Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-04-19
WADE HAMPTON..-1s85 AND 1877.

In 1865, very soon after the surrender, of
the last of the Confederate forces, Gen. Wade
Hampton was urged to take the lead in estab-
fishing colony Of Southerners in Mexico.
The answer he made to the letters addressed
to him on that subject is given below. In
1866, a. in 1877, he. urged bis fellow-citizeus
TO stand by our State manfully and truly
There is no change in Wade Hampton, save
that he has ripened with time, and today 10
in the mellow prime Of physical and intellec-
tusl vigor. The letter 10 full. as published
in the Columbia Pheniz on July "a, 1885, is
as follows: 1:43 .r..a.4 a.'i ~, ...,4ea.N.
To tho Editor Of the Colsnsbia Rheniz:.. 81.
SIMULTANEOUS communications having
been addressed to me, proposing to form a.
colony to emigrate, take this method of
answering them, not only on account of their
number, but Of the want Of all mail facilities.
The desire to leave country which has been
reduced to such q deplorable condition as
ours, and whose future has 30 little of hope,
is doubtless a. widespread as it ia natural.
But l doubt the propriety of this expatriation
of so many of our best men. The yery fact
that our State is passing through SO terrible
an ordeal as the present, should cause" her
sons to cling the more closely to her. Nv
advice to'all my fellow-citizens is,e that they
should devote their, whole energies To- the res.
toration Of law and order, the! re-establish.
ment of agriculture and commerce, the pro-
motion Of education, and the rebuilding of
our cities and dwellings which have been laid
in ashes. To accomplish these objects-the
highest that patriotism can couceive--I re.
commend that all who do 80 should take the
oath of allegiance to the United States Gov.
ernment, so that they may participate in the
restoration Of civil government to our State.
War, after four years of heroic but unsuccess.
full struggle, has failed to secure to Us the
rights for which we engaged in it. To save
any of our rights-to rescue ANYTHING more
from the genera" ruin-will, require all the
patriotism Of. our citizens. If the best men
of our country-those who for years past
ve'risked their lives in her defence refuse
to take the oath, they will be excluded from
the councils of the State, and its DESTINY will
be committed to those who forsook her in her
hour of need, or to. those who would gladly
pull her down to irretrievable ruin. To guard
against such calamity, LET all true patriots
devote themselves, with zeal and honesty of
porpose,' to the restoration of law, the bless
ings of peace, and to the rescue Of whatever
of liberty may be saved from the general
wreck IT, after an honest effort. to the, effect
these objects, we fail. we can seek home in
another country. -, =, r."
a distinguished either, Of our tour state-an
honest man and true patriot-has been ap.
pointed Governor. He will soon call Con
vention of the people, which will be charged
With the most vital interests Of our, State.
Choose for this Convention our best and
truest, men not those who have skulked in
the hour Of danger-nor those who have wor-
shipped Mammon while their country was