The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-03-31
The South Carolina Question.

Hampton's statement that his speeches on
the way to Washington were incorrectly re-
ported has been responded to BY the press
agents whom he charges with misrepresenta-
ton, by rejoinder in which they assert that
each speech was reported verbatim, phono-
graphically, and was published as spoken The
TACT is that leading Democrats, particularly
Senator Gordon and Fernando Wood, seeing
what sorry blunder Hampton had committed
by his speeches, at once upon his arrival put
him into training, and the consequence was
first, reputation of his speeches, and
second, letter to the President, which was
written by Gordon and signed by Hampton in
style that sounds very humiliating after the
bombastic speeches he has made. Senator
Gordon was too shrewd a man not to see at
once that Hampton had seriously injured his
chances of recognition by his speeches and the
random bravado of his friends. SO the letter
was written to take the sting out of the
speeches, and the friends were silenced.
In conversation with the correspondent of
the Boston Advertiser, General Hampton ex-
pressed his confidence in President Hayes
intensions, and seemed to wish it understood
that he expected formal recognition as
governor. He liked Governor Chamberlain
their personal relations had always been
friendly, and he believed him to be an honest
man, but he considered himself fairly elected
COVE OF the State, and conceded nothing
Ii he his recognized he will administer the
government to the best of his knowledge and
ability. He will protect the freedmen and see
that none of their rights and privileges under
the Constitution are infringed upon. He says
he is already warmly supported by the more
intelligent classes of colorei people in the
State, who have shown their esteem for him in
many ways He does not desire any formal
recognition, and will not ask it. All he wants,
he says, is, that Chamberlain be placed upon
similar footing with himself by having
the military Withdrawn, when he claims
that the Chamberlain government will not sur
vive several days. The people will indicate
their choice, and he believes that they should
be allowed to do so. He asserts that he is not
in position to make compromise of any sort
and will not yield an iota of bis rights. He
declined to state positively what would result
should the President recognize Chamberlain,
nor would he indicate what, in that event, his
own course would be; but Chamberlain, he
said, would require the continual presence OF
the military at the State House, and would not
be able TO collect any taxes. He thought be
would soon tire of holding an Office without
adherents are DESERVING him because they had
received no pay since October, and were seek
ing employment more profitable pecuniarlly
II Chamberlain was recognized it would par
alyze business, because the people would not
recognize him. The two years of his admins
tratlon would be simply wasted time to the
state Hampton said he did not ask the Presi-
dent to do anything more than to withdraw the
troops. when the difficulty would promptly and
without bloodshed adjust itself. This is Hamp-
to the President Gov Chamberlain and his
friends contradict many of these statements
and say the reason why Hampton wishes the
troops Withdrawn is in order to give the rife
clubs chance to capture the State House and
seize the archives of the government. They
say his assertions that Chamberlain could col
lect no taxes, and that the colored people are
recognizing him are absurd-they have done it
only under compulson.
The Advertiser correspondent is authority
for the statement that Secretary Evarts has
given Hampton assurances that he would be
recognized as governor of South Carolina.
There will be no theoretical recognition, but an
order Will be issued at an early date removing
tne military from the State House at Columbia,
and General Ruger will do nothing further
than maintain an absolute Indifference to both
contestants, except his interference shall be
necessary to preserve the peace This will be
practical recognition of Hampton's claims,
for Chamberlain does not pretend that he can
sustain himself against the thousands of rife
men without the arm of the federal govern
ment. His support is almost exclusively COL
ored, and war OF races would be inevitable
should he call out the state militia. Such a
calamity be will avoid if it becomes his only re-
source: Although the matter has yet to come
formally before the assembled Cabinet, the pur-
pose OF the President to withdraw the troops is
evident, and by time Governor Chamberlain
reaches home the orders to General Ruger will
probably be issued. Governor Chamberlain
will not give up the State House, however, I'M
til it has been proved beyond possibility of a
doubt that he cannot sustain himself If GEN
eral Ruger preserves the peace and prevents an
armed assault, Hampton's only resources are
the courts, which are favorable to him, and the
taxpayers, who he claims are with him also
The Presidents purpose is known to but a few
who are in his most intimate circles, but it is
evident he has given Governor Cham beran no
encouragement and that Mr.. Evarts has given
HAMPTON much