Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1878-11-07

hes before the country, and de,
scribed the true position Of affairs,
and what he believed to be the true
policy Of tie South. Pointing out
the inequality of the South-an inc
qSslity which there was no hope Of
ever over-coming-in both Houses Of
Congress, he still boldly asserted that
the South had grown strong enough
to remain in the Union, and, with
the aid of her Northern allies, to
control the action of the Federal
Government OH all questions vital to
her interests. In former years he
had been a secessionist per Sc, but
disclaimed being so now; not because
of any change in his political princi-
pies, but because on all the great
questions-The Protective Tariff
Internal Improvements-The Bank
The Fugitive Slave Law-the rights Of
the citizens ofthe States in the terrific
ries, and of a Slave State to be ad-
mitted into the Union-the doctrines
of the South had triumphed, while
the crusade against slavery was
weakening everywhere, and the South
herself, once wavering and divided,
had become firm and united. The
unknown costs and hazards Of setting
up a separate Government should not
be incurred, be thought, without
sufficient reason, and he warned
South Carolina, and the South, in
words of prophetic wisdom, that "a
peaceful, prosperous and powerful
people should not challenge fate a
dav too scon." at the same time
the South must not give up her rrin-
ciples, Or one Of those principles
which constituted her great cause"
and the very efforts she would make
to defend them in the Union would
be her best preparation for the alter.
native of disunion, should tbe forced
upon her.
Looking back through the long
years which embrace the most heroic
struggle for Constitutional Govern
ment and Independence ever made
by any people, and during which the
South gained imperishable glory, and
suffered the most terrible misfortunes,
who can doubt the wisdom of the
counsel given in this speech?
With this, and another brief speech
in the Senate, May 2lst, 1860, son
the relations between the States, and
the rights Of persons and property in
the Territories" closes the volume Of
the writings, selected for print by
Senator Hammond himself, which l
have followed. Senator Hammond did
not return to Washington to the sss-
sion of 1901, but awaited at home
the action of the State Convention, and
when it passed the Ordinance Of Sc
cess;on resigned, by telegraph, the
instant he was informed of this
action.
In July, 1861, MI. Hammond went
to Richmond and laid before the Ad-
ministration, through Senator Hunter,
of Virginia, a plan which he had
been long maturing, to sustain the
finances of the Government. The
main feature was for the Government
to purchase as much cotton as posi-
Bile. pay for it in its bonds and store
'ss in the most secure places. H
believed that patriotism, as well as
self-interest, would induce the plant.
ers to sell one-half, at least, of their
crops to the Government and take
bonds in payment. The cotton crop
of 1861 was one of the largest ever
made in the S~outh-nearly five
millions Of bales. The Ports Were
blockaded, the cotton could not be
shipped and the prize came down to
s cents per pound in Confederate
currency. Later during the war, it
rose to so cents gold in the English
markets, and to nearly 81 in Federal
paper. The possession, atthisperiod
by the Government Of two and a
half million bales of cotton must
have been of incalculable advantage
in maintaining its credit, both at
home and abroad.
Failing health did not permit Mr..
Hammond to take any active share
in our great struggle, but what he
could do he did. He sold all that he
could sell and placed the proceeds in
Confederate bonds; SO that, at his
death, near the close of the war, in
all the assets of his estate, there WI;
nothing but lands and negroes and
the securities of the Government.
And this, slt1ough hopeful as lie was
by nature, for some time before his
death he despaired of the success of
our cause. On the 26th of Septem-
Der, 1864, he writes in his diary,
u bad army news from all quarters,
and nothing but the intervention Of
the good God can save the South
from subjugation." And again, on
the Sd of October, Have had
serious hemorrhages beginning on the
Doth ult.--a little better, but very
weak. Who can recuperate under
our present perilous state Of affsirs?
God alone can save u.s." His health
the summer Of 1864 had been
feebler, and in the early fall hia
friends became very apprehensive.
On the l4th Of October the hand
writing in his diary, which he had
kept Ter thilty-iour years, changes,
he could no longer write; on the I'D
Of October the book ceases, he could
no longer dictate and on the 18th Of
November, on>a bright Sunday morn
ing, without fear and without regret,
conscious for hours Of the great
change coming, peacefully and quietly
he died, with these last words,
uttered with a caressing gesture,
My dear wife," to her who stood by
his bedside.