The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-01-25

| OCQeT SeQGlelllcu WOulu uc out VI PIooS
and, still more, unnecessary. | shall
speak but of the facts, and of them only
what can say authoritatively and of my
personal knowledge.
The policy adopted by the State in the
August convention was not the work
of few individuals or leaders, but was,
with more unanimity than has ever been
seen, the utterance of the will and fixed
determination which sprung from the
mass of the people.
The policy having been settled, there
was but one difference Of opinion as to
the nomination of candidates. Whether
it should be Hampton, the man the peo-
pie wanted, but who had a conspicuous
war record, which it was feared might in
iure the national party; or should it be
a man against whom this objection did
not lie, and who would command the re-
spect of the people of the State. This
question was calmly and freely discussed.
[ speak as member of the convention,
where T heard the debate. General
Hampton was also a member; he was at
my house as a guest was constantly
with him, and his views were expressed
to me fully and freely. He entered into
the canvass at great personal sacrifice,
and would have been much grati6ed
could he have conscientiously declined to
enter upon the duties which the people
demanded of him. He so stated to the
convention and urged the nomination of
the candidate who could effect most good
for the cause, and in either event prom
ised his personal aid. The views OF the
! National Democratic party were not in
truded upon the convention, but were in
vited, and were regarded as of great
weight. 1t was understood that the Ma
tional Executive Committee regarded the
nomination of Hampton as dangerous.
This opinion met with earnest support
from some of our best and ablest men,
and certainly gave no ofense to General
Hampton. The final decision was that
in the depressed condition of our people
we could not afford to take any but the
one man upon whom all hearts would
unite and for whose election men, women
and children would strive. The conven-
ton felt assured that by prudent policy
the fears entertained by the Northern
Democrats would be disappointed
Hampton was thus nominated by the
unanimous vote of the convention, and
the balance of the State ticket was filled
by men of either opinion, all division
having ceased the moment the question
debated had been settled.
I cannot speak positively as to the
statement "it was generally recognized
that the candidacy Of Hampton would be
distasteful to Governor Tilden, because
the latter feared it would work mischief
to the National Democracy" Itcertain-
| ly was stated that such was the view of
some of the committee and working
members, but my impression is that it
was said Mr.. Tilden's own view was in
favor of General Hampton's nomination.
The statements made in the letter with
regard to Col. Coyle are exaggerations,
but pass them by. But the following I
utterly and equivocally deny:
''Those who know General Hampton
will not be surprised to learn that when
he heard of this interference and opposi-
tion he was deeply angered, and was in
clined to withdraw his name from the
consideration of the convention. He
was finally overruled by his friends and
consented to run for Governor
General Hampton had no such feeling
he was not "overruled by his friends;"
but, asking the convention to weigh the
party expediency of his candidacy, he
accepted their judgment and consented
to the position to which the unanimous
vote elected him.
The next statement is, that General
Hampton, to ''restore the entente cordiale," "
which had never been disturbed, wrote
to Mr.. Tilden, and that "this letter re-
ceived no ansaoer." I know that General
Hampton did write, and I read very
agreeable letter from Mr.. Manton Mar
BILE, which contained an ample explana-
ton from Mr.. Tilden for his delay in re-
plying to General Hampton, and Gen
eral N. G. Butler personally brought an
answer from Mr.. Tilden, with a repeti-
ton of apology for his brief delay. Ger
taiuly gentlemen exact no more than
such civilty, and I know that so far as
Mr.. Tilden is concerned, none but the
most agreeable words ever passed be-
tween himself and General Hampton.
1 insert the next sentences in full, and
deny them in toto:
"But this was not all. The Carolina
Democrats were poor, and needed money
for campaign purposes. The State Dem
ocratic Executive Committee wrote to
Hon. Abram S. Hewitt, Chairman of the
National Executive Committee, reciting
their necessities, and asking for some as
sistance. Mr.. Hewitt replied that he
had no money to give them, and said, in
effect, they must take care of themselves.
These successive rebufs, taken in con:
nection with Tilden's opposition to
Hampton's nomination, naturally enough
irritated the latter, and made the Demo
cratic Presidential nominees anything
but favorite with him. Who can we'll
wonder at his feelings when these facts
are remembered ?"
did, as Chairman of the State Com
mittee, write to Mr.. Hewitt, gave him
the opinion that we could carry the
State, and applied for assistance-prooi-
ded that he concurred in our opinion, and
would regard this to be true disposition
of means for the benefit of the national
party. His reply was entirely satisfacto-
~. He deemed it better that his assist
ance should be rendered elsewhere. We
accepted the answer, and went on upon
our own resources. In fact, we pardoned
persons much nearer home, who fancied,
as Mr.. Hewitt did, that our hopes trans
cended our prospects. His answer was
not rebuff. We made no appeal for
charity, but submitted our demand solely
upon its merits. The reply did not irri-
tate General Hampton, who was, by day
and by night, canvassing the State with
an energy and prudence that has never
been excelled; nor did it in anywise
diminish his efforts, which were always
Brave and earnest in behalf of the Ma
tional Democratic Presidential ticket. 1t
is utterly untrue "that in the campaign
which ensued General Hampton confined
himself to making votes for the State
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