The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-09-20
Mamp.un,s Address at Rockford.

Hnmt;vn's Address at Rockford.
Governor Hampton, on Thursday, de-
livercd the opening address at the Win
ncbag0 County, ILL.,, Fair. The follow
ing extracts include the most interesting
portions of his speech:
1lr. President and my Feiiow-citizens of
IMnois-If any evidence was needed to
show the high appreciation. in which
hold the invitation which brings me here
to-day, it would surely be found in the
fact that have travelled more than one
thousand miles that may mako my ac-
acknowledgements to you for the honor you
have conferred in person. Applause.
And let me say to you, and say it with
infinite pleasure, that had that journey
been far longer, had its fatigucs been
greater, the sight that meets ms here to-
day and the cordiality of the welcome
given by tho people Of Illinois would
have amply compensated me. Ap-
pinusc. Under ordinary circumstances
| should scarcely have felt Mt liberty to
have left my official duties to participate
| in nm occasion Of this aort, however graft
flying to mc the honor might have been;
but the invitation of the Winnebago Ag-
rcultural Society carried with it such
weight that it imposed on me an obliga-
ton which felt | couldn't neglect. 1t
was this society year ago, before the
| political spirit which has nos so happily
subsidized had abated, TINT was among the
| first to inaugurate thnt spirit of recon-
cillation which is now spreading with
| such wholesome force over this land Of
| ours. Therefore, when they made call
CT Tic. 81; {. Southern man felt that Il,
was not only my pleasure, but that it was
my duty to go and make response to
them in person, :nd thank them for their
course in the interest Of harmony, and to
pledge my cordial cooperation in this
patriotic and noble work. Cheers If
| comprehend the purpose of your invita-
! ton TO riH. It was not shat should
speak to you merely on agricultural sub.
jccts, but that should discuss those
graver and broader issues which are dis
tracting the country. But, my friends
IN doing that, you need rot fear that
shall violate the prophet of tho occa-
sion by giving you n political speech.
shall speak to you for no man, for no
party, for no section, but for the whole
country, Applause; i and in doing that
shall strive truthfully to sink all men
and partsanship, and to place myself On
the grand high plane where true and
pure patriotism can be found. lad.
plause. AS l construe the motives of
this movement, my friends, it is in the
interest Of peace. Understanding il so,
it was that brought me here; and if by
anything that l can say, / can in tho
slightest degree assist these gentlemen in
the noble work that they have inaugu-
rated, then, my friends, shall feel that
my mission has not altogether failed.
The chief end l had in view in com.
ing here was to promote n true and cor
rect understanding between the people
of the North and the South. You must
admit that very many of the evils which
have fallen Oh the country have come
from the misconception of the purposes
each of the other. You remember thero
is profound truth, as we'll as knowl-
edge OF human nature, embodied in the
! fable, where It ia told that IN the o!den
time shield, white on one side and
black or the other, was hung at the in
! tersection of two roads, and two knights
approaching in opposite directions dis
puted az to the color of the shield. Final
iy their lances were put in rest, and they
periilcd life, each to support his own con-
yictions. II has seemed to me, in look
ing over all these questions, that some
thing of the same sort happened between
the North and the South. The Consti.
tuition was the shield, viewed as it was
from different points and constructions.
The dispute upon tho points waxed
warmer and warmer. The sword was
called in, and under its red arbitrament
many brave, and true, and knightly
soldier laid down his life in support Of
his conviction. What might have hap
pened, my friends, had prudence and not
passion ruled the hour, it is useless for us
tn eay s nov The s.s.eee::n:e: s.sa.eee::ne: lccks g :h.c
past perils of HE country simply that he
may guard against them, and the prayer
and work of the patriot should tend 10
the same end. My frients: l sneak for
the South. We OF inc South have nsd
not only enough, but too much of war.
Laughter.] We seek peace. We come
now to plead in tbs interest of peace,
and it is for that am before you to day.
lCheersl Can you doubt, my friends,
that the South wants peace? Go look
at her ruined fields, the misrule under
has has ii;;eli. %. soT twelve years, anu
you will doubt no longer. Dc you men
Of Illinois doubt her sincerit;2 She has
been charged with faults, but among
these faults her worst enemies have never
said she WAS hypocritical, or that she
spoke with double tongue. Impetuous,
rash, she may be, but, thank God, false,
never. lCheers.
Do yon want proof of her sincerity?
Look in the recent past, and tell me, If
you G \ find sympathy moro conclusive
than is given by her conduct. Need I
tell you to Look back to those trying days
when the Presidential contest was unset
tledf What was the Course of the South
then?
Governor Hampton alluded to the pos
sibility of civil war, had not the South
stood frm for peace, and said tell Won
of Illinois, and speak not as q Demo
craft don't know and don't care
whether speak 70 Democrats or Rannb-