The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-02-01
GOVERNOR HAMPTON's POLICY.

G0PERNOR HAMPTUN'S POLICY.
MEssRs, EDITORS: The policy Of Gov.
Hampton in his appointments to office,
and otherwise, according to present in
dications, seems to be clearly to build up
astrong conservative or democratic party
within the ranks of the colored people of
the State. To do this successfully, it is
absolutely necessary, always having COM
potency and adaptability in view, TO give
fair proportion of the offices at his dis
posal to his colored friends who suppor-
ted him in the late canvass. If he were
to ignore their claims, we might reasona-
bly, expect in the next election with
drawal of that support by the colored
population which was so effective in the
last. And this policy, to reasonable
extent, should pervade the Democratic
counties, as we'll as Republican. In this
way the county of Anderson, for instance,
may be, and will be, with proper man
agement, almost unanimously carried for
the Democracy in the next election.
Some exceptions have been taken by
yourself and others, to the appointment
of Sam. johnson as Jury Commissioner
for this County. So far as I understand
the position of the County Democratic
Convention on this question, they do not
question the correctness of the policy in
augurated by Gov. Hampton, but simply
express the opinion that more suitable
colored man than johnson might be OBJ
tanned. This may or may not be so, and
1 confess that I am scarcely in position
to be proper judge. There is this much
to say for Mr.. Johnson, however, that he
has received the unanimous endorsement,
as I understand, Of our Representatives
in the Legislature, and that he has dis
charged the duties of the Office for two
years acceptably to the Courts and peo-
pie; and what is of equal Importance, he
early and warmly espoused the cause of
Hampton and reform in the late canvass,
and in this respect boldly threw his in
huence, whatever it was, even against
that of many of his white political allies
in the County. From this standpoint, it
dues seem that Gov. Hampton has acted
wisely in said appointment.
While upon this subject, permit me to
add that Gov. Hampton, all through the
canvass and since his Inauguration, has
exhibited a craftsmanship that has taken
the whole country by surpsise. He ever
had the confidence of the people of his
State for patriotism, integrity and gallan-
try, but few, even of his personal friends,
believed him to possess the statesmanlike
ability which he has exhibited all through
the canvass and since his election. This
surprising manifestation of tact and un-
selfish devotion to country has electrified
as we'll the people of the North as the
South, and he stands to-day one of the
most popular men, North or South. We
can spot but one single mistake, and that
was not in writing letters to each of the
distinguished candidates for the Presi-
dency, in reference to the condition of
State affairs, but in sending one of these
missives by the hands of Judge Mackey.
Perhaps it might have been better not to
have written at all, but if it was mis-
take it originated in an overweening de-
sire for the restoration of good govern
ment to the people of his own State.
Those who cast imputations upon the
character of Gov Hampton for honesty
of purpose and magnanimity of action,
because of writing said letters, only too
clearly exhibit the littleness of their own
minds. Gov Hampton all through the
canvass lifted himself above mere party
ascendancv, and called on all true patri-
OTIS, of every political shade and hue, to
rally for the rescue of the government,
State and National, from the control of
corrupt and selfish men. In this position
he only lifted himself as a political leader
to the high plane of patriotic devotion
to country, which was so strongly mapped
out by the National and State Democratic
Conventions. T. H. R.