The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-04-03
Wednesday, April 3, 1878.
Gov. Hampton in Abbeville
GREAT MEETING OF CITIZENS
The Colored People in Thousands.
Speeches By Mackey, acGowan'
Thomson, Cothrau.

The visit of Governor Hampton to
Abbeville was n Of peculiar and pleas
ant interest to our county. While
successful in every respect and to an
eminent degree, it was marked by none
of the pomp and circumstance thai were
so conspicuous in the great Hampton
meetings of rs, and which made his
recent reception at Anderson so brilliant.
Rightly considering that
THE OF rs IS NOT T. BEGUN
and that Hampton is not yet out in the
field az a candidate for re-election-al-
though his re collection is o foregone o n
clusion that makes a prediction OF 1t
superfluous-the democracy Of Abbeville
county determined to make the Cover
nor's visit as unostentatious as possible,
especially ~ such was understood to have
been his desire. Consequently there was
no military display, no ~torchlight pro-
oossion, no iuterminable column Of red
shirts rs was beheld here two years ago.
And yet the very quietness and absence
ofdisplay made tho occasion all the more
impressive.
The most noteworthy and suggestive
characteristic of the meeting Of last Fri
day was not the greatness Of the throng,
remarkable though it was for its num-
bers, nor the wonderful attentiveness
with which the assemblage hung upon
the words of the speakers and Of Hamp-
ton especially ; hut the extraordinary
number of colored citizens, that attended
and the evident delight and satisfaction
they had in listening to the words OF the
"Governor of the whole people," SO nu-
merously was the colored element repre-
scented, q stranger would have found it
hard to determine whether the meeting
had been called by the whites or by the
blacks. They certainly made up one
half of the vast crowd TINT stood in the
hot MONDAY sun and thronged eagerly
around the speakers stand hour after
hour. With unwcariable attention they
heard the speeches through to the close,
and showed their comprehension and ap-
probation of them by the o~ft-repeated
cheers they gave. Orderly and quiet, do
Gle and trustful, they gave Hampton
abundant proof last Friday that they
have unbroken confidence in him. 1t is
not saying too much to affirm that if tho
election of next Governor were to be left
entirely in the hands of tho colorad vo-
ters, we believe Wade Hampton would
be their choice.
Having been at Anderson Court House
reviewing the cavalry on "Wednesday last,
Governor Hampton anne to Abbeville on
Thursday by the railroad, reaching our
town at about noon. 1t had been under
stood that he was to come by carriage
along with General MCGOWAN, and that
it would be late In the afternoon before
he could arrive. A telegram was re-
ceived, however, in the forenoon by our
Intendant, w. II. Parker, Esq, TO the Of
feet that in an hour or so the Governor
would be in Abbeville. When the news
came the town was quiet and undisturbed
as a deserted village, }" but in a wonder
fully short space of time the public
square wal the
SCENE OF BrsrrISe.
The Silver Cornet Band was o playing
its old campaign tunes, and drawing out
our citizens white and black. Busy
hands were flinging banners to the breeze,
and stretching lines of bunting across tho
streets and square. Presently the car
whistle blew and the large c%oncourse of
citizens taking the band with them flock
cd to the depot to meet the illustrious
guest W. H. Parker, Esq, T. G. Perrin,
Esq, and r. H.. Wsrdlaw, Esq, were ap-
pointed a committee of reception to greet
the Governor in the name of the people
of Abbeviile, and escort him to the car
riage:"'A soon as the train steamed into
the depot, the crowd raised a
STOUT OF WELCOME,
the band played, and tho committee Of
reception went into the Governors car.
Presently the intendant rc-appeared with
Hampton leaning on his arm, and hats
were waved and lusty cheers were given
as the Governor made his way through
the crowd. Accompanying him were
Judge Mackey, Gen. McGowan, ahd Col.
Cothran. As'soon as the distinguished
party were seated in the carriages, three
hearty cheers were given to Hampton,
the Governor OF tho whole people," At
the Aston House a large company of
ladies had assembled, and as the carriage
passed, they throw
A SHOWER OF FLOWERS
in the GovernSor's way.
The rest of the day passed uneventfully.
Governor Hampton was the guest Of len.
MCGOWAN, and the two old war horses
spent the greater part of Thursday quiet
ly together. AT night, however, the citi-
Gems" procured: the service of the band
again and gave the Governor
A sERENADE.
After some exceedingly beautiful music,
champion, Hampton was the cry, and
when he ppeared on the piazza a deafen-
ing shout raised. Accompanied by his
host, Gen. McGowan, Governor Hampton
came .to:the front Of the piazza and after
the for .ner had introduced him in a few
felicitous remarks,
HAMPTON SAID,
NV friends Of Abbeville, I thank you
heartily for the high compliment you pay
me In this serenads. As all expression Oi
tain towards me,:'it affords me peculiar
PLEASURE. ( had not expected to appear
in public tonight, and am not ut all in
clined to inf1ict a speech on you. Even II
I were, The fatigue consequent on the
magnificent Anderson meeting yesterday
and the journey hither to-day would
prevent me and protect you.
1t is always pleasant to me to come to
Abbeville. / cannot and shall never for
get the glorious things done in Abbeville
in the campaign Of 1875. In that year,
which shall ever he memorable in the
annals of South Carolina, when all the
State did well, no county in the State did
better than Abbeyille. (Cheers.) And I
am sure she will do we'll agein. Stand
..ng on the same platform and animated
by the game principles Of equal justice,
right, and truth, be assured we shall
achieve q victory grander than the one
that crowned our efforts two years ago.
[Applsuse.l 1t is my trust and belief