The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1877-09-28
HAMPToN's ADDRESS AT ROCKFORD.

Governor Hampton, on Thursday, dcliv-
cred the opening address at the Winncbago
County, ILL.,, Fair The following extracts
include the most interesting portions of his
speech:
Mr.. President ond my Fciiow-citi.cns Of
Winois-If any evidence was needed to
show the high appreciation in which hold
the invitation which brings me here to-day.
it would surely be found u the fact that |
have travelled more than one thousand
miles that may make my Acknowledgements
to you for the honor you have con terred in
person. [Applause.] And let me say to
you, and say it with infinite pleasure, that
tatigucs been greater, the sight that meets
me here to-day and the cordiality of the
welcome given by the people of Illinois
would have amply compensated me. [Ap-
plausc.l Under ordinary circumstances |
should scarcely have felt at liberty to have
lett my official duties to participate in an
"ccnsion "t this sort however gratifying; to
me the honor might have been but the in
vitation Of the Winnebaso Agricultural
Society carried with it such weight that it
imposed on me an obligation which I felt [
couldn't neglect. 1t was this society year
ago, before the political spirit which has
NOW SO happily subsidized had abatcd, that
was among the first to inau.urats that
spirit OF reconciliation which is now spread
ing with such wholesome force over this
land OF ours Therefore, when they made
call on me, | as a Southern man felt that
it was not only my pleasure, but that it was
my duty to 90 and maxi reponse to them
in person, and thank them for their course
in the interest Of harmony, and to pledge
my cordial cooperation in this patriotic and
noble work Cheers. If comprehend
the purpose Of your invitation to me, it was
not that | should speak to you merely on
agricultural subjects but that ] should dis
cuss those graver anG broader issues which
are distracting the country But my friends.
in doing that, you need not fear that shall
violate the proprietics of the occasion by
giving you political speech. | shall speak
to you for no man, for NO party, for no Sec
ton, but for the whole country, [Applausc;1
and in doing that | shall strive truthfully
to sink all men and partsanship and to
place myself on the grand high plane where
true and pure patriotism can be found -
Applause As | construe the motives of
this movement my friends, it is in the in.
that brought me here and if by anything
that | can say, can in the slightest degree
assist these gentlemen in the noble work
that they have inaugurated then, my friends.
| shall feel that my mission has not alto
gether failed.
The chief end had in view in coming
here was to promote true and correct un-
derstanding 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 come from the misconception
Of the purposes each of tn, other You
remember there is profound truth, as well
as Il knowledge Of human nature. embodied
in the fable, where it is told that in the
olden time shield, white on one side and
black on the other, was hung at the inter
section Of two roads, and two knights ap.
preaching in opposite directions disputed as
to the color of the shield. Finally their
lanccs were put in rest, and they perillcd
liiss each to support his own convictions
1t has seemed to Inc, in looking over all
these.qusstions, that something of the same
sort happened between the North and the
South. The Constitution was the shield.
viewed as it was from different points and
constructions. The dispute upon the points
waxcd warmer and warmer The sword
was called in, and under its red arbitra,nent
many brave, and true, and kniehtly sol
dlcr Irld down his lie III support nf his con
victiom. hat might have happened. my
friends. had prudence and not passion ruled
the hour, It Il useless for us t. say now .-.