redeem our State, here pledge myself to
work with you in that sacred cause, with all
the zeal, all The energy, all the ability aud all
the consistency of which am capable
lie was interrupted with frequent bursts of
applause. At the conclusion Of his speech,
he retired to a sofa on the right of the hall
where he remained seated, till The Convention
adjourned.