Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-10-19
SHERMAN AND HAMPTON.
interesting Correspondence Be-
tween tho South Carolina
Senator and the Sec
rotary Of the
Treasury.

Hon. John Sherman, Secretary Of the Treas
ury:
SIR:-Some DAYS ago saw a report O
your speech at conference held by tn
National Republican Committee at tn
Fifth Avenue Hotel, New York, an,
you were quoted as having used the fol
lowing language: "And now you ar,
asked to surrender all you have dom
into the hands OF Wade Hampton, ant
the Ku-Klux, and the little segment il
the North that is called The Democratic
party"
May ask il you used these words,
AMI il YOU did, did you mean to connect
me directly or indirectly with what was
known as the Ku-Klux klan. Requesting
an early reply to me, in care OF Augustus
Schell, Esq, New York,
lam very respectfully your obedient
servant, WADE HAMPTON.
| Secretary sherman's Reply
WAsHINGToS, ID. c., Sept. u, 1880.
Hon. UaIe Hampton. care Of augustus
Scheu, Esq, Ner York:
| SIR-Your note of the 18th inst, is
| received, in which you inquire whether
ut the conference hel ii by the National
Republican Committee at the Fifth
Avenue Hotel, in New York, | used
| language attributed to me as follows:
"And YOU are asked 10 surrender all
YOU have done into the hands of Wade
Hampton, and the kuklux and little
segment in the North that is called the
Democratic party"
In reply | have to advise you that
while | don't remember the precise
language, presume the reporter cor
rectly stated, in a condensed way, his
idea of what | said. |, do doubt, spoke
OF you as the leading representative ot
the Democratic party in the South, and
referred to the KuKlux klan as arep-
resentative of the birbarous sgencies by
which the Democrats have subverted
the civil and political rights OF the Re-
publicans of the South. / did not con-
meet yIu personally with the kuklux
Klan. Indeed, | know that YOU had, in
one or two important instances, resisted
and defeated It's worst impulses.
appreciate the sense oi honor which
makes you shrink from being named IN
connection with il. Still you and your
associates, leading men in the South,
now enjoy the benefits oil political pow
er derived from the atrocities Of the
Ku-Klux klan, in which phrase | in
clude all the numerous aliases by which
il has from time to time been known in
the South Your power in the South
ern States rests on actual crimes oil every
grade in the code OF crimes. from muir
der TO the meanest form Of ballot box
stuffing, committed by the ku-kiux
Klan and its kindred associations and, as
you know, some Of the worst OF them
were committed since 1877, when you
and they gave the most solemn assur-
ances Of protection to the freedom OF
the South. These crimes are all
aimed at the civil ami political rights OF
Republicans in the South, and, as be-
lieve, but for these agencies, the very
State you represent, as well as many
other States in the South, would be rep
resented both in the Senate and House
by Republicans; but ior those crimes the
boast attributed to you that l3S solid
Southern votes would he cast for the
Democratic ticket would be but idle va
poriny. But now we feel that 1t is
sober truth.
While | have no reason to believe
that YOU or your Northern associates
personally participated IN the otienses
| have named, vet, while you and they
enioy the fruits Of those crimes, you
NAV in logic and morals be classed
as / classed you, rs joint co-partners
with the Ku-Klux klan In the policy
which. thus far, has been successful IN
seizing political power in the South,
aud which, it is hoped by small seq
ment of the democratic party IN the
North, nav be extended to all depart
ments OF the Government. 1t IS in this
sense that spoke OF you, the ku klux
Klan AMI the Northern Democratic
party.
Permit me in conclusion, while frankly
answering your question, to say that the
most fatal policy for the South wonld
be bv such agencies as have mentioned,
tn secure again political ascendancy IN
this country; for | assure !on tnat the
manhood and independence OF the
North will certainly continue
the struggle until every Rerubhcan
in the South shall have full and unre,
strained enjoyment OF equal, civil ana
political privileges, including q fair vote,
a fair count, free speech and agitation
made necessary 10 secure such results
as NAV greatly affect injuriously the H.
teres,s OF the people OF the South. Very
respectfully your obedient servant,
john SHERMAN.
Senator Hsmpton's Response
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va, October |.
SIR:-Your letter has been received,
and as you do not disclaim the language
to which called your attention, l have
only 10 say that in using 1t you uttered
what was absolutely false aud what you
knew to be false. Nv address Will b.
Columbia, South Carolina. l am very
respectfully your obedient servant
WADE HAMPTON.
To Hon. John Sherman.
sherman Again.
Treasury DEPARTMENT,
WASHINGTON, October Is, 1850.
Hon. Wade Hda,pton, Columbia, s. C.: .
Ihays to acknowl edge the receipt o!
your note of the lst inst, h: :nded TO
me unopened by Mr.. G. Mckinley, 3
few minutes ago, after nv return from
the West. / had this morning read
what purported to Re an extract OF a
speech made by you, published In the
Charleston Ntars and Courier, and upon
your general reputation as a gentleman,
had denied tha, you had made such q
speech or written such letter as attrlb'
uted TO you in that paper
What l stated to YOU in my
letter Of September lst, | believe to be
true, Notwithstanding your denial and
il can 6e shown to be true bv the puo-
lie records and as matter OF history.
AS you had, long before your letter WAS
delivered to me, seen proper to make
public statement OF your views oil tue
correspondence, l will give It to the
press without note and comment, and
let the public decide between US.
Very respectfully,
JOHN SHERMAN.
CNote.-Wade Hampton's reference
to the correspondence was republished
in the New York Tribune OF October
10Th and taken from the Charleston
Ntlrs and Courier.