The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-08-22
Gov. Hampton at Spartanbnrg.

My friends of spartanburgl l am
sure that I could give you no higher evi.
dence of my appreciation of the compli.
mentyou have paid me on this occasion
than by coming to meet you face to face
now, arising as have done from sick
bed for that purpose. have come be-
cause I had pledged the people of Spar
tanburg months ago that I would be
here. I have come, because whether in
health or sickness, propose during this
canvass to dedicate all my time, my
labor, my energy and ability, to the great
work of securing to South Carolina all
that we won in '76. I have come, my
fellow-citizens, to greet you again, and ]
may say that there is no district in South
Carolina in which more profound memo
ries are stirred within me than in this.
1t was in. this county, and it was near
this spot where we are assembled to-day,
that eleven of my ancestors who had
come hither from Virginia to live were
murdered by the Indians. Near this
spot they were buried, and if therefore
there is one county in South Carolina
with which I feel identified more than
another, it is this-the first home of my
ancestors and their last resting place.
Il have come to tell you of the canvass
we are about to enter into. ] have come
to try to arouse you, because I know you
will do your duty if you are called upon,
and because 1 feel that it is my duty to
warn you that every man in the county
must devote himself to the work from
now until the 9th of November. In
great Democratic counties Like this it
will not do to become too lukewarm. 1t
will not do to rest on your incompatible
strength believing that the enemy is
dead, and that we can afford to sit idly
by at ease. We must not be caught nap
ping. The Republican party propose, at
the last moment, to bring out its candi-
dates, as we are told, or at any rate, to
regain control of the Legislature. They
intend to try to make us lose the repre-
sentatives in Congress. You surely do
not intend to give up Evins, and we must
not only keep him there, but place Others
by his side.
1t is time South Carolina should be
heard in the National councils. It is
time we should send men there to repre-
sent the honor and patriotism of South
Carolina, and ! warn our people through
out the whole State to devote themselves
to that supreme effort. I desire to see
them go into this canvass with deter
mination to win, aud if the men and
women of South Carolina will work in
this canvass as they did in The last, we
will gain victory greater and more i'm
portan: than the last. We are not yet
free. It true that when I was here two
years ago our State was garrisoned
throughout its length and breadth by
Federal troops. Now, thanks be to God,
the State garrisons itself, and tyrants
rule no more. She is free, but will not
remain 80 if the people become luke
warm and throw off their armor in the
face of an active enemy. You can elect
your State ticket, and by an oyerwhelm-
ing vote, but that is small matter. You
must elect decided majority in the Leg
islat,lre. and must contribute your part
to the election of a majority to the lower
House of Congress. Bear this in mind,
that if the Presidential election in 1880
should be thrown into the House of Rep
resentives the vote will be by States
each State casting one vote, and that one
vote will be determined by the majority
in each representation. You have now
but two Representatives and the Repub-
lican party three, and you can perceive
that if this delegation was called upon to
vote now for President they would cast a
vote for a Republican. You must re-
verse that and place delegation there
| that would vote for q Democratic nomi-
nee if the election is thrown into the
House. I trust, however, that when the
next election comes we will roll up such
an overwhelming Democratic majority
throughout the whole country that who
ever is the nominee of the Democratic
party will be elected, and that when
elected they W" men aoho aoiH dare 10
take the place ,hich the people shall
hare called them.
I cannot speak to you longer. have
only come to thank you for the kindness
and honor you have shown to me and to
appeal to you, as South Cdrolinians, and
as citizens of this great old "District" to
be true to yourselves and your record in
the past, and to roll in even a larger ma
| iority' than the last.