New-York tribune., 1878-10-04
THE RAHPToN-RICE CoRRESPOSDENCE.

The early publication of Governor Wade
Hampton's letter TO Governor Rice. in answer
TO the refusal of the latter to surrender Kimp-
ton. was hailed with great satisfaction by the
admirers of the South Carolina Governor.
From the fact that it was got into print with
sueh haste that the official to whom it was
addressed read II in the newspapers before re-
ceiving it by mail, we judge that the author
considered it a rather clever performance. 1t
is IN fact, too much the habit OF the lamp
ton order of statesmen 10 mistake arrogance
and impertincnce for cleyerness. Govemor
Hampton's letter was simply impertinent. But
his admirers were quite rapturous over
il as very proper and WeH-merlted
rebuke 10 Governor Rice and the State
Of Massachusetts, and 1t seemed TO be ex-
nected that If Governor Rice did not resign
his Office i'm sheer modification and chagrln,
he would at least have the grace to feel very
much ashamed of himself. They have been
greatly disappointed mt learning that he did
neither, but that on the contrary, Governor
Hampton's communication was returned TO
him, its la guage and untImely publication
being held as offensive and unjustiiable,"
with letter at once dignted aud severe In
which the Massachusetts, Governor gives his
South Carolina correspondent a sharp historical
reminder, and n short lesson in official pro-
priety and courtesy, which must have made
his ears tingle.
We regret to observe, however, that the
complete correspondence is not 80 satisfying
to the admirers of Governor Hampton as
was the first untimely publication. Our usu-
ally good-tempered neighbor, The " ORD, which
we believe we are safe in chasing with those
who were delighted with Governor Hampton's
.'rebuke,r is quite indignant at Governor
Rices reply. 1t says, angrily, that Governor
&" Rice is doing what he can TO disgrace that
Commonwealth, and it may be doubted
"whether Ben Butler, if chosen to fill
"Mr. RIce's place, could have written a
"mcaner letter." 1t denounces Governor
Rice's course as defence of rascality, and
charges him with folly" "eowardice,n "pre-
"yaucationn and "petuance." A comparison
of the rebuke" and the reply seems to tell
n different story, and Governor Rice may
well be content with the correspondence as it
stands. The World has apparently fallen into
the error of supposing that the Governor of a
State is permitted no discretion in the matter
of surrendering fugitives upon requislhons,
and that III sucn ulSCItLloH 10 tAtIClscu ~ b
"In spite of, the mandates of the Federal
"Constitution." and "an imputation upon the
"whole government of the Staten issuing the
reqisiton. But these refusals are by no
means uncommon. The Democratic Governor
of Connecticut not long ago refused to
answer the requisition of the Democratic
Governor OF New-Jersey for the surrender
of the Insurance President Benjamin Noyes,
who was afterward taken upon another re-
QUESTION in the District of Columbia, and
upon trial and conviction sentenced to fine and
imprisonment. Here there was difference of
opinion between the New-Jersey and Connect
cut authorities similar to that in the Kimpton
case, but there was no such temper shown as
Governor Hampton exhibits.
In the present case, Governor Rice seems TO
have preserved hIs temper and his dignity,
while Governor Hampton lost both. We are
sorry to see the sudden change of disposition
in the gentlemen who weIe in such state OF
delight day or two ago when this c0rrespon-
denee was, so to speak, one-legged Moth
" ing could be meaner than Governor Riee's
letter." they say. Well, in one sense, it is