The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-01-24


the candidacy Of Hampton would be dis
tasteful TO Governor ridden, because the
latter feared it would work mischief to
tho national Democracy" 1t certainly
was stated that such was the view of some
of Tie committee and working members,
but my impression is that it was said Nh.
Tildcn's own view was in favor OF General
Hanlpton's nomination..
General Hampton was not "0yerrUled
by his friends - out asked the conven-
ton to weigh the party expedicncy of his
candidacy, he accepted their judgment
and consented to the position to which tho
unanimous vote elected him.
II UNANSWERED LETTER.
The noxt statement is, that Gen. Hanp-
ton. to "restOre tho entente cordiale,"
which had never>been disturbed, wrote to
Mr.. Tilden, and that "tllis lotter received
no answer" / know that Gen. Hampton
did write, and read a very agreeable letter
from Mr.. Manton Marble, which contain
cd m explanation from Mr.. Tildcn for his
delay in replying to General Hampton,
and General N. C. Butler personally
brought an answer from MI. Tilden, with
a repetition of apology for bis brief delay.
Certainly gentlemen exact no more than
such civility, and l know}tiIat so far rs
most agreeable words ever passed between
himself and Con. Hampton.
Mr.. HEWITT A NO MONEY FOR soUTu
CAROLINA.
did, az Chairman of tho State Com
mittoo write to Mr.. Hewitt, gave him the
opinion that we could carry The State, and
APPLIED for assistancc-providcd that he
conclrrod in our opinion, and would re-
gard this to be a true disposition of means
for the benefit Of the national party. His
reply was entirely satisfactory. He deem
ed it better that his assistance should DO
rendered elsewhere. We accepted the
answer, and went on our own
In fact, we pardoncd persons much nearer
home, who t;lncicd, rs Mr.. Hewitt did,
that our hopes transccndcd our prospects.
His answer was not a rebuff. We made
no appeal for charity, but submitted u
demand solely upon its merits. Tho ro-
was, by day and by night, %canvassing tho
State with an energy and a prudence that
never has been cxccllcd; nor did it in
any wise diminish his efforts, which were
always brave and earnest in behalf of the
National Democratic Presidential ticket.
It is utterly untrue I" that i'll the campaign
which cnsucd General Hampton confined
himself to making votes for the State
ticket, and let national politics and the
candidacy of Governor Tilden severely
alono." The evidence given 10 maintain
this assertion is too puorile for notice.
HAMPTON GAIEED VOTES FOR TIE
WHoLE TICKET.
Unless your correspondent is grossly
ignorant Of the whole campaign and its
conduct, he well knows that Gen. Hanp-
tons speeches wcro not advocates of State
candidates any more than national, nor
were they arguments on petty politics.
fphey were appeals to the people III behalf
of honesty and reform. These words
comprehendcd everything, and whom he
gained votes, lo gained them for the whole
ticket, State and national. Tho slight dis
crepancy of Is few hundred votes III Il vote
of lisa, 900 between the State and national
ticket is due to the fact that that there are
in the State q few hundred Republicans
who are honest mon and free from tho
shacklcs which have held together tho
col0red race. These mon remained truo
to the national Republican party, but re-
pudiated the State party, and were won
over to tho State Democracy by their adj
miration for the honest fight which was
being conducted before them. And in
this Gen. Hampton did not dcviate from
the policy Of either tho national or State
Democratic platforms.
WHAT COOKE AND MACKEY DID.
On tho night of tho day after Mr.. Cham
berlain's nomination by the Radicals,
Judges Cooke and Mackey called at the
Office Of tho Executive Committee in Co.
llumbia General Hampton was in Able
ville,) and declared their intention to join
us in tho State contest. They had been
earnest supporters Of Mr.. Chamberlain,
but repudiatcd his ticket, and him with
it. They did urge tho abandonment Of
the national contest. The argument, too,
was 10rcible. They submitted that we
could not thereby injure the national De-
mocracy, stating that wo were regarded
as an embarrassment rather than q benefit
to the party, I'VE had heard the same from
other Sources and could greatly benefit
the State. Judge Mackcy stated that tho
plan Of tho Radical leaders wa to be pas
sivc for q tilno; allego that they were re-
strained from canvassing from fear of vio-
lence meanwhile to excite riot and viO-
lence among tho colored race, cause blood
shed, and then invoke military Inference.
| ll0 G4pTCSScu Ills COllS lCCIOll IiLtC SuSli
the State and national plan, and events
lravc proved the exact correctness of his
predictions. Judge Cooke confirmed the
views above stated, saying ho knew of
contemplated riot and bl0oGshcdding
from conversation with leading Rcpubli-
cans with whom lo was allied up to that
time.
Tho proposition was discussed by the
committee, but no action taken, except
the resolution that nothing should be done
without consultation with the National
Executive Committee. Tho next day
Judge Cooke went TO Abbevillo to appear
on the stand rs a speaker in behalf of our
party. Col. Hoyt, of the Executive Com
mittec, went to Abbovillc with him, and
thcrc, as instructed DO the committee, OH
ferred with General Hampton and some
Other gentlemen. The reasons advanced
wore ct first sight regarded very strong,
but no decision was arrived mt, except
that no step should DO taken except with
tho approval of Mr.. Tildcn, on the ground
that our position was embarrassing the
national party-thc Withdrawal then to DO
under a protest, stating the plot us laid
down by Judges Mackcy and Cooke, and
announcing that we withdraw to prevent
the Intervention of military force, which
would rob ur of our constitutional rights.
General Hampton wrote to MIR. Tildcn
through Mr.. Manton Marble. l wrote to
Mr.. Hewitt. Before their answers had
been received, General Hampton had, on
reflection, como to the conclusion that tho
proposition waa not wise or proper. The
committee had como to the conclusion.
Tho esponse from Mr.. Tilden. and the
National Executive Committee c%oncurred
with our views. We wcro assured that
we wore not embarrassing but aiding the
national cause, and tho proposition was
thus finally sottled and never again
thought of until brought up by your cor
respondent. Tho prepostorous idea of its
defeat by lack of time is utterly without
foundation. Tho Executive Committee
regarded itself rs fully possessed Of the
power, and would at once, had they deem
cd it proper, havcannounccd tnat tho cleo.
tors were withdrawn from tho ticket. Nc
difficulty Of such Kind was over contcIn-
plated.
A NORTHERN LETTER.
Certainly at is not too much for
your correspondent ''tO say that the
State was lost TO Tilden and tho national
Democracy through tho policy pursued
by General Hampton" The assertion is
in tho spirit of tho whole piece, but with
moro frankness. The opinion of tho
world ]pronounces it All absurdity. AS
an instance, I enclose a letter just rccciv.
ed from a distinguished Northern Demo
clat, who did know "thc leaf of secret
history Of our campaign: . + i