The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1876-07-20
Gen. Hampton's Speech on the 2Sth
of June at Charleston.


Gen Hampton's Speech on the 2sth
of June at Charleston.
Mr.. CHAIRMAN AND GENTLEMEN:-
My voice is, unfortunately for me, in
such condition that fear my thanks
for your goodness will scarcely reach
you, and indeed could make myself
audible, could not give uttorauce
to the feelings which arise in my
heart. That heart would indeed be
dead to all sonsibility and gratitude,
if the words just uttered and the re-
ccplion you have given thom failed
TO stir it to its inmost depths. | do
lee! your kindness deeply and CRATE
fully, and J. acknow ledge your warm
greeting ny adding another TO the
many obligations under which my
friends of Carolina have placed me.
lrecognize and appreciate these OBJ
legations, to their fullest extent, and
il devotion to this dear old mother
State of ours, which has livol un-
changed and interchangeable through
veal and through woe; if patriotic
pride in her glorious record in the
past, iiial sorrow Tor her present
humiliation and suffering; if pro-
found faith, strong rs my trust in the
mercy and the Justice Of the AL
mighty, that she will yci ctnorgc un.
spotted and u"tarnished from The
evils That encompass her, to take
once again that proud place among
,bc sis;crhood Of States, which shc
won ior oscl' a hundrcd years ago;
if loyalty that time has not weak~
ened, that absence has not lessened;
that wrong has only strengthened. If
these things give me any claim on
my countrymen of South Carolina,
then, indeed, may deem myself not
altogether unworthy of the kindness
and the affection with which they
lave treated me.
You can really comprehed, gen,
tlemen, what crowd Of emotions, OF
memories and OF associations, thronq
through my mind as | stand, after
years Of absence, once again on the
spot that gave mo birth and look
upon scenes 80 familiar and yet SO
changed. Around me, wherever my
eyes have fallen this day, / have seen
the playmates of my childhood, the
companions of my early manhood, the
associates of my public service, the
trusted comrades, who stood by me
amid the storm of battle, and not a
few Of these venerable men who, in
the last generation gave tone and dis.
tinction, not only to this city, but to
this State, and whose friendship l
am proud to claim as an hereditary
right. Their presence at this pageant
shows what gaps death has made in
our ranks, and recalls the memories
Of many to whom we were bound by
the strongest tice of affection, and
whose names arc held in reyerential
remembrance by every patriotic
heart in our State.
"rhcre woro giants in those days"
and each of these departed sons of
SulOlihb III ilS ui'J bhu III HIS Sp'leloj
oiLhor in the halls of legislation or on
tho battle fold, or in that timo hons
orod station as private gentleman Of
South Carolina, did honor to his State,
and won for himself proud place in
her records. Amid these reflections,
which spring naturally from this ocN
casion, tho one paramount in my
mind, and the one most full of hope,
is that pooplo who, like ours, re-
vcrenco and seek to pcrpetuato the
horoIc deeds of their ancestors, who
havo virtue enough to emulate thoir
patriotic services in the cause OF free
dom, and who wero born The heirs Of
liberty, cannot sink at onco from
their high position into uLtor insignf~
cance, and wiIlnot easily and wiling,
ly accept degradation. We have Jhis
day, with imposing pomp and cero~
mony, done honor 60 tho mon who
gained the first, and perhaps tho most
decisive victory to American arms in
the great rebellion OF one hundred
years ago, and in honoring then. VIC
honor ourselves But what will thie