Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1880-02-12
From the Charleston News aud Courier.
GARY AND HAMPTON,
THE EDGEFIELD SENATOR ON THE
POLITICAL SITUATION.
Hills Course Towards Gen. EHamp-
ton, and HIS View Of tho Pres
ent Issues In the State.


tained in tho letter of Col. Haskell has
already been published in the Ncws and
Courier. We now give, iu full, what no
said to our correspondent concerning his
rel tions with Gen. Hampton, his own
political course, and tho political issues 10
the State at this time, as he understands
them:
| had, us told you in Columbia, day
or two ago, concluded to take no further
notice Of the controversy between Senator
Hampton and myself, but since this matter
has been revived, will take this occasion
to put myself right before the public.
1t will be remembered thut my first inter
view with the correspondent of the New
York Herald was an oT-hand conversation
iuto which | was led without uny prcmcd,-
tation on my part, aud which he insisted
upon, saying that he had been sent here
for the special purpose of interviewing me-
producing his tclcgmphic orders to that
effect The conversation was mainly de-
socd to national politics and | simply gave
frank answers to his questions, lie after
wards writing out the whole interview
which was not put iu the shape should
have chosen, nor was it my intention to
provoke Senator Hampton or auy one else
into controversy. Senator Hampton,
however, answered in such hot haste,
usc1 such lDguage aud INDUCED in such
reflections as to make u reply on NY part
Necessary, which put in as mi!L and in
off nsive language as could coumand,
aud, tcsidcs, lniicalcd my willingness to
'le him alone if he would let me alone"
though l was unwilling to rcccde from
anything had stated, simply because it
was the truth Here | vas, willing to let
the muttcr drop, regardless of the insults
offered me, because knew that any quar-
rel between Senator Hampton and myself
would be unpleasant to our people, aud
might, to greater or less degree mar the
harmony OF the Democratic party. After
ito publication of the "Big Talk with
Hampton" by the Washington corrcspun-
dent of hc Ncws and Courier, in which
Senator Hampton covered a great dcul Of
ground in State and National politics, and
endcavorcd 10 make political capi,ol agains,
Mr tildcn and myself, couicss that
felt disposed to reply, in order to show the
true situation between Senator IInmp,on
aud myself, aud in order to vinjicatc anu
justify my political course. consider .hr
unity and harnoMy o! be Democratic pa;ty
OF paramount Importance. AID propos, to
conduct this discussion 80 as to helm and
not hurt it, hy shown! what lis innanm,n
TIL principles are Systematic efforts have
been made to break aud keep me down
because have taken Il build political stani
on the bond aud other questions, aud
have just as much right to accuse Sen TOR
Hampton OF lnsp'in. attacks upon nc rs
he has to charge ne with irspi,,ng attacks
upon him. We have mauc such God If
Hampton for several years past TINT any
one "h" d'ied 10 disagree witt, him ha~
Been III d'n4rI ui h,iug politically usir.-
cisco (nS II nuu'ncr OF deserving mcn in
Ih!s State have been inasic 10 !urD wn-thcr
he wns righI az MT Even now son.c
people are trying 10 damn nc ruilnclii, tor
my so'caIcd "oppusitlon to Hampton"
the State has been great, brnr-
fitted thereby. Since Senator HAMPTON ha,
been the first to introduce the question Of
State poliIlcs and the Govcrnol>hip, cvi-
dcDtly with tho view of c,cntiu. public
sen iment for the next election, | pinpusc
to show that uu, and have teen right, and
do not hesitate TO say that [ wnuui r:,hrr
nc right than ~ Governor Of the South
Carolina, for SO far as that position is con
cerned, like Mr.. Lowndcs said of thc Prrsi-
dency, l think it 'shoad neither be sought
nor declined" aud shall certainly rcmem.-
Der the first part of his injunction 1t will
he seen from Senator Hampton's last inter
view that "c arc not SO far apart after al! IN
our statements, except us to the proposition
mudc to me at Abbevi!!e, which us he frs,
said had "cscapcd his recollection" Ilr
draws distinction without nakinga air.
renee between meeting and Il constellation
in which he and Gen McGowan acknow
ledge that the Withdrawal Of the Democratic
Electors acas discussed just as stated, aud
if the proposition was under consideration
that night, does it appear at all improbable
that Governor Hampton should have up.
preached nc that dag upon the same
subject! | do not care what name they call
It, whether consultation or meeting, aud
hlcGowan says that Hampton occupied the
chair, as detailed by him in the presence of
othcr gentlemen, and as told to me by
others who wcro present and as can be
proven. LII saying i'll my first interview
that II think lilden has been badly treated,
no WAS sold oul by Southern leaders," |
only repeat what has been said again and
again ty the Democratic and Republican
press, aud believe it to be true. Candor
compels inc 10 say that did not have Sc
nator Hampton in my miud's eye. for he
was not at that time member of Congress.
and could not properly be considered
Southern leader, speaking from National
There can bc no doubt aa to the disposi-
tiop of Hampton to sacrifice National to
M f,nlitinn s.. IL