The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1882-06-22

He Declines to become "a Candidate Tor
Governor and Urges Unity Among the
White People.

WAsHIN':TON, June IL, l882.-Sever-
al friends have written to me urging that
! should become candidate for Cover
nor, and to those have privately given
my reason why could not do so but as
the press Of the State has in various
quarters broached this matter, deem it
proper that my views should be made
known to the people SO that there may
be no misunderstanding of my position.
| 1t is not necessary for me, | trust, to
say that / would willingly make any
personal sacrifice for the benefit of the
State. or That my services can always be
commanded by my fellow'citizens should
nm emergency arise demanding them.
But in my judgment no such emergency
now exists, and apart from this there are
many other cogcnt reasons why should
| not enter the contest for the Office. In
the first place several gentlemen Of high
character, uhquestioned ability and large
experience, personal friends OF mine,
have been suggested for this honorable
he selected who can fill the place with
honor to the State and to himself. I'm.
der no circumstances would antagonize
these friends, and this reason is OF itself
sufficient to control my action in this
matter. Bnt there are many other rea-
sons Of great force which influence ne.
] am anxious to withdraw from public
life at the earliest practicable and proper
moment, and | am therefore unwilling
to enter upon new duties, or to assume
new responsibilities.
1t was only in response to villa, re-
gardcd as an imperative demand Of the
people Of my State that consented to
be their standard bearer in 1876 obe-
dcncc to the popular will has kept me in
public life from that time to the present,
but do not conceive that there .-;ll be
any necessity for my continuance in it
much longer; certainly there can be
none for my seeking place which can
be worthily filled by any gentleman who
may be nominated by our Convention.
| beg therefore that may not in any
way be considered as a possible cundi-
date. ! am profoundly grateful for the
unvarying Kindness Of my felow.citi
and in SO many ways, and if thcif kind
feelings still continue these can be shown
in no manner more gratifying TO me than
by allowing me to seek the quiet and The
repose of private life, for ! assure them
that shall lay down the responsibilities
and the honors they have bestowed upon
me with far greater satisfaction than
assumed them.
But while I cannot enter the field as n
candidate, shall cheerfully do all in my
power in behalf Of the nominees Of our
party if the Convention gives us good
men and n good platform. Every true
man in the State should feel impellcd by
the highest sense Of duty to do this, if
we hope to preserve tho inestimable
blessings secured to the State by tho
heroic efforts Of the people in 1876. The
perils that surround US now are nearly
if not quite as great rs they were then,
and the incentives to united action are
just is urgent. 1t is only by keeping
our ranks unbroken that we can main
tain home rule and honest government,
and it is dsheartening to feel that our
present dangers spring not from tho
strength of our opponents but from
among ourselves.
u If mistakes have been committed by
!. the representatives. Of our party, the
people hold in their own hands the abso-
lutte power to remedy whatever evil has
been done. No error that has been COM
mitted by their party can justify any
man who has the interest of the State at
heart in deserving its ranks, for all need
full reform can be had within its organi-
zation. / regret therefore beyond ex-
preston TO see dissatis faction in any
quarter, because of opposition to some OF
the measures adopted Mt the late session
of the Legislature. Without rejecting
in the slightest degree upon either the
wisdom or the patriotism Of that body,
think that their action in regard to the
Registration law and the Stock law was
unfortunate, but my opposition to these
laws is no reason why should desert the
only party that has given honest and
!, good government to the State since the
, war. My conception of Democracy is
that the majority should rule, and those
who oppose tho measures mentioned will
the next election ON which side the ma
jority stands. Should it bo the popular
will that these laws should be repealed
or modified, the next Legislature can
take action in that direction. We may
rest assured that no redress Of any evil
can bo had by the restoration Of Radical
rule, and in the present condition of
races and pa.ties in the State an Inde-
pendent is, if possible, worse than n Rad
ical, for he is an enemy "who steals the
livery OF Heaven to serve the Devil in.''
In the great fight we are making to pre-
servo the civilization of our State, he
who Is not with us Is against US, and no
specious pretence Of love for the "dear
people" can hide the cloven foot.
Let me therefore, rs one who has had
every political aspiration more than graf
ifed, and who seeks nothing save the
prosperity and welfare of his State, urge
our people most earnestly to stand firm
and keep united. Let every lover Of his
State register Mt once and be ready to
vote. Let us nominate our best men for
all The offices. Let us adopt and carry
out in good faith tie principles which
gave us Success in '76, and we shall again
be successful. venture to offer this ad-
vice to my fellow. citizens because of the
trust and confidence with which they
have honored me because of my anx-
iOus solicitudo for the preservation OF
good government because my public
career is drawing to close, and above
all, because / do not wish to see the great
principles and the grand cause for which
brave men struggled so zealously and de.
voted women prayed so earnestly in '76
lost by apathy, Indifference or treachery
in 'S2-or ever.
l am, very respectfully,
WADE HAMPTON.