The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-04-10
SENATOR HAMPTON.

Senator Hampton, upon tile day OF
his return from the low-country to Co.
lumbia, attended a meeting of the citi-
zens of that city to raise funds and make
arrangements for the defense of the po-
litical prosecutions against citizens of
Richland County, and upon being loudly
called for came forward amid loud and
prolonged cheers and made the following
remarks, which will be read with pleas
ure by every Carolinian. This is the
Governors first speech since his painful
accident, and is full of his interest in and
devotion to his citizens. He said {:
Mr.. PRESIDENT AND FELLow.CITI-
zENs OF RIcHLAND: When 1 was in
vited to the meeting tonight it was upon
the ground that l might be here simply
to express my sympathy with the move
ment that has been put on foot, and with
the express understanding that no speech
would be expected from me. l can say
nothing more than the two gentlemen
who have so ably addressed you have
said, nor can l say that as well as they
have done. l agree with the gentlemen
who have addressed you that we are not
here to protect criminals; we are here
simply to vindicate the good name Of
the people of South Carolina. The
great fundamental principle of Eng
lish liberty loving people has been
always that every man is entitled to be
tried by jury of his peers and by ajury
of the vicinage. This trial in Charles
ton, if conducted as is proposed to be
now, will simply be trial before pack
ed jury. Our citizens can meet with no
justice, and it is right that we, their
iellow-citizens, should aid them in every
way possible that we shall contribute
to the means of their defense; that we
shall look upon them, as the law looks
upon all who are tried, and say they are
innocent until they are proved to be
guilty. 1 came simply, by my presence
tonight, to show that was in sympathy
with this, and l thought it was fortu-
nate circumstance that my coming to
Columbia for the first time should be on
an occasion of this kind, where every
heart beats in unison, and where we can
all march touching elbows, rs my friend
Major Thompson has said. And if it
were not out of place-and 1 wish that
my voice could reach every man and
every woman and every child in South
Carolina-I would express to them the
profound emotion of gratitude that feel
for all the kindness and sympathy that
they have shown me; would thank them
and tell them that, while perhaps the
calamity which has fallen upon me has
probably debarred me of much Of the en-
joyment of life, trust for their sakes, for
the sakcs of this people, who have hon
ored me and loved me so much, that it
will not deprive me altogether of my use
fulness, and whatever of strength remains
10 me, wherever | am called on to labor
in their service, while my heart is stirred
by the blood that flows to it, every pull
sation shall be for South Carolina.
And, sir, it is not improper that l
should say one word as to why l am not
where perhaps some my fellow-c citizens
think | should be. That l am not there
is due in great part to those gentlemen
pointing to Drs. Talley and Taylor and
DIR. Trezevant, who is present also. 1t is
due in great part To them, for they have
forbidden me to go; and they know 1
have told them that while it was not nec-
cssary for me to be there, 1 would obey
their command; but whenever the call
came from Washington that the interests
of the State needed me; whenever my
Democratic friends called for me, at
whatever cost it might be to me, should
go, and when l could not 60, would no
longer hold the place with which the
people of the State have honored me. l
have been told by my friends in Wash
ington that my presence there is not
now necesscry-that when it was, they
would tell me. And promise the peo-
pie of South Carolina that whenever my
presence is required l will always be
found, as l have always tried to be found,
in her service, at the post of duty. Pro-
longed cheers,