The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1884-06-26
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LETTER FROM SENATOR
HAMPTON.
Abbbvillc Press und Banner.

Ny Dear olr-N lille feel per
fectly assured that you would
not Intentionally do me an injustice
| think that the following extract
from your paper places me in a
false position, and l appeal to
your courtesy to allow me to show
wherein you are mist Ken. You
say that this people are going to
be freed from the most damnable
burden which was ever inflicted on
any people which claimed to be
free. We do not blame Hampton
for saddling this insufferable bur-
den upon us. We and this people
are ready to excuse him for it. He
did, as we believe, what he thought
at the time was best for us, but
Hampton can never again have the
following which he once had, if he
at this late day,and with the exper-
ience OF so many years before US,
attempts in Washington to rivet
these calling chains upon a people
who have loved him so well, who
have trusted him with such implicit
confidence
Now, l confess that | am at a
loss 10 know what "galling chains
| have been attempting "to rivet
upon the people whom l have
loved so we'll. and who have treated
me with such ''implicit confidence" :"
and I am equally in the dark as to
the character of the "insufferable
burden have saddled upon that
people. | suppose that you allude
to the constitutional amendment
levying a tax of two mills for ed
ucational purposes, adopted by the
people in 1876. If this supposition
is right, how can | be held more
accountable for the adoption of that
amendment than any other citizen
who voted for it? If my recollection
serves me right, there was an a.
most unanimous vote given then
in favor of this amendment, and
without knowing the fact, l think
it highly probable that you voted
for it yourself. My agency
then in saddling this insuferable
burden upon the people consisted
only in voting with the vast majori-
ty of that people for the adoption
of the amendment of the constitu-
ton you denounce in such harsh
terms. That l voted for it l ac-
knowledge freely. l thought it
was wise, polite, proper and hu-
name. l have seen no cause to
make me regret the vote l then
gave, and | should now deplore any
action looking to q repeal of this
constitutional amendment.
In the great canvass of 1876,
when our people rescued the State
from ruin, I pledged myself to do
all in my power to place the means
of education freely within the reach
of every child in the State. l was
but the exponent of the declared
purpose of the party which had
done me the honor to choose me as
their leader, l stand now where 1
did then, for believe firmly that
we shall never have wide spread
and enduring prosperity in our
State until the dark cloud of litter
acy which casts it's baneful shadow
over our land is dispelled by the
diffusion of education among all
classes of our people. Such is my
firm conviction, and feeling this, |
shal! as long as ! am honored with
q public trust by the people of
South Carolina, advocate warmly
every measure that promises to
give the blessings acknowledge to
all parties and all races on our soil.
In this view, | think that l am
oustained by the best elements in
Isur State; but if am mistaken
am willing at any moment to give
place to any one who will represent
more truly the sentiment of our
people. Under no possible circum.
stances, could | for one moment
consent to misrepresent q people
who have indeed "me with such i'm
plicit confidence" q confidence,
which it has been my highest ambi-
ton 10 deserve.
One other charge-or rather in
timation-which you make against
meis that l am attempting to- 'rivet
CALLING chains" upon our people
but you do not say how l am max
ing this attempt l suppose, how
ever, that you have reference to
my support of the Educational
Bill which has just passed the Sen
ate. If such is the case, you surely
could not have read that bill, for
there is nothing in it that imposes
or rivets chains upon any State
or any people. No State need
accept one dollar under its pro7is-
ions unless it chooses to do SO, and
no State accepting it's benefits is
placed in any wise under Federal
supervision. What danger then can
attend the bill? 1t may be said that
there is one Objectionable feature
in this bil!-the one requiring a
certificate from the Governor of the
State as to the distribution of the
funds proposed-and l agree to this
proposition. But if you will look