Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1878-10-31
miscellaneous &eadina.
GEN. GARY AND GOVERNOR HAMPTON,
INTERVIEW WITH GEN. GARY.


tains the following report of an interview
with Gen. Gary: y...
Reporter General, we see you are not in
vited to speak at the various appointments
made by the Executive Committee, what is
the cause of this ?
General Gary-I received letter from Gen
eral John d. Kennedy, Chairman of the State
Democratic Executive Committee, several
weeks ago, asking if 1 would take part in ad-
dressing the Democracy in the present cam
paign and consent to be assigned to speak at
the mass meetings appointed by the commit
tee. l replied that it would afford me pleas
ure to do so, and asked to be assigned to the
eastern and southern counties, as had never
spoken in those portions of the State. l re-
ceived notice, dated September 16, assigning
me to speak at Aiken on the 20th of Septem-
ber. On my way there met Gen. Kennedy,
and we went to Aiken together. While we
were together he told me that he had received
a letter from Governor Hampton, in which he
said that he (Gov. Hampton) must not be as
tsig11c1t nIcotfn
he would not attend meetings at which was
to speak General Kennedy asked me what it
meant 1 replied did not know, but l re-
garded it high-handed request, and that he
was on very high horse. He said the request
appeared to be a very unreasonable one, and
| that he would look into the matter. At the
same time l informed him that had been in
vited by the chairman of the County Execu-
| tive Committee of Marlboro county to speak
at Bennettsville on the 9th Of September. l
found that on the 18th of September Governor
Hampton. in speech at Greenville, had made
an unexpected and unfair attack upon me po-
litically and personally 1 also found an in
vitation, dated September II, from Colonel
Law, chairman of the County Executive Com
mittee of Darlington, inviting me to address
the Democracy on the 25th of September.
Also an invitation from j. R. BoylstOn, S. D..
Ford. J. II. Wilson, per w. G. Vardell, Jr.,
for committee, and one from Colonel George
Tupper, President Of Dorchester Democratic
Club, to address the Democracy on the 26th
of September at Summerville. I accepted the
invitation to go to Darlington on the 25th of
September and declined with sincere regret the
invitation to speak at Summerville. Having
received no notice or communication from
General Kennedy or the Executive Committee
since the convention at Aiken, left home
Monday night, September %, and reached
Darlington on the evening of the oath of Sep
tember. | went at once to the home of my
friend, Captain r. w. Boyd, and soon after
my arrival there informed him of what Gen.
Kennedy had told me in regard to Governor
Hampton'S request, by letter to Gen. Kenne-
DIV. Captain Boyd then stated that he did
not intend to tell me what he knew about the
matter, as he did not want to embarrass me
but since 1 seemed to know some of the facts
he would tell me what he knew about it.
He then stated that Colonel Law had called
upon him and had asked him in his Colonel
Law's) name to revoke the invitation which
had been sent to me to attend their meeting,
and that after considering it he had declined
to act in the premises. He said that Col. Law,
in obedience to request or instructions from
the State Executive Committee, or it's chair
man, had sent me a telegram not to come, and
it was understood it was done at the instance
of Governor Hampton. I replied that re-
GREETED that I had not received it, for then
val at the home of Captain Boyd, and after the
above conversation with him, COL Law called
upOn me and took me to drive. During the
drive he stated to me he had sent me tele-
gram not to come. | told him that if had
received it l would not have come. He then
stated that he had received information from
the State Democratic Executive Committee
that Gov. Hampton would not attempt meet
ing where / was to speak. Under these Cir
cumstances, he said, he had sent me the revo-
cation of the invitation, and had determined
to invite me to address the Democracy of
Darlington during the county fair. He said
that the Governor would I've there on the next
day and that he was in somewhat of dilem-
ma. He asked me if | wished to speak.
replied that had come to address the people
of Darlington at the invitation of the DemOc-
racy of the county, expressed through him as
their county chairman, and [ would not will
ingly consent to be deprived of the freedom of
speech by Gov. Hampton or any other person.
He then said you and Governor Hampton
are the guests of Darlington county and you
both shall speak. He then asked me as a
favor to him not to reply to Gov Hampton s
attack upon me in his Greenville speech. |
replied that had made up my mind before
left home not to reply to this speech OF the
Governors, either at Darlington or Benefits
vile. If, however, Governor Wade Hampton
should attack ME, l certainly would reply to
him. Col. Law expressed himself as satisfied
with the assurance. l met the Governor the
next day on the speakers Stand-he did not
speak to me nor | to him.
take this occasion to say, that Col. Law be-
haved with the utmost delicacy and kindness
towards me, in the whole matter, and that /
was warmly and satisfactorily received by all
the people of Darlington.
Reporter-Did you attend the meeting at
Bennettsville on the 9th of September.
Gen. Gary-I did, and it was one of the best
have ever attended. / was enthusiastically
received, and was treated with the greatest
kindness by all the people. Gov. Hampton
did not attend this meeting.
Reporter-Have you been assigned to speak
at any other meeting by the State Executive
Committee
Gen. Gary-The Executive Committee as
signed me to speak at Aiken in September.
| This is the only meeting during the campaign