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

Hampton and Governor Tilden or the
other gentlemen would be out Of place
and, still more, unnecessa. shall
speak but Of the facts, aud Of tuem only
what I can say authoritatiyely and ofmy
personal knowledge.
The policy adopted by the Gtate in the
August convention was not the work
Of few individuals or leaders, BIZ: 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 bean settled, there
was but one difference Of opinion as to
the nomination of candidates. Whether
it should be Hampton, the man the pso-
pie wanted, but who had conspicuous
war record, which it was feared might in
Iure the national party; or should it be
uIau against whom this objection did
not lie, aud who would command the re-
spect of the people of the State. This
question vas calmly and freely discussed.
l speak as member of the convention,
where 1 heard the debate General
Hampton was also n member; he was at
my house as guest. l was constantly
with him, and his views were expire .ed
to me fully and freely. He entered into
the canvass at great personal sacrifice,
and would have been much gratifed
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 caulo, 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 rs 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 filed
By men of either opinion, all division
having ceased the moment the question
debated had been settled
cannot speak positively US to the
statement "it was generally recognized
that the candidacy of Hampton Gould be
distasteful to Governor Tilden, because
the latter fear.d ii would work mischief
to the National Democracy" 1t certain
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
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 fo- Governor"
General Hampton had no such feeling ;
he Was not "oYerruied by his friends p
| 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 cord;aAe." /"
which had never been disturbed, wrote
10 Mr.. Tilden, and that "this letter re-
ceired no anS,oer." know that General
Hampton did write, and I read a 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, aud Gen.
eral n. G. Butler personally brought an
| answer from Mr. Tiiden, with n repeti-
ton of apology for his brief delay. Ger
talhly gentlemen exact no more than
such civilty, and know that so far as
Mr. Nilden is concerned, none but the
most agreeable words ever passed be.
tween himself and General Hampton.
insertth next sentences in full, and
deny them tn toto: uj
Democrats were poor, and needed money
for campaign purposes. The State Dem
| ocratic Executive Committee wrote to
Hon. AbFam s. Hewitt, Chairman of the
National Executive Committee. reciting
their ncce ,sities, and asking for some as
sistance. Mr. Hewitt replied TINT he
had no money to give them, and said, in
effect, they must take care of themselves.
These successive rebuffs, 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 well
| wonder at his feelings when these facts
F, are remembered P' aa ~ !~a
/ did, as Chairman of the State Com
mittee, write to Mr.. Hewitt. gave him
the. opinion that we could carry the
Stste, and applied for assistance o7roovvi- o7rov;
{ dcd that he concurred in our opinion, and
would regard this to be true disposition
of means for tho benefit of the national
party His reply was entirely satisfacto.
ry.r 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 wa:
not rebuff. We made no appeal fol
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 thas has never
| been excelled: nor did il in anvwiss
diminish his efforts, which were alwayi
brave and earnest in behalf of the Ma
tional Democratic Presidential ticket. i
is utterly untrue "that in the campaign
which ensued General Hampton confined
himself to making votes for the Stat,
ticket, and let national politics and tn,
candidacy of (loyernor frildan eovaroi,