Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1878-04-25

!CnARLERToN, s. c., Wednesday, April
l0.-It is ono year this week sinoo tho
United States troops wore removed from the
State House, Chamberlain formally sur.
rendered, and Wade Hampton became uni
vorsally recognized as Governor of South
Carolina. Tho changes that have been
wrought in this twolvemonth are nothing
less than wonderful, and challenge tho at.
tention of the whole country. A year ago
found tho people of the Palmetto State,
after months of tho most intense political
excitement, divided into two oppoaing
parties--the Democrats flushed with thoir
long delayed victory, the Republicans en-
bittcred by their final defeat and gcnuinely
distrustful Of the future. The ncgrccs saw
at last the success Of that party which they
had been seduously taught for years would
sgnalize its accession to power by rolcga..
ting them back into slavery, and awaited its
course with tho most serious apprchopsions
The white Republicans witnessed the
triumph of the party which numbered in
it's ranks tho Bourbons and irrcconcilablo,
and looked with dread to the future. Tho
moro intelligent, to be sure, listened with
oandor to Wado Hamptca's promises, gave
him perhaps the credit of sincerity, but still
doubted his ability to fulfil his pledges and
control his party.
Tho close of tho year finds everything
absolutely changed. The political excite.
mont which had long kept the State in
turmoil has disappeared, and complete poaoo
preyai!s. Financial distrnat has given way
to feeling Of growing confidence, as the
stability of governmet has boen restored and
aftuirs have settled into their normal condi.
tion. The relations of tho two races have
steadily improved, till far botter feeling is
already reached than was ever before known.
The people are working more generally and
energetically, and tho universal testimony
of all employers is that they have never had
so little trouble with their hands since the
war as during the past year. Tho Demo-
orats have had full control of the govern.
ment for twelve months, and Republicans
are free to confess that their rights were
never so we'll guarded. The negroes find
their fears Of new slavery groundleae; they
see mono Of their rights curtailcd, and
special pains taken to develop their militia;
which was to be at once mustered out with
the accession Of tho Democrats. Tho
Bourbon and irrooonoilables have been sup.
pressed, and tho liberal policy of Wado
Hampton has triumphed over all opposition,
till ho is to day, as truly as was ever any
man in American history, Governor Of the
whole people.
The success which Governor Hampton
has thus achieved is only to be described as
ono of tho greatest personal triumphs Of
tho present generation. Indeed, do not
recall another case ia our history whore a
man has madc within the brief space of a
year so complete conquest of tho party
that opposed him, at tho samo time that he
has retained, and even strengthened, his
hold upon his own original followers. The
testimony freely and heartily volunteered
by Republicans all over tho State surprises
oven ono who felt somewhat familiar with
tho course of events, and would be nothing
less than startling to the average Northorn
Partisan. Within tho past week 1 havo
talked with number Of tho leading Re :
publicans both in Charleston and Columbia
---suoh men as ox.Judge Melton, of this
city, the most eminent native Republican
the party 10 South Carolina ever had, attor.
noy general undor Chamberlain and also
circuit indge under Republican rule; Chief
Justice illard, the Northorner, whom the
Republicans made associate justice of the
ESuprome Court, and the Democratic Legis.-
Ilaturo laet year, at Hampton's instance,
promoted y tho highest place on ] ! thc benohs