Claiborne guardian. [volume] (Homer, La.) 1877-188?, 1877-10-03
Wade Hampton at Rock ford.

Rockford, ILL.,, special gives Wade
llampton'S speech before the Win
ncbago County Fair to day, of which
the following extracts were made
Mr.. Hampton said:
M. President and my Feline Titi
seas Of Winois-If any evidence was
needed to show the high apprecia
ton in which | hold the invitation
which brings me here today, it
would surely be found in the fact
that | have travelled more than a
thousand miles that may make my
acknowledgements to yOu for the
honor you have conferred in person,
Applause.
And let me say to you, and say
1t with infinite pleasure, that had
that journey been far longer, had its
fatlgnes been greater, the sight that
meets me here to-day. aud the cor.
diality of the welcome given by the
people of Illinois would have amply
compensated me. Applause. Tn.
/ der ordinary circumstances should
scarcely lIayc felt at liberty to have
. left my official duties to participate
III IN occasion of this sort, however
gratifying the honor might have
been. But the invitation of the
Winncbago Agricultural Society
carried with it such weight that it
imposed upon me an obligation
which ! felt | could not neglect. 1t
was this society a year ago, before
the political spirit which has now
so happily subsidized had abated. that
was among the first to inaugurate
that spirit of reconciliation which is
now spreading with such whole.
some force over this land of ours.
Therefore. when they made a call
upon me, |, as Il Southern man, felt
that it WAS not only my pleasure,
but that it was my duty to go and
make a response to them in person,
and thank them for their course in
the Interest of history, and to pledge
my cordial cooperation in this patri.
Otto and noble work. lApplauseJ
II complement iH' pun I'oSt vi
your invitation TO me, it was not
that | should speak to YOU merely
upon agricultural subjects, but that
] should discuss those graver and
broader issues which are distracting
the country. But, my friends, in
doing that you need not fear that |
shall violate the propricties Of the
OCCASION by giving you a political
speech. shall speak to you for no
man, for no party, nor no section,
but for the whole country: applause
ana in doing that shall strive
truthiuly to sink all men and all
partisanship and to place myself
upon that grand, high plane where
truth and pure patriotism can he
found. Applause.
As | construe the motives of this
movement. my friends, it is in the
interests of peace. Understanding
it so, it was that that brought me
here, and if 10y anything that | can
say or d0-if | can in the slightest
degree assist those gentlemen in the
noble work that they have inaugu.
rated, then, my frirUJfs, shall taeI
that my mission has not altogether
failed. The chief thing had in
view in coming here was to promote
a true and correct understanding
between the people of The North and
South. You must admit that very
many of the evils which have fallen
on the country have come from mis-
conception of the purposes each of
the other. You remember there is
profound truth, as well as a knowl.
edge of human nature mbodied in
the fable where it is told that in old.
EN- times a shield. white on one side
and black on the other, was hung ut
the intersection of two roads, and
two knights approaching in oppo.
site directions disputed rs to the
color of the shield. Finally their
lances were put in rest and they
perilled life each to support his own
convictions. 1t has seemed TO me
in looking over all these questions,
that something Of the same sort hap.
pened between the North and South.
The constitution was the shield;
viewed as it was, from different
points and construction, the dispute
upon the points waxed warmer and
warmer. The sword was called in,
and under its red arbitrament MANY
brave and true and knightly sol
dier laid down his life in support of
his conviction. What might have
happened, my friends, had prudence
and not passion ruled the hour. is
useless for us to say now. The
statesman looks to the past perils
of his country simply that he may
guard against them, and the prayer
and the work of the patriot should
tend to the same end.