The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1877-10-03
Wade Hampton.
HIS SPEECH AT ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS

year to deliver the annual address
before the Winnebago County Fair,
at Rockford, Illinois, and accepted
the invitation. Here is the better
portion of the address as delivered
on the 18th of September:
Mr.. PRESIDENT AND MY FELLOW
CITIZENS OF ILLINOIS IF any evil
dence was needed to show the high
appreciation in which hold the invi-
tation which brings me here to-day, it
would surely be found in the fact that
have travelled more than one thou
sand miles that may make my ac-
acknowledgements to you for the honor
you have conferred in person. ZAP
plause. And let me say to you, and
say it with infinite pleasure, that had
that journey been far longer, had it's
fatigues been greater, the sight that
greets me here to day, and the cordial
ity given by the people of Illinois,
would have amply compensated me.
fApplause.l
Under ordinary circumstances L
should scarcely have felt at liberty to
have left my official duties to partici-
pate in an occasion ofthis sort, howev-
..s
er gratifying the honor might have
been, but the invitation of the Winnie
bago Agricultural Society carried with
IL such weight that it imposed upon
me an obligation which 1 felt could
not neglect. 1t was this Society that a
year ago--before the political spirit
which has now so happily subsidized had
abated-was among the first to inaug-
urate that spirit of reconciliation which
is now spreading with such wholesome
force over this land of ours. There
fore, when they made call upon ME,
Las Southern man felt that it was
not only my pleasure, but that it was
my duty, to go and make response to
them in person, and thank them for
their course 10 the interest of harmo-
ny, and to pledge my cordial co-opera-
ton in this patriotic and noble work.
[Applause.]
If comprehend the purpose of your
invitation to me, it was not that
should speak to you merely upon agri-
cultural subjects, but that should dis
euss those graver and broader issues
which are distracting the county,
But, my friends, in doing that you
need not fear that l shall violate the
proprieties of the occasion by giving
you political speech. l shall speak
to you for no man, for no party, nor no
section, but for the whole country; and
in doing that | shall strive truthfully
to sink all men and all craftsmanship,
and to place myself upon that grand,
high plane, where true and pure patri-
Otism can be found. As construe the
motives of this movement, my friends,
it is in the interests of peace. Under
standing it so, it was that brought me
here, and II BY anything that I can say
OR do, If crn in the slightest degree
assist these gentlemen in the noble
work that they have inaugurated, then,
my friends, my mission has not alto
getlier failed.
The chief thing l had in view in
coming here was to promote true and
correct understanding between the
people of the North and South. Yon
must admit that very many of the
evils which have fallen on the country
have come from a miseonception of the
purposes-each of the other. You re-
member there is profound truth, as
we'll as a knowledge of human nature,
embodied in the fable where it is told
that In olden times a shield, white on
one side and black on the other, was
hung at the intersection of two roads,
and two Knights, approaching in OPP
posite directions, disputed as to the
color of the shield. Finally their Lam
ees were put in rest, and they periled
life each to support his own convic-
tions. 1t has seemed to me, in looking
over all these questions, that some
thing of the same sort happened be
tween the North and South. The Con.
stitution was the shield, viewed as it
was from different points aud constr uc-
lions. The dispute upon the points
wa1ed warmer and warmer; the sword
was called in, and under its real arbi-
trament many brave and true and
knightly soldier laid down his life in
support of his conviction. What
might have happened, my friends, had
prudence and not passion ruled the
hour, it is useless for US to say now
The statesman looks at the past perils
OF his country simply that he may
guard against them, and the prayer and
work of the patriot should tend to the
same end,
My friends, I speak for the South. |
We of the South have not only had
enough, but too much of war. Laugh
teri We seek peace. We come now
soplead in the interest of peace; and
it is for that am here haforo uon 20