Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1877-09-20
1Iampton's Address at rockford


| the opening address ut the Winnebngo
County, Illinois, Fair. The following exs
tracts include the most interesting portions
of his speech:
Mr. President and my Fello,o- citizens of
Wtnois-1f any evidence was needed to show
the high appreciation in which hold tho in
vitation which brings me here to-day, it
would surely DO found in tho fact that have
travelled more than one thousand miles tha.
may make my acknowledgements to you for
the honor you have conferred in person.
(Applause.) And lot me say to you. and
say it with infinite pleasure, that had that
journey been far longer, had it's fatiguos been
greater, the sight That meets mo hero to-day
and the cordiality of tho welcome given by
the people Of Illinois would have amply com
pensated me. (Applauso.) Under ordinary
circumstances ! should scarcely have felt at
liberty to have left my ofEoinl duties to parti-
cpato in on oconson Of this SORT however
gratifying to me the honor might have been;
but the 'nvisation of the Winnebago Agrcul,
tural Society carried with it such weight that
it imposed on me an obligation which fol, 1
couldn't neglect. 1t was this society yenr
ago, before the political spirit which has now
so happily subsidized had abatcd, that was
among the first to innugurate that spirit of
reconciliation which is now spreading with
such wholesome force ovor this land of ours
Therefore, when they made a call on me, rs
Southern man felt that it was my duty to 60
and make response to them in person, aud
thank thcm for their course in the interest of
harmony and to pledge my cordial co-opera.
ton in this patriotic and noble work.
(Chccrs.) If comprehend the purpose Of
your Invitation to me, it was not that I should
speak to you merely on agricultural subjects
but that discuss those graver and broader
iasucs which arc dstracting the country.
But, my friends, in doing that you need not
fear that shall violate the proprieties Of tho
occasion by giving you n political specch. l
shall speak to you for no man, for no party,
for no section, but for the whole country. tup.
plausc;) and in 80 doing that I shall strive
trnthfullyto sink all men and partizanship, and
to place myself on tho grand high plane where
true and pure patriotism can DO found. (Ap
plause AS l cOnstrue tho motives Of this
movement, my friends, it is in the interest Of
pcaco. Understanding it 80, it was that
brought me here; and if by anything that
can shy, can in tho slightest degree assist
those gentlemen in the noble work that they
have inaugurated, then, my friends, shall
feel that my mission has not altogether failed
The chief end had in Wow in coming here
was to promote true and correct under
| standing between the people Of the North and
the South You must admit that very MANY
of the evils which have fallen on the country
have como from the misconception Of the pur.
poses each Of the other. You remember thero
is profound truth, rs we'll as knowledge Of
human nature. embodied in tho fable, where
it is told that in the olden time q shield,
white on ono side and black on the other, was
hung ut tho intersection Of two roads, and two
knights approaching in opposite directions
| disputed as to the color Of the shield. Finolly
their lances wero put in rest, and they perilled
life, each to support his own convictions. 1t
has seemed to me, in looking over oil tbcso
| questions, that something Of tho snme sort
happened. between the North and South. The
Constitution was tho shield, Vowed rs it was
from different points and constructions. Tue
dispute upon the points waved warmer md
warmer. The sword was called in, and undor
its rod nrbitramont many brave and true
! and knightly soldier laid down his life 10 sun
port og his conviction. What might have
happe9cd, my friends, had prudence and not
passlob ruled the hour, it is useless for us to
say n9w. Tho statesman looks to the past
perils Pf his country simply that he may guard
patri6t should tcnd to the samo end. My
trlendt, speak for the South. We Of the
Soutf} have had not only enough. but too
mruciY of war. (Laughter.) We seek peaoe.
we cPmo now to plead in tho interest of peace,
nnd " is for that am before you to-day.
lChefrs,) Can you doubt, my friends. that
the Sputh wants peacc2 Go look at her ruined
fields, tho misruie under which she has lived
| ior twelve years, and you will doubt no longer.
70 you men of Illinois doubt her sincerity?
Sho has been charged with faults, but among
these faults her worst enemies have nover said
sho was hypooritcal, or that sho spoke with
double tongue. Impetuous. rash, sho may
be. bht, thank God, false, novor (Cboers
20 you want proof of her sincerity? Look
IN THO recent past, and toll mo, if you can find
sympathy moro conclusive than is givon by
her conduct Neod toll you to look back to
thoso trying days when the Presidential ouno'
est test was unsettled3 What was tho course Of
the South then2
Governor Hampton alluded to tho possibility
OF civil war, had not the South stood firm
'or peace, and said; toll you Of Illinois, and