New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-09-01
WADE HAMPTONS SPEECH AGAIN.

THE FORGERY OF An OBSCURE wRITER-THE OBJ
sCrRE PEEsoN WRITES \ CARD--HE COMPLAINS
THrrHE PEOPLE OF sTAUNroN HAVE BEEN MIS-
prPREsENTED-THE ACCURACY OF HIS REPORT
UNQUEsuoNED.
To the Edttor Of The Tribune.
SIR: The Stanton letter from THE TRIB-
uSE's correspondence published In the issue OF August
90 contains so many both of fact and de-
ducion that ask leave to make correct statement In
regard TO the matter about which he wrote.
Your CORRESPONDENT was sent here. l understand
IN collect facts in reference the speech OF Senator
Hampton delivered in this city on the Goth OF July
lie must have been peculiarly unfortunate
in tho selection OF the parties he IN
teryicwod If the result Of bis inter
views was faithfully represented IN the letter in ques
on That letter injustice to the citizens ofstaun-
ton II places them ID q position they do not occupy
and attributes them sentiments which feel warranted
III saving are not entertained ~ them 1t msrepreseut'
the motives which actuated the gentlemen who signed
the paper certifying the accuracy OF The VTgfnids
report aud which governed Mr. Gordon IN The statement
he furnished.
The facts OF Senator Hamptons speech, the denial,
etc. are thesei Almost sentence of that speech
was nnauded until about the close. when he made the
declaration that ,he principles for which the
war was fought again ut issue to-day When that
declaration was made seemed to strike ALMOST every
one rs extraordinary, and dead calm prevailed Upon
the adjournment OF the meeting lhdt particular
sentence was freely discussed and its irjudicousncss
commented upon. very large majority Of those who
heard il did lot regard 1t significant nor did they nc
cept Il intending 10 convey the idea that the rght
OF secession was again to be conended for. Speaking
for the citizens Of staunton and community, though
differ politically with large majority Of them. feel
perfectly safe saying that as people they have hon
esly accepted the results OF the war and would oppose
INV attempt to knowingly Intentionally reintroduce
,ho ed conf
practicabes who neither learn forget but they
without Significance In number ana wholly without
influence.
When the report OF Senator Hampton's speech ap-
peared In Tie Tirgn1H no one questioned its ac-
curacy When his alleged denial published
in which 1t charged that tho language at
trbrted TO him was the forgery OF obscure
oer writer" the whole matter resolved into ques-
ton rs the veracity OF the editors OF
The Vir0inian. To sustain themselves under such
a charge, OF the editors OF The VTpinian
asked prominent Democrats to sign certificate sub
saptiating correctness OF the report He based the
request solely upon personal grounds, saying 10
those gentlemen that he came TO them 10 viadl-
cate him from the charge OF falsfying. without
hesitation they signed. Not because they APP
proved Of the use being made OF General Hamp-
toms utterance-iOr they did not approve it-but
as simple act Of justice to the editors OF
The Tirginian whose personal integrity had been i'm
nucned At the time they lxcd their signatures each
of them declared that Hanptons words being mis-
construed, and having attached TO them mean
ing not warranted but inasmuch there Ques
tOn OF his having used them. they were willing to
certify to OF their use In order TO shield
friend unjust accusation Your correspondent OBJ
tanned certificate from me- He was allowed 10 copy
II with the distinct understanding that the CIR
cumstances under which IL gwen should
be stated The TRIBUNE published the
certificate but failed to comply with the agreement
| made with It's representative. Mr.. Gordons
abatement WAS furnished under similar circum
stances and your correspondents assertion that he
d,,rustcd with Hampton Is entirely gratutous. Your
.pond eut did not Mr. Gordon while in Staun
I ton.
| nv the majority Of those who heard his
seech and read his letter addressed 10 the Editor
Of me Vir0inion They accent his version without
questioning the accuracy OF lac FTginidns report
There are details mentioned by your correspondent
| vbch are unwarraued by fucts but shall not dwell
upon them now " 49,.
I ask you to publish this as an act OF
justice the people Of stanton ana especially TO those
scucracy OF The yrgniGn's report is es-
toblished and II Is established part
mon the testimony OF those whom am unwilling TO
Isrepresented Ia any particular. Very respectfully
StuiintOn, Va, Aug. II. 1851. j. foSI