The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-12-21

IDdu2ulhliOd Vi I1dIuptOu LOOh pace
from 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. n. Hamp- |
ton was escorted to the stand amid l
demonstrations of great enthusiasm. !
The members of the General Assembly |
occupied the space Immediately sur |
rounding the stand, with the crowd in |
the rear. Gen. Hampton then read his |
inaugural address, Of which the fo,-
lowing is an extract: Gentlemen of
the Senate and House of Representa-
tives-It is with feelings of profound
est solicitude that l assume the ardu-
Gus duties and grave responsibilities OF
the high position to which the people
of South Carolina have called me. 1t
is amid events unprecedented in the
history of this Republic that l take the
chair Us Chief Magistrate of this State.
In q time of profound peace, when no
legal officer had been resisted in the
proper discharge Of his functions, We
have witnessed a spectacle abhorrent
to every patriotic heart and fatal TO re-
publican institutions - Federal troops
used To promote the success of polIt-
ical party. Undismayed, though shock
ed by this gross violation OF the Con-
stitution and the laws of the country,
the people, with determination that
no force Could subdue, that no fraud
l'eQuld defeat, have kept steadily and
peseeI uliy 10 the path of duty, re-
soived\to assert their rights as Ameri-
can ireefneQ 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 iDstitutIOus. What
the verdict of The people of South
Carolina IDS been you need notbe told !;
it has reverberated throughout the
State, and Its echoes come back to as
from every land where liberty is veut
rated, declaring in tones that caunoT
be mistaken that, standing on the Con-
stltutiOn of our country, we propose to
obey its laws and to preserve the peace,
for IN us lies it's pride and honor, Al d
to carry out in good faith every pledge
made by us for reform n / honest gov
eminent. We intend to prove to the
world the sincerity of our declarations
that the sole motive which inspired
the grand conte.t We have so success.
fully made was not paltry ambition or
for party supremacy, but b. the sacred
hope of redeeming our State. But it
was sought to wrest the fruits of this
victory from us by gigantic fraud and
a base conspiracy. When members
elected to the General Assembly re-
paired to the capitol to take their
seats, armed soldiers of the Federal
government confronted them, and
their certificates of election were ex-
amined and passed upon by corporal
Of guard. IL was amid these appalling
scehes that members Of the General
Assembly were called ON to resume
their duties "a representatives of a
free State-and that State one of the
original thirteen who were in indie
pendence Hah, and framed the Con-
stitutiuDl6y the free exercise of their
armed force prevented legal quorum
Of the lower house. After placing on
record protest, they quietly Withdrew
from the capital, and proceeded 10 or
game that branch of the General AS.
sembly. You have seen a minority OF
the House using powers of the whole
body. You have seen majority ex.
PEELED from their hall by tAreats OF
force. You have seen persons, having
, no shadow of q claim as members, ad
mitted to seats as Representatives by
the votes of men who themselves were
acting in direct violation of the Con.
| thn 10 Of
: browning act of infamy, by which g
candidate for the office of Governor,
defeated by the popular vote, had him.
self declared elected by his conspira
, tors. 1t is due to my position as chiei
, magistrate of this commonwealth tc
place on record my solemn and indig
nant protest against acts which con
9 slider as subversive OF civil liberty, and
destructive of our form of govern
8 ment. A great task is before the con
sentative party of this State. They
enter ed on this contest with platform
: so broad, so strong, so liberal thai
: every honest citizen could stand upor
t it. They constructed and accepted
! the amendments OF the Constitution IL
good faith. They pledged then selves
To work reform and establish good
! government. They promised to KEEP
up an efficient system of public educa
ton, and they declared solemnly thai
all citizens of South Carolina, of both
races and of both parties, should
! he regarded as equals in the eye of the
law, and to be fully protected IL
the enjoyment of every political righ
now possessed by them. To the faith
( full observance of these pledges VT
stand committed, and l, as the repre-
: sentative of the Conservative party
g hold myself bound by every dictate
I of honor and of good fai to use ev
g cry effort to have these pledges re
deemed fully and honestly. let u
show to all of them that the true In
terests of both rae 8 can Ee secured b,
: The cultivation of peace and promot
a ing prosperity among all classes of ou
fellow citizens. l rely confidently Oh
: the SUPPORT of the members OF the Gen
eral Assembly in my Efforts to aLtass'
. these laudable ends, ami lssszsfdat til,
all branches ofss'she government WI
. unite ITALY in this Patriotic work
LII 50 uni ed md willing, with resolut
t, and earnest determ nation, we ma
~ hope soon to see the dawn of a 0righ
Of er day for ,ut State. God, in His II
" finite mercy, grant that 1T may con
p speedily, and may He shower the ricl
IN est blessings of peace and happine
ID ON our whole people"
I'd At the close of the address the oat
IN of office was Administered by Til
Just &c Marshall to Hampton as g~ye
ct nor and To w. ID. SwiDsnn as lleusel
g ant governor, the crowd sanding wit
X uncovered heads while the ceremou
was being performed. The chair
as which Gen. Hampton was seated WI
then wrapped in the nationsl color
and. was borne un the shoulders of
e dozen men to his lotel, escorted |
IN the entire crowd.
IN Several prominent gentlemen al
e dressed the multitude from the froI
Is Of the hatel, the congressional COMM
D. tee occupying n prominent position G
Of one of the l:onies, after which Il
y crowd quietly dispersed.
~ WAsHISGToN, December Ia. =.
ty counter statement, signed by ZtC
$ Chandler, WAS furnished the press
D. midnight, which concludes: Hay
ut ami Wi .ler are electAd. and the wi
D. OF the American people will DC carrie
10 out and maintained"
n WASHINGTON, December II
IS f0llDwin,r WAS sent by the Presldel