The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-08-29
Hampton on Grant and hayes.
From Governor Hampton's Speech at Edgeheld
Auguet Il.

From Governor Hampton's Speech at Edgefeld,
August II.
We enter the contest under far diff
ferent and more suspicious circum-
stances than the last. Then the whole
power of the Federal and State govern
ments was brought to bear to crush US.
All the political machinery of the State,
welded by men totally INSCRIPTIONS
in the use of it, was directed to the
sole end of perpetuating a rule which
was a disgrace to civilization and an
offense to heaven. Bayonets IN the
hands of the paid soldIery of the COM
mon country cleaned, in palpable vio-
lation of the Constitution of that coun-
try, at every polling place in our State.
Our people, broken by years of misrule
and oppression, were almost helpless.
We had as the Chief Executive of the
United States a man whose highest
conception of the law was embodied
in the findings of court-martial, and
whose disgraceful Ignorance OF the
Constitution of the country was only
equaled by his shameless disregard of
its most sacred obligations. Brutal,
ignorant and drunken, he hesitated not
to crush the people of the South by the
power of a paid soldiery. With an
armed hand upon their Threats he at
tempted to stifle the breath of their
liberty, and placing the iron heel of
military oppression upon one of the
thirteen original States of the Union,
he reduced it TO military satrapy.
We were confronted at home by an en-
emy bold, confident and defiant, thor
oughly disciplined and bound conf
pactly together by the cohesive power
of public plumber. Driven almost to
desperation, and trusting alone in the
justice of our cause, AMI recognizing
the supreme necessity of saving our
State, our people, by common i'm
pulse, with one heart, dedicated them
selves to the patriotic work, and after
struggle as arduous and as heroic as
ever waged, redeemed the fair land of
their fathers and covered themselves
with glory. They achieved success
against every probability. They worked
out political miracle greater than any
ever achieved by a people, and they
accomplished this because they were
true to themselves and to their prInci-
Piles.
What is our position nowI The
Chief Executive of the country is one
who, however much we may differ
from him politically, we yet recognize
as gentleman, and one who deserves
our respect and gratitude for having,
in defiance of the passionate appeals
of partisans, restored local self-gov-
ernment to Louisiana and South Care
lima. By his act the military was sub
| ordinated to the civil authority, and
the armed soldiers of the United States
who had for months blvouacked with
in the walls of the Capitol were with
drawn. BY giving to us our rights,
he has placed South Carolina on Ihe
plane of equality with her sister States.
You know how desperate was the
struggle before the last fight. 1 be-
lieve this campaign is fraught with
almost equal danger as the last. My
opinion is that the Republican Con-
vention did not nominate State ticket
last week because they knew that if
they did they would have every man in
the State rallying to our standard, and
we would gain victory grander than
the last.
Not having the manliness to indorse
the administration of the last two
years, they have endeavored to make
political capital for the Northern Radi-
Gals by enunciating a platform as false
as false can be. They charge that they
have not put ticket In the field be.
cause they could not do that without
personal danger, and they passed that
resolution in the Capitol of South Car
Dina, within hearing of the executive
of the State, and when they had en-.
tire control of the State House, placed
in their hands by the Democracy OF
South Carolina for the purpose
of making such nominations. They
did not place a ticket in the
field because they knew it
would meet with certain defeat, and
warn you now that this course has beer
pursued (as warned members of the
Legislature months ago that it would
be pursued) fo- the purpose of devot
ing their every energy to controlling
the ensuing Legislature. 1t is a mat
ter of very little moment who may bt
your Governor, but it is matter Of
life and death to this old land of ours
that we have Legislature represent
ing the manhood, civilization, intelli
gence and virtue of South Carolina
That is your objective point. have
warned you of your danger. If the
Democratic party of the State will be
true to itself, 1 predict that you will
win an overwhelming victory.