The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-12-25

since been published all over the United
States, viz: that Tilden was sacrificed
for the benefit of the South, and the
illusions to Senator Hampton were to
show that the disposition TO withdraw
the electors of the Democratic party for
President and Vice President existed in
South Carolina early in 1876, and cul.
minated in electoral fraud By and through
which Hayes and Wheeler were uncon-
stitutionally declared elected, the Re-
publican party secured tho continuance
of their party in power, and the South,
to some extent, the recognition of the
doctrine of local self-government.-
Whether it was a wise trade or not is
grave question which the future must
decide. This State is redeemed now,
and we are discussing the question as to
who shall be President, and when asked
my honest opinion I have given q
frank reply, in which 1 have stated that
Tilden was sacrificed by some of the
leaders and not by the people of the
South, and that if he received the Demo
cratic nomination the masses of the
South would again give him hearty and
cordial support.
HAMPTON DID ASK HIMTo "wITuDRAw."
Correspondent-What about the ques-
ton of veracity between Hampton and
yourself9
General Gary-I 1t is evident that Sena-
tor Hampton is angry with me for allud-
ing to what has been an open secret for
three years, and, as he states himself, has
been discussed in the papers of Georgia
and this State. The distinguished Sena-
tor is again mistaken as to my being the
author Of the article alluded to by him.
1t is bitter prejudice and hatred to me, no
doubt, that. has and will continue, to
induce him to believe that am the au-
thor or inspirer of every article that
dares to criticise his public acts. He,
like the rest of us, must, without COM
plant, receive a just criticism from the
people, whose servants we are. Every
one in South Carolina knows that he
hates, and has long hated me, as the
Devil does "holy water" He seems to
nurse his wrath to keep it warm, and
occasionally lets it off, as he did at
Greenville last year, when he called me
"impertinent," and then had me "gagg-
ed' by the State Executive Committee.
l decline to exchange epithets with him,
but am willing to stand by the record.
Now to come down to the gist of the
matter.
THE REPLY TO HAMPTON.
reiterate that Hampton did approach
me on the speakers stand after I had fin
ished my speech at the Abbeville mass
meeting in 1876. as I have stated in my
former interview, with the proposition to
withdraw the Democratic electors, and to
this proposition 1 replied:
First, that as South Carolina had sent
delegates to and fairly participated in the
national convention which nominated
Tiiden, the withdrawal of the electors
would be piece of bad faith.
Second, l said it could not be done
without calling another convention.
To this Senator Hampton responded
that it might be done through the State
Executive Committee. Without acqui-
escing, answered Hampton that if he
and the rest we're resolved to do it,
wouldn't make war upon the conclusion.
1t thus appears that told Hampton then
and there I regarded it as an act of bad
faith to the national Democratic party,
and I here repeat that l have always re-
garded it in the light of treacherous
disafection to Tilden before his election.
In stating that, if he (Hampton) "and
the rest were resolved to do it, 1 would
not make war upon the conclusion" 1
meant that l would obey orders from the
headquarters of the Democratic party,
my judgment then and now being that it
would have proved fatal to the campaign,
as it would, to have made an attempt to
change front, not only in the presence Of
the enemy, but in the midst of the fight.
1t will be seen that the reported inter-
view does not raise an issue of veracity
upon the proposition that have stated
that he made to me, for he says "that I
consulted with General Gary on this
matter or any other during that canvass
or before it or since has entirely escaped
my recollection, if this ever occurred"
Now let Senator Hampton's memory be
as treacherous as it may, the above state
ment of what occurred between us at
mass meeting at Abbeville, in 1876, is
the truth and nothing but the truth.
THE "HoT TINE" AT MRS. NoRwooD's.
So far as the next point upon which
we differ is concerned as we stand in my
interview, viz: "I've since heard that
meeting was held at night, which 1 did
not attend, but at which Hampton,
Toombs, General MCGOWAN and Colonel
Cothran were present; there was hot
time; MCGOWAN wouldn't agree nohow
and the project fell through" have only
to say that did not state it upon my
own knowledge, but from statement
made to me by some of those who were
present. believe it is true, because
made to be by responsible parties and
corroborated by General MCGOWAN, since
the appearance of Senator Hampton's
interview in the New York Herald, in
reply to mine published in the same
paper. In an interview with General
MCGOWAN he has stated to me, in the
presence of two gentlemen, first, that q
meeting was held at the house of Mrs.
Norwood, in the town of Abbeville, on
the night of the day of the mass meeting
at Abbeville, in the year 1876; second,
that Hampton, Toombs, MCGOWAN, Col
onel Cothran and others we're present
third, that at this meeting Colonel Hoyt,
q member of the State Executive Com.
mittee, was also present, and that he
Colonel Hoyt) submitted to that meet
ing the proposition to withdraw the cleo
tors of the Democratic party for Prcsi-
dent and Vice President from the canvass
of the State, and that there was hot
time over its discussion, and that he
warmly opposed the proposition, which
fell through, and that General Wade
Hampton-now Senator Hampton-was
chairman and presided over the meeting.
| take it that this will be conclusive as
to the facts that have stated in regard
tn that meetinp hninu ne hn osserfs in