The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-02-12
GARY AND HAMPTON.

His Course Towards Gen. Hampton, and
His View Of the Present Issues in the
State.
Correspondence of The Netrs and Courier.
What Gen. Gary said to our special
correspondent in reply to the charges
contained in the letter of Col. Haskell
has already been published in the Ne'Us
and Courier. We now give, in full, what
he said to our correspondent concerning
his relations with Gen. Hampton, his
own political course, and the political
issues in the State at this time, as he un-
derstands them:
Ihad, as I told you in Columbia, day
or two ago, concluded to take no further
notice of the controversy between Sena-
tor Hampton and myself, but since this
matter has been revived, will take this
occasion to put myself right before the
public.
It will be remembered that my first in
teryiew with the correspondent of the
New York Herald was an of-hand con-
yersation into which / was led without
any premeditation on my part, and which
he insisted upon, saying that he had been
sent here for the special purpose of inter-
viewing me, producing his telegraphic
orders to oithat effect. The conversation
was mainly devoted to National politics,
and simply gave frank answers to his
questions, he afterwards writing out the
whole interview, which was not put in
the shape should have chosen, nor was
it my intention to provoke Senator
Hampton or anyone else into contro-
yersy. Senator Hampton, however, an
swered in snch hot haste, used such
language and indulged in such reflections
as to make reply on my part necessary,
which I put in as mild and inofensive
language as I could command, and, be-
sides, indicated my willingness to "let
him alone if he would let me alone"
though Iqwas unwilling to recede from
anything ! had stated, simply because it
was the truth. Here l vas willing to
let the matter drop, regardless of the in
suits offered me, because 1 knew that any
quarrel between Senator Hampton and
myselfwoul be unpleasant to our peo-
pie, and might, to greater or less de-
gree, mar the harmony of the Democratic
party. After the publication of the "Big
Talk with Hampton" by the Washington
correspondent Of the Nesus and Courier,
in which Senator Hampton covered q
great deal of ground in State and Ma
tional politics, and endeavored to make
political capital against Mr.. Tilden and
myself, / confess that felt disposed to
Ieply, in order to show the true situation
between Senator Hampton and myself,
and in order to vindicate and justify my
political course. consider the unity
and harmony of the Democratic party of
paramount importance, and propose to
conduct this discussion SO as to help and
not hurt it, by showing what its funda-
mental principles are. Systematic efforts
have been made to break and keep me
down because I have taken a bold politi-
cal stand on the bond and other ques-
tions, and l have just as much right to
accuse Senator Hampton of inspiring
attacks upon me as he has to charge me
with inspiring attacks upon him. We
have made such God of Hampton for
several years past that any one who
dared to disagree with him has been in
danger of being politically ostracised las
a number of deserving men in this State
have been made to feel) whether be was
right or not. Even now some people are
trying to damn me politically for my So
called opposition to Hampton" al
though the State has been greatly bene-
flied thereby. Since Senator Hampton
has been the first to introduce the ques-
ton of State politics and the Governor
ship, evidently with the view of creating
public sentiment for the next election, l
propose to show that am and have been
right, and do not hesitate to say that 1
would rather be right than be Governor
of South Carolina, for so far as that posi-
tion is concerned, like Mr.. Lowndes said
of the Presidency, ] think it "should
neither be sought nor declined" and /
shall certainly remember the first part of
his injunction. 1t will be seen from
Senator Hampton's last interview that
we are not so far apart after ali in our
statements, except as to the proposition
made to me at Abbeville, which as he
first said had escaped his recollection"
He draws distinction without making a
difference between meeting and consul
tation, in which he and Gen. MCGOWAN
acknowledge that the withdrawal of the
Democratic Electors aOas discussed just
as stated, and if the proposition was
under consideration that night, does it
appear at all improbable, that Governor
Hampton should have approached me
that day upon the same subject? I do
not care by what name they call it,
whether consultation or meeting, and
MCGOWAN says that Hampton occupied
the chair, as detailed by him in the
presence of other gentlemen, and as told
to me by others who were present and as
can be pro-en. In saying in my first
interview tnat "I think Tilden has been
badly treated, he was sold out by South
ern leaders," only repeat what has been
said again and again by the Democratic
and Republican press, and l believe it to
be true. Candor compels me to say that
I did not have Senator Hampton in my
minds eye, for he was not at that time a
member of Congress, and could not
properly be considered Southern leader,
speaking from q National standpoint.
There can be no doubt as to the dispo-
sition of Hampton to sacrifice National
to State politics, or Tilden's electors to
secure his own, for it is we'll known this
feeling prevailed all over the State, after
being discussed at headquarters, from
whence the inspiration came, as shown
by the following unbroken chain of evil
dence: 1st. The meeting or consultation
in Abbeville the 18th September, 1876.
I'd. The Manton Marble letter again
suggesting the idea of separating Itle the
advocacy of Hayes and Wheeler and
Hampton and Simpson from Democratic
platforms by the Republican Judges,
Cooke and Mackey, in the presence OF
Governor Hampton, and without objec-
ton from him. 4th. After the election
the advising by Gen. Hampton of some
of the Tilden electors not to cast thei-