The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-10-04
MASsAOH USETTg AND SOUTH CARO-
LIMA.

LIMA,
Gov Rice, of Massachusetts, is succeeding
finely in making himself contemplate In tho
eyes of the country. Some time since he re-
fused TO obey d reuuisition Of Coy. Hampton
for the person Of Hiram II. Kimpton, ono Of
the thieves who plundered South Carolina.
In refusing to obey that requisition Gov. Rice
violated two Of the plainest articles OF tho
constitution he also violated That comfy
which should prevail between the States,
and he threw around q notorious
and fugitive thief the protecting arm Of the
great State OF Massachusetts. The press Of
his own State and. with the exception OF see-
tional and emhittered Republican papers, the
press OF the whole Union denounced his con-
duct. It is not singular. therefore, that Gov
Hampton was indignant. and that he wrote
Gov. Rice stinging letter conveying n sharp
bat merited rebuke. TO that letter Of tho
Governor OF South Carolina Gov. Rice has
sent the following insulting reply:
COMMONWEALTH or MASSACHUSETTS.
Executive Department J
Boston september so. 1879. J
TO His Excelencv Wade Hampton. Governor,
Columbia, 3. c.:
Sb'~I received on Saturday last IN extraor-
binary official communication, addressed TO mo
over your signature, the contents OF which
had read In tho newspapers three days be-
fore.
beg to remind your Exoelency that any at
empted rebuke Of Massachusetts by South Car
olina for non-o observance OF constitutional or
statutory obligations is q refinement Of sarcasm
which renders any other defense OF tho former
Of Hiram r. Kimpton by the authorities Of this
commonwealth was unptfueneed by any per-
sonal or, political considerations. Massaohu,
no friendship for Kimpton, but was bound to
extend to each their respective rights under the
law. Every courtesy. official and personal. was
extended to the representatives OF South Caro-
lima unusual care was bestowed upon their
investigation and consideration of the case,
aad LIZ decision was reached upon grounds
With e'iSss qnd "' Ssh Se
convictions of public duty. In communica
ting the ue ision to your Exoeliency, my state
appear to he for the purpose of trying Kimpton
for crime charged against him but for u differ
ent purpose. was simply, q recital OF the fact
a copy Of which was. furnished with my letter to
yon, and in his, opinion and mine, clearly Ga
tabliehed by evidence; Your Excelency'e lettor
to say that 1t contains statements to missnd the
public where the facts are unknown. It's Ian
gnaaso and Tnmel pnbeat Il are offensive
nit 1t TO be. placed upon the files OF the exaeu-
tive department Of this commonwealth 1t is
herewith returned.
Your obediant servant.
ALEXANDER Fl. RICE. Governor.
h This letter will certainly disgust the better
sense and feeling of the country. It was
evidently prompted by desire to pander
to tho sectional animosity Of the people Of
Massachusetts, and 1t belongs to the school
Of political literature Of an era which all
patriotic men, North and South, In South
Carolina and Massachusetts,, desire now and
during tho next generation to forget or ig-
more.
The letter sets out by making false issue
with Gov. Hampton. South Carolina did not
rehuke or attempt to rebuke Massachusetts
but Gov. Rice, In refusing to obey tho requisi-
ton Of Gov. Hampton for a fugitive from the
laws Of South Carolina, did outrage and insult
South Carolina, and the Governor of that
State very properly resented the insult and
rebuked Gov. Rice for his revolutionary and
insolent conduct.
The covert allusion of Rice to the loyalty
of Massachusetts and the TREASON" Of South
Carolina is ill-timed, and for Massachusetts,,
unfortunate. The right OF secession, which
South Carolina, with other Southern States,
attempted to exercise, and for which she
fought was first agitated in Massachusetts,
and the Federalists of that State projected o
dissolution of the Union and the establish
ment of separate Northern confederacy.
Ii secession was 4 crime In 1861, was it less q
crime In 1910? II the action Of South Caro-
lima, in seeding from the Union and aiding
In the formation Of a separate Southern
confederacy was treason, what are we to say
of Massachusetts, who first advanced the
principle Of secession and planned dissolu-
ton Of the Union2 Or Is Massachusetts
hedged about with a divinity which sanctifies
all her doctrines, principles and actions? Such
would seem to be the opinion Of Gov. Rice,
unless his ignorance Of the history of his own
State is equal to his insolence toward others.
Gov. Rice has nullided the constitution,
insulted South Carolina and Disguised the
right-thinking people of the whole Union for
the purpose of protecting Radical thief.
Gov Hampton, therefore, may very we'll leave
the cheap notoriety this impertinent letter
will win for him; and the people Of South
Carolina need not feel badly because Gov
Hampton's letter has not been filed in the
archives of Massachusetts,.