The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-06-19
A TALK WITH SENATOR HAMPTON.
Feeling Of tho Southern People-yiews of
southerners rs to Presidential Cahdi-
dates-The Negro Exodus.

uS 10
dates-The Negro Exodus.
Senator Wade Hampton, Of South Car
olina, arrived here on Tuesday morning
TO attend the funeral of DR.. John T. Dar-
bv, who, the Senator said yesterday, was
not merely connection of his, but
warm personal friend, having been with
him during the war and having saved his
life on more than one occasion. Senator
Hampton says that his health is slowly
improving, and of late he has been getting
stronger, although still suffering from oc-
casional pains. In reference to his recent
speech in the Senate concerning the ac-
ton of the National Government toward
the South, Mr.. Hampton saidi
al am adverse to making public utter
terances. l think it is the business of
Southern men to show by their actions,
not their professions; what course they
intend to pursue. And I hope we will
be able to do that in little while. I
| made my recent speech without consulta-
ton with any one, and took the stand l
therein did simply because believed it
was right. / intended delivering some
such speech more than two weeks ago,
but was called to New York by Che illness
of DR.. Darby. think the Southern peo-
pie are in accord with the views l ex-
pressed in the Senate, and they will be
generally adopted. Judging from the
letters have received and the Southern
men have seen, can safely say be-
lieve they are in full accord with my
views. The South is eminently conser-
vative, and has always Uecn so. 1t wants
to be quiet, and does not want to be the
victim nor the mover in anything that
will create trouble or mistrust. AS to the
laws permitting the presence Of troops at
the polls, they were war measures, and
all wish them repealed. I would never
have deliydred the speech I did but for
a speech of Mr.. Thurman's some time
ago, in which he denied, and truthfully
denied, the charge that the South was
debating the policy of the Democratic
party.
eff the Northern papers would try to
get at the true disposition Of the Southern
people it would promote reconciliation.
know that they have sent able CORES
pondents through the South, many of
whom have met and whose correspond
ence I have read. But 1 do not think
they have seen with impartial eyes. They
have felt constrained to write to suit the
politics of the papers they represented.
| I refer as much to the correspondents of
the Democratic press as of the Republi-
can. At least they have mistaken the
true feeling of the South. 1t did not at
tempt to secede for war, and it does not
follow that, because it did not succeed in
leaving the Union, it still wishes to injure
it. This is the only country the Southern
people now have, and they wish to make
it as great and prosperous as possible.
The South ought to be credited with haY-
ing prevented q war in 1876, when the
whole country was at fever heat over the
Presidential election. A gun fred in
South Carolina then would have precipi-
tated general war. The South is strong
er to-day than in 1860. There is no feel
ing of timidity actuating her present pol
icy. There is no desire for another war.
The South wants peace. This l know to
be the feeling of the whole people there.
THE SOUTH ON PRESIDENTIAL cANDI-
DATES.
"There is another thing which ought
not to be overlooked - that while the
South is wholly Democratic and consti-
tutes the strength of the Democratic par
ty, we do not intend to ask place upon
tbe Presidential ticket for Southern
man. We want the party in the North
to place two good men on the ticket, and
we will support it for the National suc-
cess of the Democratic party. With re-
ference to the personal choice of the
South for particular Presidential candi-
dates, / do not think the South has made
any. I believe that there has been feel
ing that in justice to the old ticket it
should be renominated. There are many
reasons, however, which may be urged
against this, and the refusal of Mr.. Hen
kricks to be put in nomination again
seems to render it impossible. l don't
think the South cares copper who the
next Presidential candidate may be, as
long as he is q strong National man.
They do not care where he comes from
or what his financial views may be.
"Some of the papers have transposed
my position in the vote on Senator Coke's
resolution to discharge the finance COM
mittes in their reports of Tuesdays pro-
ceedings in Washington OH the Warner
silver bill. was opposed to the Warner
bill, and should have voted against it las
reported in the Iribune). was paired
with my colleague, who is in favor of the
bill. I think it was indiscreet to bring
the subject up during the present short
session of Congress. am perfectly will
ing to have bi-metallic currency when
we can establish a proper ratio between
gold and silver. / have been q consist
ent hard-money man. This is the posi-
ton 1 have always taken, and which l
announced when nominated as Governor
of South Carolina.
POSITION OF THE NEGROES.
There is great deal of misapprehen-
sion at the North as to the political con-
dition of the negroes in the South. They
seem to think thata colored man is bound
to be Republican because he is colored
man. But know personally many color
ed men in South Carolina who have always
been consistent Democrats, and have suf-
fered in consequence. There are only
$4,000 white voters in my State, and 9O,-
900 colored voters. The latter, there
fore, hold the balance ofpower. When l
was elected Governor there were only
119,5OO votes cast, and only 2l3 scatter
ing votes thrown against me, and | was
undoubtedly elected by the colored vo-
tcrs who at that time had all tue ma
chinery of elections in their own hands.
There was not a quarrel or fist fight in
that election. The Republicans could not
put ticket in the field, because the color
ed people were satisfied.
III think it will be q great misfortune
for the negroes to migrate in large num-
bers to Kansas. The climate is not suit
able for them. My old field hands in
Mississippi, where I cultivated planta-
ton, sent to me and asked my advice
about going to Kansas. l told them they