The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-01-24
COL. A. G., uASKELL'S LETTER.
He Denies the Statements of "a Til
den Democrat"
COLUMBIA, $. c., January IL, 1877.

COLUMBIA, $. c., January IL, 1877.
Editors Chronicle and Sentinel:
GENTLEMEN-ln yonr paper Of tho 10th
instant, there appears u letter signed "a
Tiiden Democrat" which undertakes first,
to show tho mischief occasiOned by the
recently written letter of GUvcrnor Hamp-
ton to Governor Tilden and to Governor
Hayes, and conveyed TO tho latter by
Judge Mackey and second, to give All
explanation of the acts from which as
your correspondent claims such unfortu-
nate consequences have cnsued.
GRAvELY IN ERROR.
The gravity is not in the letter, but in
tho subject upon which it dwclls, and in
The unfortunate credulity with which the
most unioundcd and understandable
statements arc accepted. The evil effect
of such q letter cannot DO moro strongly
cyincod than by tho second sentence in
your editorial comment upon it. "Tlle
mission of Judge RI. J. Mackey, who
wcntto Governor Hayes as the accredited
representative of General Waldo lamp
ton, was 4 surprise to the whole country"
Whore, Judge Mackcy was not sent by
Governor Hampton, o Was he in any
respect his representative, and General
Hampton had publicly 80 stated in re-
SIoIlSe W Ill IH4uiileS Aihuo v i Aiii.
| Again, 0 say: "a page in tho recent
| history of South Carolina politics is OPEN
ed, and tho public arc invited to read for
themselves" l beg leave TO answer you
that you arc greatly i'll error, and that not
ono jot of any secret of our political cam
paign has been revealed in the letter 10
which you refer. l am cognizant of and
officially possessed of every detail of the
canvass, and l assure you your corrcs-
pondcnt is, to say tho least, gravcly in Or
rOr.
TIE CHRONICLE AND SENTINEL LATu-
Erred.
Unjust ask permission, too, to say, that
your editorial gives a force to the letter
which the letter itself has not, when you
say, "Wo print this letter because it is
written In such 4 way as to show its per-
feet good faith and because the statements
contained therein arc of general inter-
est" =
There have been scurrilous articles
written against General Hampton in a
few of the extreme Radical sheets, but no
enemy in tho North has published so
columns. The piece could not have been
published in this State it is a matter of
regret that ii has appeared in any South
crn State or Democratic paper.
The policy adopted by the State in tho
| August convention was not the work of a
few individuals or leaders, but was, with
more Ilnanimity han has ever been seen,
the utterancc of the will and fixed deter
mination which sprung from the mass OF
the people.
HAMPTON M THE NORTHERN DEMO-
GRATIS.
The policy having boon settled, thcro
was but one difference Of opinion az to
the nomination of candidates. Whether
il should be Hampton, the man the people
wanted, but who had u conspicuous war
| record, which it was feared might injure
the national party !; or Should it be a man
against whom. this objection did not lie,
and who would command the respect Of
tho people Of tho State. This question
was calmly and freely discussed. General
Hampton was ut my house as Il guest. l
was constantly with him, and his views
were expressed to me fully and freely.
Ho entered into the canvass ut great per-
sonal sacrifice, and would have been much
pralificd could he have c0nscientiously
declined to enter upon tho duties which
tho people demanded Of him. Uo 80
stated to tho convention and urged tho
nomination of tho candidate who could
effect most good for the cause and in
either event promised his personal aid.
Tho views Of the National Democratic
party were not intrudcd upon tho V
lion, but were invited, and wore regard,
ed as Of great weight. it was understood
that the National Executive Committee
regarded the nomination OF Hampton ~
dangerous. This opinion mot with earn
est support from ON Of our best ana
ablest men, and certainly gayo no oileiisc
to General Hampton. Tho final decision
was that in the depressed condition OF our
people We could not afford to take any
but tho II man upon whom all hearts
would unite and for whose election men,
woInen and children would strive. The
convention felt assured that by prudent
policy tho fears entertained by the North
crn Democrats would be disappointed.
Hampton was thus nominated by tho
unanimous vote of tho convention, and
the balance of the State ticket was filled
by men of either opinion, all division
having ceased tie moment the question
debated had been settled.
! I cannot speak positively as to the state
! mont sgt YVES pcnorully recognized tina