The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-04-03

ing. Where there WAS nothing but plum
der and stealing, population and robbery,
now nil Is economy, tair-dealing, and
honesty. Where there was nothing but
confusion; Violence and war, now all Is
heace, cohtentment and happiness. dc
we meau to keep this reform government
or relapse hrd, like the the. SOW that was
washedI fetariitu the wallowihg ihstht
mire ? VIZ mean to tetain honest govern
mentor kroN-the feaSon why.
we -att ferjgnhef tho legend OF 81
Patrick, the patron shtnt Of old Ireland
Tint good country WAS ihtosteu VIII
spiders; SCORPIONS and snakes, until Sain'
| and wisdam were 10 great as to enable
him To expe1 all the noxious varnlints
none of which have ever since dared tt
touch the sacred sril Of the green Isle o
Beauty T have the honor to introduce
to YOU to<dav one to whom South. Caro-
liniens are as grateful as 1rishmen chi
be to their patron Saint-the gallan,
lender in tho reform campaign, whose
wisdom. and virtues, like those OF Saint
Patrick of old, have exercised the evil
spirits and expelled all the noxious
reptiles from his c~ountry-our dlStin'
guished Chief Magistrate Governor Wade
Hampton. 49,.
HAMpToN's srEEcH.
The. Governor then came forward, and
as soon is the cheering ceased, said:
M Friends of 4Abberiite-} need not
say:how profoundly my heart has been
touched BY the welcome you have given
me, aid Bv'this grand demonstration you
have gotten up I know that 1t comes IN
large part from respect to the posltlon
which, / occupy, but knowing that, l
would fam believe, too, that it comes IN
part from the good feeling Of the people
Of Abbeville, and / would take it to my
hearta s nm .evidence that they have still
the confidence in me which ~they-express-
ed when the people Of South Carolina
chilled file 70 lead their hosts for the re.
delnption, of the State. I have not come
to InnkeaA- political speech, to indicate
jwhor should Be your candidates in tho
~uextetechos nor TO fnaugurate. q politi-
cal, ,oanpaign. / have come rather to
meet YOU. and make my personal &C:
acknowledgements for yo"r kindness and
YOUR efforts in the campaign OTIS.
o"At and Iittet. the last election l urged
THAT bur people should forget politics
thst they should devote themselves to the
I restUfation'of the material prosperity o.
1.-THE State; TO rthe endeavor to build uF
Efliefr own fortunes aud lift South Carroll:
ma from the .mire into which she nae
fallen. IL have come back now, not tt
talk about politics, but simply to tell you
about things which have TRANSFERRED since
then; not to speak Us. Governor, but AZ
Wheii' last had the honor of appearing
befoife volta Carolinian speaking x
Carnlinians, the highest honor on earth
Ito speak OH the questions then pending
In 4S7St the people of South Carolina
broken down>by a tyranny greater thar
t}nfnwhieh made our fOrefathers rebe
against England-greater than any which
has ever existed on this continent-feel
ing in their heart of hearts that the STATE
mist, be rescued and q supreme etfor
made to rescue heI, or thatswe would X
tdowh~to irreparable disaster, the people
irrespective of color, or sex, or age, men
women and. children, all came together
animated by a single purpose and hope
the redemption of South Carolina-ant
they determined to appeal to the God o
their fathers, and fight yet once more TO
that God and their fatherland! CHEERS.
Well; my friends. what was done? In
tAuuast, 1876 q convention, memorable
hereafter in tue annals of South Carolina
was called in Columbia. 1t was com
posed of the first, purest and best men II
theState.., They were actuated with bu
one purpose, that they might endea
vor to rescue the State from rum; Aitel
grave consultation they submitted a plat
form and. unanimously adopted it.. J
have not seen. that platform from that day
10 this, but since I have taken my sea
here some one has sent this paper to me
and I want to read it to you. The Cover
nor then read from a copy OF the Pres
and Banne1) the following extract from
he,"platf0rm' adopted by tho conVen
"We.idiscnuntenanre all disturbances
of the,peace OF the State and denounc'
administrators and promoters thereof, an
earnestlE call upon all of our fellow citi
Gems, IRRESPECTIVE OF party lines, to. exer
cisa. forbea rance and cultivate good will
and If tho" government. Of the State ]
con, mitted to our control; we pledge our
! sselRoS to protect the person. rights an
praperty Of all its people, and to1speedh.
kpringsto summary justice any who dar'
I violate them. We desire a fair, peaceabl
election, appealing to1he reason, and no
to ~theSpassion Of the people, and demant
OF the Republican party q fair showing II
Ftff@iappoiutment Of commissioners. o.
1 elestpn.. Ne demand a fair election ant
,a fair COUNT We call upon all the patrl
Lotto, sons Of Carolina to join as. We asl
butt triafNoF committing the State to GU
fkeSpihg, "aridif good government, secnri
| ty, protection and prosperity do not dawI
ION puY overturned, ~despoied and diSheart
sded people then drive US from. power
w.. ~ts 70 yN s.lsoDotnn 0T1r NhiQ0I
isaref6fin; fetfenchment and relief, tina
BIZ honesty and economy W. may reduct
tie takes and tighten the. burthens OF thu
jpedple, eiGing:at the same time absolut.
~secirity and protection to the rights auo
property of all. Upon this paramount
fssIe. We cordially invite the cooperation
tofF every democrat and republican who il
eaYfest&na willing, in this crisis OF oul
State; 10 unite with US In this grea'
Was nominated on this platform, and
lI.fiutiu the same paper tho words I ut.
tered wien. !: was nominated, and.1 will
reheat them. also. They are:
@|Fot myself. should I be elevated to the
! hfSaf Position for which you have nolni'
thafsdsue,, nay sole effort will be to restore
our State governmental decehcy, to hon
estN,,toecpnomy and t~ointegrity. 1shal
be- tie Governor of the whole people
knowing no party, making no viRdictive
determinations, holding. the scales:of JUS
tice with firm and impartial hand; seeing
n$farasi1s me, LEI. thai tte JpWs: are ee:
440fcSd liz tjueticG, tempered. by ayrercyi
pT6teciug. atl elssses.allke, and dst9tlfAs
ef1%ofa,to:the restoration of'pr9Sper
aid The re-establishment OF honest
tg6yefhmelIt." ::9 =
NG#;; ny iriends,dtis easy for can.
fdiaate'to make:pledges. 1t is easy when
he IL appealing to sthe people to 70 before
them, and say he Will work reform; bu'
now that I have been in Office for eighteen
months I can come before this audience,
composed of both parties and races. I car
come before any audience in South Caro-.
E1i6a, and challenge uny man 10 say that ]
haze not kept every pledge I have made
Loan come before you aud looking IL
lyour faces say that l have not been led of
by the temptations of. power. ! have moi
}given way to passion or prejudice. ]
Have held to the straight and narrow way
laiGhown. in that platform I 'have. jnst
read to YOU. ! promised the laws should
enforced and they have been. Ano
1 IalSo promised that there should
bell distinction on: account Of color, and
I tan appeal to the c6lored men to testify
PhattA their rights have been protected,
1 I Saalsay here that in the exercise of ex'
eauGFs .clemency / have pardoned ter
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