The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-10-21
Sherman and Hampton.


Secretary Sherman to-day furnished for publ.
cation the following correspondence consisting Of
four letters, which have passed between himself
and Senator Hampton, of South Carolina
John Sherman, Secretary Of the Treasury: Sir
Some days ago saw report Of your speech at the
conference held BY tie National Republican Com.
mittee at the Fifth Avenue Hotel, New York, and
you we're quoted rs having used the following Ian.
guage: "And now you are asked to surrender all
You have done into the hands Of Wado Hampton
and the ku klux and the little segment in the
North that is called the Democratic party" May
I ask If you used these words, and If you did so,
did you mean to connect me directly or indirectly
with what is known as the ku klux klan? Re-
questing an early reply, addressed to me, care of
August Schell, Esq, New York, am, very respect
WADE HAMPTON.
WASHINGTON, D. c., September 21.-To Hon..
Wade Hampton, New York: Sir-Your note of
the 18th inst. is received, in which you inquire
Republican Committee at the Fifth Avenue Hotel,
New York, used the language attributed to me
as follows: "And now you are asked TO surrender
all you have done into the hands of Wade Hamp-
ton and the ku klux, and the little segment In the
North that is called the Democratic party. In
reply have to advise you that while don't re-
member the precise anguage, and presume the re-
porter correctly stated in condensed way his idea
Of what said, no doubt spoke of you as leading
representative of the Democratic party in the
South, and referred to the ku klux khan as rep
resentatiyc of the barbarous agencies by which the
Democrats have subrerted the civil and political
rights of the Republicans of the South. did not
connect you personally with the ku klux klan.
Indeed, know you had in one or two important
instances resisted and defeated its worst impulses.
appreciate the sense of honor which makes you
shrink from being named in connection with it.
Still you and your associates and leading men In
the South now enjoy the benefits OF political
power derived from atrocities of the ku klux khan,
in which ! include numerous aliases by which II
has from time to time been kncwn in the South.
Your power in the Southern States rests upon the
actual crimes Of every measure In the code OF
crimes, from murder to the mennest form of ballot
box stufing committed by the ku klux klan and its
kindred associates, and as you know some OF the
worst OF them committed since 1877, when you and
they give most solemn assurances Of protection to
the freedmen of the South. These crimes are all
aimed at the civil and political rights of the Re
publicans in the South, and as believe but for
these agencies the very State that you represent,
rs well as many other States in tho South, would
be represented both in the Senate and House by
Republicans. But for these crimes, the boast at
tributed to you that the 1873 solid Southern votes
would be cast for the Democratic ticket would be
truth. While / have no reason to believe that yol,
or your Northern associates personally particle
pated in the offenses have named yet while they
enjoy the fruits of these crimes, you may, In the
logic of morals be cassed as joint copartners with
the ku klux, and the policy which thus far has
been successful in securing political power In The
South and Which it is hoped by the aid of small
segment of the Democratic party in the North,
may be extended to all departments of the govern
ment. In this sense spoke of you, the ku klux
In conclusion in frankly answering your question
to say that the most fatal policy for the South
would be by such agencies as have mentioned to
secure again the political ascendancy in this eoun-
try for assure you that the manhood and indie
pendence of the North will certainly continue the
struggle until every Republican in the South shall
have free and unrestricted enjOyments OF equal
civil and political privileges fair vote, fair
made necessary to secure such results may greatly
effect inuriously the interests of the people of the
South.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JOHN SHERMAN.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA, October 10, 1SSO-SIR
Your letter has been received, and as you don't
disclaim the language to which called your attcn-
tion have only to say that in using you uttered
be false. My address will be Columbia S. C. l am
your obedient servant,
WADE HAMPTON.
To Hon. John Sherman.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D. c.,
October 1S.-To Hon. Wade Hampton, Columbia
SIR: have to acknowledge the receipt Of your
note of the 1st instant handed me unopened by
Mr. c. Mckinley lew moments ago, after my re,
turn from the West I had this morning read
what purported to be IN extract Of speech made
Courier, and upon your general reputation as q
gentleman had denied that you had made such a
speech or written such letter as is attributed to
you in that paper. What I stated to you in my
letter Of September 21st believe to be true, not
withstanding your denial. and 1t can be shown to
be true by public record and as matter of his
tory. AS you had long before your letter was de-
livered to me, seen proper to make public state.
ment Of your views Of tho correspondence, Will
give 1t to the press without note or comment, and
lot the public decide between us.
Very respectfully,
JoHN SHERMAN.