Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1880-12-23

Of the matter referred to, and also o.
your California letter in to days is
sue, which gives a meaning 10 Gov
erpor Hampton's letter which he dis.
claims. Very respectfully,
w. B.. w, HOWE
CHARLESTON, Nov. q, 1880.
My Dear Gorernor Hampton:
feel assured that you will not misin.
terp-et my motive or think l am in
terneddling in your private affairs if.
from my high appreciation Of your
character end deservedly great inAu-
ence, l venture to write to you in
reference to your late correspondence
with Mr. John Sherman, and which
saw published in the New York pa
pers. Shortly aftei aaid publication
l wac conversipg with a friend about
political affairs, and (if you will par
don meg expressed much admiration
for yourself. My admiration was
thought,ta be inconsistent with the
fact that in the correspondence above
referred to'you had plainly intimated
your readiness to meet Mr.. Sherman
on the field should he demand such
meeting. Knowing yon to be a COM
municant of our church, I ventured
to put a different construction on
your words. In giving your address
l eaid that most likely you meant to
let MIR. Sherman know that you were
not to remain in Charlottesville, but
were on your way7home, an that if
he wished to explain himself in any
way he must address you at Columbia.
Since my return home, however, 1t
has been intimated to me that I was
mistaken il my apprehension Of your
meaning, and that it was your pnr
pose to give Mr.. Sherman, if he dc.
sired it, o hostile meeting.
I hope, my. dear sir, that you will
not think me impairment If | ask
whether my construction Was right or
wrong, that I may know the opinion
of one whose influence is deservedly
very great in the Church as well as
State. I remain, my dear sir, most
atrnry yours, w. B. w. HOWE.
Hon. Wade Hampton, Columbia.
| DUNcASspY, MISS Dec. 5. 1880.
Ny DEAR SIa: Your kind letter
was forwarded from Columbia and
reached me only yesterday. I am
very much obliged to You for the in
terest you have shown in my behalf
and you were entirely right In the
construction you placed upon my note
to Mr.. Sherman. That Was written
as I passed through Charlottesville,
and I naturally gave my proper ad,
, dress. It never occurred to me ;or a
moment that any one wonld construe
my Language as giving or inviting a
challenge.
Nh. Sherman forgot the propriety
Of his official position as well as Of
mine when he made a scandalous
charge against me in a public speech.
L called his attention to the language
he was reported to have used in a
courteous letter, thus giving him the
opportunity to disclaim or explain his
utterance. In reply he not only re.
iterated his charge, but he took that
opportunity to villily not only the
people whom I represented, bnt those
] of the whole South. I could not
condest end to notice his slanderous
attack upon the South, and l simply
denounced his charge connecting me
with the Np-Klux as false. could
do no less than this. for there never
was a faleer charge made. nor have I
ever known a grosser violation Of pei
sonsl courtesy or Of official propriety
than that of which he was guilty.
1t has bseu my good fortune never
to have been involved in an affair
of honor" in any way, save as apeace
maker, and it is a source Of deep graf
i6cation to me to know that | have
been instrumental in settling mary
difficulties a%micably. But l write
merely to assure you that you did me
only justice in the view you took Of
my language, and to thank you fol
the kindness you have shown.
l hope, therefore, that you will not
misconstrue my meaning when | tel
you that my address" WILDE Wash
ington after the 10Th. With my best
wishes, ! am very respectfully and
truly yours, WADE HAMPTON.
RI. Rev. Bishop Howe.