The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1878-04-05
Hampton's Speech at Anderson.
REVIEW OF THE PAST THE GOVERNOR OF SOUTH
CAROLINA.

AT the great demonstration at Anderson on
Wednesday, Governor Hampton spoke substan-
TALLY rs followst
My FRIENDS OF ANDERSON: If my voice could
reach this vast crowd, and give utterance to the
emotions that fill my breast, l could not thank
YOU adequately for this hearty welcome and
great demonstration. l come not to lnaugurate
the political campaign come not to dictate TO
you who should be your candidate for Office In
the coming ampagn II came to visit the people
of Anderson and express to them my heartfelt
thanks for the unanimous support rendered me
in tho campaign inaugurMed at this place, ana
to remind them Of the pledges made two years
ago. The flag then placed in my hands on that
bright September day was carried successfully
and peacefully through the whole State, and
was placed VIGOROUSLY upon the capitol at Co.
lumbia. 1t was the most notable campaign in
the history Of this country. 1t was because you,
the people of Anderson, came out then in your
determination to succeed, and with such eathu
siasm that victory crowned our efforts. When
I saw stalwart men who stood by me on the bat
tle field, when | heard the men, women and
children shouting the battle cry of freedom,
said that we would be successful. l then de-
termued to be true to the people who
inaugurated this grand movement You know
the result and MI that followed, and that though
we passed through the whole State and every
county in the State, there was no disturbance Of
any kind. The people dedicated themselves to
this service they would to the service of their
God. a., ~ -.
flashed over the wires that we had been success
full in our efforts to redeem South Carolina !;
when we knew that peaceful victory was
perched upon our banners, we looked about us
and found armed troops in possession Of the
capitol building. The legislative halls were
filled with Unit ed States soldiers tho members
of the legal House of Representatives were kept
out of their place of meeting at the point of the
bayonol and the office of the Governor occupied
by a man who was not elected. 1t looked then
rs if the country would be deluged with blood
and a revolution inauguratcd, for tho people
were determined not TO be cheated out of their
rights. | knew that we had won the victory,
md said that we should secure the fruits of it,
or we would have military government. If
but single shot had been fired in Columbia at
that critical moment, when the city was filled
with thousands of determined men, civil war
would have begun and spread this State,
and over the whole country blood would have
flowed like water. | knew that if revolution
begun, republican government would go
down to n bloody grave and our hopes free
men -Ls- -fsroyer destroyed. AT that important
01nement, wien so much was involved, l appealed
to n people who had been faithful to me so long
to trust me n little longer. and they did trust
me and support me- and we were successful
Whatever may befall me hereafter, | am amply
compensated for all that have had to endure.
am not able to tell you all that transpircd
during that time. The lower house of the Leg
islature was not allowed TO take possession Of
their hall, aud therefore could pass no laws
We determined to call for q contribution of ten
per cent. Of the tax paid the year previous
And now tell you, for the first time that have
ever told it in public, that we expected to col
lcct about $50, 900, but we received $4,000.
The people paid more than their quota, and
had to stop the collections, for we had more
tlnn ,tn1 off Il i'll OF
need it only for State purposes and they did not
propose to steal it, | was left alone after the
adjournment of the Legislature, without q
single officer in position, while Chamberlnin
un0 MS suD0rdinatCS were III possession OF
the government, upheld and supported by
the United States army. | was left like a
mariner sailing IN the dark on an unknown sea,
with nothing to guide me but hope and humble
trust in Almighty God. One false step would
have runcl all and, people of Anderson, if
have made mistakes bear this in mind, that
was working for the good of South Carolina.
called to my aid the other State officers, and if
l made mistakes they made them, too, for every
measure has been submitted to them, and we
have always been united in our opinions. There
was never a shadow of difference between U.S.
We all shared the mistakes if any were made.
We all commit errors ofjudgmcnt. If any man
does not believe it, let him try it and see ITO
err is human and to forgive divine" and know
that the people, realizing the eircumst will
forget the mistakes for the good of South Caro-
lima.
There is point to which desire to refer be-
cause of mutterings heard over this State and
throughout the Union, concerning bargains and
compromises. Men of Anderson, | tell you
there ,ras not tie shdaow Of bdrQdia wih .Nr.
Hayes or any one else, looking TO the seating o!
the Governor of South Carolina. l went to
Washington because | was invited there, and
through respect to the President of the United
States. asked for no recognition. at his hands,
and for nothing else except that he remove the
troops from the State House. If my govern
ment could not stand, let it fall (; and if Mr..
Chamberans could not stand, let his fall ]
determined to ask nothing more and take moth
ing less will do Mr.. Hayes the justice to say
that he had too much respect for his own posi-
ton and for the people of South Carolina to re-
fer to any bargain. There was no compromise
with the United States authorities, and there
was none with predecessor. l have never
spoken to Chamberlain but once in my lfc and
never expect to speak to him again. If The In
yestgating Committee can find sufficient evidence
against Chamberlain he shall be sent for, and
all the leaders of that party shall answer before
the courts for their crimes though they be par
doned the next moment.
While think the leaders should be tried and
punished for their crimes, 1 believe that those
who were corrupted by them should be over
looked and forgiven. | think the wisest state
manship is amnesty. | want the cases in the
United States courts against our people dis