The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-06-20
THE STAR FORT CELEBRATION.


at Cambridge, near Ninety Six, on last
Tuesday was very great success. From
three to four thousand persons were
present. and nine companies Of the State
volunteer troops participated in the re-
view. The clouds which had been
threatening rain disappeared, and the
day was beautiful and bright. The pro-
cession formed at Ninety Six, with the
speakers of the day, escorted by the
Governors Guards of Columbia, and the
Silver Cornet Band of Columbia in front,
followed by the Newberry Rihemen,
Edgefeld Riaemen, Hodges RiAemen,
Abbeville Rifemen, Richland Volunteer
Rifemen, Ninety Six Guards, Richland
Flying Artillery, and Edgeield Hussars,
together with the Anderson Palmetto
Band and the Greenwood Band.
The review took place neer the old
fort, and was conducted with General
r.. r. Hemphill in command, by Gov.
Hampton and Gen. Noise, after which
the crowd gathered around the stand
erected in the centre of che old fort
which occupies about one acre. This
stand was tastefully erected, and decora-
ted with evergreens. Over the font
vas shield with the inscription, "l78I
Greene. 1S7S-Hampton," while on
the right rested the tattered, battle worn
flag under which Stonewall Jackson fell
at Charlottesville il 1868, and on the
left TIE flag of the old Palmetto Regi-
ment which went through the Mexican
war. Upon the stand there WAS also
box Of relics gathered from the old
fort. The speakers assembled the stand,
and Col. M. L. Bonham, Jr., introduced
Gov. Hampton, who was received with
immense applause, and made a fine
speech, of which the following is a brief
! outline:
! He WAS deeply impressed with all the
toric spot upon which he stood, and the
achievements of our ancestors. He
| alluded to the flag under which Stone
wall Jackson fell, also to the flag of the
Palmetto Regiment in the Mexican war,
and briefly to the siege of the fort and
the historic names connected Herewith.
He said that he came tot day simply to
appeal to the descendants of these peo-
pie to be true to the past, true to their
ancestry, to stand by South Carolina, and
let the achievements of the past be an
incentive to the future. He spoke of
the distressing condition our people were
in two years ago, how they had lost hope
and began to despair Of success. he
said that the banner presented in 1876
bore upon it, "honest government. econ
omy, and South Carolina to rule South
Carolina" He spoke of how every man,
woman and child rallied around this flag,
and thus wrought O political miracle in
struggling to Ipaintain the civilization
fought for by their ancestors, and how
they bore that banner to victory. That
since then everything had been carried
on with perfect impartiality, that every
one .~sas recognized as the equal before
the law Of any man, that our people were
now hopeful. and earnestly working cut
the complete redemption of the State
and that we had now Governor and
Legislature Of our own choice. He
spoke of the debt that had been accumu-
lated by mis- predecessors, and thought
that it would have been better that tEis
debt should have been paid; that when
we could do no more we should have
gone to our creditors and told them we
have done what we could. He said that
the greatest feature of the revolution
through which we passed was solving
the problem that the white man and col
ored man could live together in peace :;
that the colored people who had been
told that they would be put back into
slavery if the Democrats succeeded, ex-
press now an entire confidence in Demo-
cratic government, and will rally to its
support. He spoke of the platform of
1876 rs recognizing every one as equal
before the law; that it was bread enough
for every one to stand upon in South
Carolina. With this platform he went
over the State from the seaboard to the
mountains, authorized by the people to
advocate it, and that with the help Of
the colored people he was elected, and il
called upon again to serve the people,
that he will stand upon the platform Of
! 1875 or upon none at all, and if the peo-
pie viii DO as they did then-see that ex-
act justice is done to all men, open wide
their ranks for all to join-in word,
pursue the same line of policy that the
Democracy did in 1876, we viii be- sue. M
cessful not only in 1873 but also in 1880
| That for the perfect quiet and security of
the people, so that they can live under
their own vine and fig tree, it is
important that a national Democratic
administration should be successful.
Under two more years of Democratic
rule, the colored people will recognize
that their rights are secure, and vote
with us upon national politics. He
spoke of receiving letter from a colored
man in Illinois, who told him that in the
recent campaign he was prevented by
mob from speaking for Tilden, and that
he would leave Illinois and come toSouth
Carolina, where the colored man had
more rights. He spoke of having related
this to President Hayes. He spoke of
the importance Of having good Legia-
lature, and said that it amounted to little
who was Governor or Lieutenant Cover
nor i The people see TO it that the best
men are sent to the Legislature, aud told
them to get their best men and tell them
they must make the sacrifice and run.
The people have q right to demand il.
He said that he had made sacrifices him.
self and would do 80 again, and when he
saw that Ahbeville put up McGowan and
Edgefield Bonham, he was satisfied if
other Counties would do the same that
we would have good Legislature, and
in short time our country would be re-
deemed.
Lieut-Gov. Simpson was next intro
duced, and made the speech of the day,