The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-06-28
THE SHIELDS GUARDS.
SPEECHES OF GOVERNORS ROBINSON
AND HAMPTON.
Side by Side, New York and South Car.
Olina.
AUBuRN. N. Y. June 20. 1877,

AUBURN, N. L, June 2O, 1871.
An imposing demonstration was made
here to-day on the occasion of the visit
of General Shields, Governor Robinson
and Governor Hampton to attend the
Shields Guard anniversary. The city
was decorated and an immense crowd of
people filled the streets along the line of
the procession. Many officials and prom
inent military gentlemen were in the city,
and the procession was nearly a mile in
length.
THE RECEPTION ADDRESS.
The exercises were held in grove
near the city, and Hon. T. NJ. Pomeroy
made an eloquent reception address, in
which he referred in appropriate terms to
the distinguished gentlemen present and
gave sketch of the organization and
history of the military company to honor
which they had come together, and closed
by extending hearty welcome to all
present and by presenting the thanks of
the Guards.
His Honor Mayor McCrea then intro.
duced Governor Robinson, who was re.
ceived with enthusiastic rounds of ap-
plause, and delivered an address of vel
come to Governor Hampton in behalf of
the Empire State.
SPEECH OF GOVERNOR ROBINSON.
Mr.. CHAIRMAN AND FELLOW CITI-
zENs-I appear before you for tile pur.
pose of introducing to you distinguished
gentleman, the Governor of the State of
South Carolina, and welcoming him to
this our own State. Governor Hampton,
am aware that your visit here is unofi-
cial and prompted by motives of personal
friendship to the venerable veteran of the
Mexican war who is with us and the mil
itary organization which bears his hon.
ored name; but cheerfully avail myself
of the occasion to welcome you to the
State of New York. In doing this l need
not refer to events that have passed into
the history of the country, nor those of a
purely political character, but only to
those of recent occurrence and national
importance. The manly and heroic quail
tiles which you have shown within the
last six months have established your
fame forever in the hearts of the Ameri-
can people. (Applause.) When, after
you had been elected Governor by the
people of South Carolina, you found the
Capitol of your State in possession of fed.
eral troops forbidding your entrance and
compelling the members of your Legisla-
ture to pass under the censorship of an
armed military guard, the inevitable
popular excitement created thereby
spread over the whole country and uni
versal apprehension and alarm prevailed.
When it was seen that single indiscreet
word or action on your part would rekin-
die the flames ofcivil war and again deluge
the land with blood you uttered no such
word, you performed no such act. With
patience, with moral courage and with
absolute self-command you met the storm
'of human passion and arrested its pro-
gress with your own voice, and by your
we'll deserved magnetic power over your
people you upheld the majesty of the law.
Enthusiastic applause.) You preserved
peace; you appealed from the injustice
and wrong which you were suffering to
the reason and conscience of the nation.
Your appeal was heard; your vindica-
ton came; truth and justice triumphed.
(Cheers.) The federal troops no longer
march through your legislative halls /;
you are fully Installed in the possession
of your Office and your rights as Governor
of your State. The moral courage which
wins such victory under such circum-
stances is of higher and better order of
heroism than is often shown on the battle
field.
lam sure that speak the voice of the
Empire State when I once more bid you
welcome to her soil, alike for your per-
sonal worth and your high position in
the gallant State of which you are the
honored chief. (Applause.) In these
days of corruption and extravaganza in
the public service New York is proud to
hail you as the chosen leader of your peo-
pie in the war waged by all good citizens
against official malfeasance and legsla-
tive traffic in the rights of men. Great
applause.) The record of your life as
sures SURF us that in this struggle for honest
government South Carolina could have
no nobler chieftain and New York no
more worthy ally. Long continued ap-
plause.
FELLOW CITIZENS Il have now the
honor to present you His Excellency
Wade Hampton, Governor of South Car
olina.
GOVERNOR HAMPTON's SPEECH.
Governor Hampton responded as fol-
lows:
Mr.. CHAIRMAN, YOUR EXcELLENCY
AND MY FELLOW CITIZENS OF New
YORK; need not say to you how pro-
foundly have been touched by the too
Aattering remarks of the gentlemen who
have presented me to you and how cor
daily appreciate the compliments they
have paid my native State. come, as
your Governor has said, not in an official
capacity; I did not even come to take
an active part in the demonstration of
heShields Guard and citizens of Auburn.
| came solely to join in paying honor to
gallant soldier and my old friend, Cen
eral Shields. 1 came at his request to
bring from South Carolina that flag
which waved over him in those glorious
battles on the hills and plains of Mexico
that flag which derives not little of
its lustre from his brilliant achievements.
(Applause.) That was the g-(here
the battle flag of the Palmetto regiment
was held up by Captain Hogan and re-
ceived with cheers that was the flag,
nv friends, which was first placed on the
walls of the city of Mexico, over "the
halls of the Montezumas." 1t was the
last flag to wave as the conquering army
left the capital, the regiment remaining
by request of the Mexican city authori-
ties and forming the rear guard. That
regiment, my friends, went out 1,1oO
strong, comprising the best blood in the
State, young men buoyant with 1t life life and
hope. 1t returned to South Carolina
with 22O men, and now but small rem.
nant of them are left to guard this sacred
relic. am sure they would have loaned
it for no other purpose than that it
might here do honor to a man who did
honor to it. (Applause.)
THE LATE CONTEST.