The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1878-08-23
HAMprON,s SPEECH AT EDGEFIELD.

HAMPT0N'S SPEECH AT EDGEFlELD.
Ny Et!loO- Citizens of Edyefeid. Your dis
tingushed representative has just well said that
in all civilized countries, in all ages the custom
has obtained of celebrating the anniversary of
those events which have brought triumph or
prosperity deliserance to n people, and in ac-
corlance with this time -honored usage you meet
here to day to commemorate, with pride and
with gratitude, this day on which two years ago
the great contest for honest government and
Home Rule was iuaugurated in South Carolina.
Tou come, too, to pledge afresh your taith.sala
those living principles which aot only gAvo
life aud truth and power to that memorable
struggle, but won for us victory unparalleled
in the annals Of political history. 1t is, there
fore, not only natural but proper that the brave
sons and fair daughters of old Edgefeld should
hail the recurrence Of this day with patriotic
nrdor, and claim with juslifablc pride that it
was the first day of that new revolution which
lifted the "Prostratc State from the abyss of
shame and ruin into which alien hands had
plunged her, to restore her to her proud hcreu-
itary place amid the sisterhood of equal States.
1t is right too, while the light Of our last
great victory still glows upon our banner, that
we should, we unfold it once again, inscribe
upon it the watchworls which led us 10 triumph.
We give it again to-day .to the battle and the
breeze" with Right, Truth and Justice emilia
zoncl on its fods, and with our old battle cry,
Good and our Fathcrland," go forth con-
QuCrlnE anu 10 conquer. AppltuSc.l A>o
more appropriate time could have be- chosen
to display our honorcd banner than this day
NTH haan aan pasae IS bae h hsrff rf was 91E H2HYsn
have selected standard bearers the same
who had the good fortune to bear our flag to
victory i'll 'I6. For myself; recognize and up
prcca,e the honor done me, and, in accepting
the unanimous nomination rendered me, | do
with u profound sense of the grave res
possibility imposed, with firm determination
a cl M in pool fifth he nj fret
reiterated 10y the Democratic party, and with
the assured and fervcnt hope that the men who
proved in &C that they could rescue State from
ruin, will show in 7S that they intend to pre-
serve il. 1t is useless for Inc to renew the pied
gcs have givon, for | would fan hope that my
official record of the past is the best guaranty
can give my fellow-citizcns for the future
Their continued confidence in the rectitude of
my purposes has been the highest homer of my
liie--thc greatest support amid the responsible
ties OF my position, and the most cherished re-
ward Of my labors.
So PICTURE OF GRANT.
We enter this contest under far different and
more auspcious circumstances than the last
Then, the whole power of Abe ri Sgal RAlf pte'
governments was b:oughtrto 'beasft&a E6sh us.
( All the pefifioal machinery of the State welded
= by men totally unscrupulous in the use of it, was
directed to the sole end of perpetuating rule
which was disgrace to civilization and an Of
fence to Heaven Bayonets in the hands of the
paid sodcry Of the common country, cleaned,
III palpablc violation of the Constitution of that
country, at every polling place in our State
Oar people, broken by years of misrulc and op-
preston, were almost hopeless. We had rs TIE
Chief Executive Of the United States man
whose conception of the law embodied in
the findings of q court-martial, and whose dis
graceful ignorance Of the Constitution of the
country was only cquallcl by his shameless
disregard of its most sacred obligations B.u-
tu1 Ignorant on1 nInp lao a.,
crush the people Of the South by the power of
Il paid sOldicry. With armed hand upon
their lroats he attempted to stne the breath of
BShsons hs fa s1H hs s mi
States the Of Union, he reduced it to q military
satrapy. We were confronted at home by an
enemy bold, confident and defiant thoroughly
disciplined, and bound compactly together by
the cohesive power OF public plumber. Driven
almost TO desperation and trusting alone in the
justice Of our cause, and recognizing the su-
rrcmc necessity of saving our State, our people,
BY common impulse, with one heart, dcdica-
ted themselves to the patriotic work. and after
struggle as arduous and as heroic as ever
w"gcd, redeemed the fair land Of their fathers
ana covered themselves with glory. They
achieved success against every Probability
Ihcy worked out political miracle greater than
amy ever achieved by people, and they accom-
riishcd this because they were true to them
selves and todhcir principles
HAMrroN's SKETCH OF HAYES
What is our position now? The Chief Exccu-
tive of the country is one who, however much
w may differ, frsa him politically. we yet re-
coShizc us ~ gentleman, and one who deserves
our respect and gratitude for having in def
ance of the passionate appeals of partisans,
restored local self:govcrnment to louisiana
and South Carolina. by his act the military
was subordinated to the civil authority the
armed soldiers of the United States, who had for
months bivouackcd within the walls Of our cap
itol, were withdrawn, thus showingEis conlenl-
nation of that greatest crime ever pcrpctratcd
against liberty on this continent. BY giving TO
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