The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-12-22
HAMPTON AND
An Interesting Communication from
Bishop Howe - What the Senator
Meant by Giving tie Secretary his
Address,.

CHARLESTON, Dec. II, 1887.
To the Editor Of the Meas and Courier: | en-
close the within letters for n place In your paper II you
will please publish them. l have not bad Senator
llampton's permission 10 do 50, but l trust be will par.
don ms il | an wrong, in view IF the publicity OF the
matter referred to, and also OF your California letter In
to.day's issue, which gives q meaning 10 Governor
Very Respectfully, W. B..w. Howx.
CHARLESTON, Nov. "a, 1850.
Ny Dear Governor Hampton: l feel assured
that sou will not mistnterprrt motives or think ! am
intermeddling in your private affairs II from my high
appreciation OF your character aud deserVedly great
influence | venture to write to y"u In reference to your
late correspondence with Mr.. John Sherman, and
which | saw published in the New York papers.
shortly after said publication | was convrrsing with a
friend about political AFFAIR.", and ~ you will pardon
mel expressed much admiration for yourself My 3D.
miratian wa, thought to be Inconsistent with the fact
that in the correspondence above re!eired to you had
plainly intimated your readiness to meet Mr.. Sherman
on the field should no demand such meeting. Know:
ing you to be a commitment Of our church | %ventured
to put a different construction on your words. In Civ.
ing your address ! said that most likely you meant to
let Mr.. Sherman know that y"n were not To remain In
Charlottesville, but were on your way home, and that
II he wished to explain himself In any way he must
address you at Columbia.
Since my return houle, however, It has been int!ma.
ted to mo that l was mistaken in my apprehension OF
yonr meaning and that IL was your purpose to give
Mr.. Sherman, II he desired It a HUSTLE meeting.
I hope, my dear sir, that you will not think Inc i'm
pertinent II l ask whether my construction WAS right
or wrong, that l may know the opinion Of one whose
influence is desc, vedly worry great in the church rs
well as State.
1 Fe"ai"' my dear SIR most 'Fn'y Y yo Z v. Hor..
Hon. Wade Hampton, Columbia, SC.
DUNcASspY, MISS, Dec. s, 1850.
M Dear Sir: Your kind letter was forwarded
from Columbia and reached Inc only yesterday. | IN
very much obliged 10 you for the interest you have
shown In my behalf and you were entirely right In the
construction you placed upon my note to Mr.; sher-
man. That was written rs l passed through Cbarlottes.
vile, and l naturally gave Try proper address. Hnev.
or occurred ~ me for q moment that any one wou'd
%c"nstrus my language Us giving or Inviting q chsl-
lenge.
Mr.. Sherman forgot the ~propriety OF his official posi-
tion as we'll as Of mine when he made \ ScabdalouS
charge against ME In q public speech.
| called his attention to the language he WAS reported
TO have used in n courteous letter, thus giving him the
opportunity u disclaim or explain bis utterance. In
reply he not only reiterated bis charge, but he took that
opportunity to vinify not only the people whom | rep.
resented, but those Of the whole South. l could not
condescend to notice his slanderonS attack upon the
South, snd / simply denounced bis charge connecting
me with the ku.klux as false. 1could do no less than
this, for there never was a falser charge made, nor have
l ever knnwnn grOss ser violation vi persunal courtesy
or Of official ~propriety than that OF which be was
guilty.
1t has been my good fortune never to have been in
volved In an 'uAair NJ honor" In any way, save as q
pooce max er, and 1t is o source OF deep qualification 10
me to know that ] have been Instrumental In settling
many difficulties amiab!y. But write merely to AZ.
sure you that you did me only justice 10 the view you
took Of my language, and to thnnk you for the kind
nesss you have shown.
Ihope, therefore, that you will not misconstrue my
meaning when l tell you that my address will be
Washington after the 10th. With my best wishes, l
am very Respectfully and ruiy, yours,
Rt Rey. Bishop Howe.