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

and Governor Hampton had opposed, tht
passage of the bill prohibiting the inter
marriage of the races, which passed a
the last session of the Legislature. 5th
was in favor of thorough reorganiza'
tion of our Circuit and Supreme Courts
and, therefore, opposed the reelection o.
Judges Willard and Mackey, and with
these two exceptions l was sustained by
the Legislature. 1 was opposed to the
arbitrary annual levy of the sum of no,
less than two mills for educational pur.
poses, being fixed by constitutional
amendment, which is not fair and i'm
partial system, and works injustice to the
taxpayers of our State. I was opposed
To Keeping the fraudulently elected and
counted-in Radical members of the Leg
islature, and was in favor of purging ii
of every member who was known to have
received bribes or to have been party
to corrupt legislation, and in this was
sustained by the Legislature and the
people. I was opposed to Hampton's
universal amnesty act, which, contrary
to the organic law of the State and all
precedent, gave him the privileges be-
longing to the Attorney General, order
ing n 7ole pros upon the indictments
against the Radical thieves who for eight
years had prayed upon the State. The
fact that I was right, and the evil of the
act is now felt and seen by the presence
of some of these old thieves who are now
recognizing the Radical party, whilst
others are returning to the State, for l
am glad to say that I am opposed to
every compromise of that kind which
Hampton's fusion policy led US into.
Senator Hampton had more prestige
than any other man in the State, and for
that reason I nominated him for Gov
ernor in 1876, (another evidence of my
being "uuwise, narrow and dangerous"
I suppose.) His delusion that bis fusion
or conciliatory policy, or rather bis per-
sonal power, popularity and influence
made 10000 (supposed) negroes vote,
when they had refused to vote for Gems.
Kershaw and Butler, who had tried this
same plan in 1874. This, I say, makes
him believe that he and l7,C0O negroes
saved the State, and ! am afraid that be.
tween his ambition and vanity, which
has been hattered no little of late years,
he has forgotten or ignored the great un-
derlying principle of white supremacy
for which our people have instinctively
contended, and which has really saved
the State, and without which we cannot
hope to have permanent peace and pros
perity or genuine good government for
all classes and colors in South Carolina.
There are some fundamental political
differences between Senator Hampton
and myself. He is what is called Con-
servative or Fusionist, and am a
Straightout Democrat. He does not be-
lieve or does not appear to believe in the
principle of white supremacy and | do.
His policy of destroying all party lines,
if carried out, would lead to social equal
ity of the races, which means miscegena-
tion, the greatest possible evil which
could befall both races, as there is no
telling what degradation and demoraliza-
tion it would entail, as appears from the
history of Mexico, the South American
Republics, Hayti, st. Domingo, Mauri-
thus.
I am willing to stand by and on the
platform of 1876, and to respect, protect,
elevate and educate the negroes, giving
them all of their natural and legal rights,
but as Democrat / am not willing to
jeopardize the harmony and unity of the
party, and thereby the good government,
welfare and progress of both races, by a
wholesale introduction of negroes into
the Democratic party, because 1 know
that 1t will divide and destroy it. The
attempt to do this as Hampton Democ-
racy" has been the true cause Of all the
trouble and division in Charleston and
elsewhere in the State, for By &raigttout
Democracy we saved the State, and by
Straightout Democracy we must keep it.
Any other policy, under any name, sim
ply means Radicalism or the very reverse
of true Conservatism.
wish to see the harmony and unity
of the party preserved by justice and fair
dealing. l am true Democrat, and be-
lieve in the sovereignty of the people,
and am opposed to autocratic or aristo-
cratic government, of which we have had
too much in South Carolina. 1 don't
believe in making compromises with
Radicals, and I want to see the party and
State relieved of those already made as
soon as possible. If Senator Hampton
wishes to excuse himself for what has
been done either in State or National
politics on the score of political neces-
sity," and thus throw himself upon our
generosity as people, then / am willing
to forgive and forget his errors and mis-
takes as freely as any one, but 1 am not
to be "weeded out" as an extremist" as
he promised the negroes at Georges
Station in 1878, with their "help" he
would do, nor am I to be kicked out as
"unwise, narrow and dangerous" for the
State has profted even by my "opposi-
ton to Hampton" and 1 have never
been dangerous to my State and people.
On the contrary I have endeavored to
serve my State both in war and peace
and to deserve the appreciation of our
people, but I am no more ambitious for
honors or position than Hampton or
others, and can as well afford to do with
out office, my main object now being to
justify my political course. The intro
duction by Senator Hampton of the next
Governorship, and his well known dispo.
sition to dictate to our people concerning
the nominees for both State and National
positions, shows that his opposition both
to Mr.. Tilden and myself springs from
other feelings than a mere desire to serve
the State and nation. What we need in
South Carolina is peace and prosperity
which can best be maintained and at,
tained by sticking to the Straightout
policy. Let the nominees and leaders Of
the party represent not only the platform
or expressed principles of the party, but
the inexpressed principles and the high
est instincts of our people. Our educa,
tional system should be gradually per
fected, commencing with the common
schools, and looking to a higher and
more perfect system of education, keep
ing in view the material progress and de
velopment of our resources; for, as indi
Gated by the Charleston jetties and ship