The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1890-10-31
Hampton On Haskell.

Columbia, Oct. 24.-Seuator Hampton has
addressed the following letter to Col. j. l..
Nj. Irby. 1t will not satisfy extremists on
either side, perhaps, but it will meet the
appreciation of all other citizens:
Columbia, S. c., Oct. %. 1890.
-AS-a-+-I-As-l-h.--- .---h., -u.~- Ga .-Wl>A.-
| wrote personal note to you recently my
intention was TO remain silent until l could
give my views to you more fully than was
then done, but since my return home so
many friends have asked Of me an express
sion of opinion OH the condition of political
affairs that gave b. icf statement to the
press n few days since. This, perhaps,
renders it unnecessary for me u address
you again hut as various communications
and invitations to speak at public meetings
have reached me take this method of max
ing my views known TO those who have done
me the honor to ask for them.
Another reas that induces me to take
this course is the fact that my position
regarding political matters here and my
c. 'nduct have been grossly misrepresent ID
in some querters, aud l desire that my
fellow citizens may be fully informed as t,
both, so that they may judge ar;ght.
When my old constituents of this county,
WHO had so often trusted and honored me
in the past, invited me to nddaes, them in
June last, i came, having but one object
in view, and that was to appeal to our people
for harmnny, fur ao.oilistfou, -f5r naiiy iy-of
action. expressly dlscIaimed any inten-
tion Of interfering In any way. with the
canvass for Governor, and | neither adyo-
Gated any candidate, nor oppose any. I
said that the people were the sole and proper
judges in the selection of their officials, and
that from their verdict there should be no
appeal. In order that there might be q full
and free expression Of wishes as TO the
selection of candidates, ! urged that
primary should be held, and had this plan
been adopted the present deplorable oondi-
ton of affairs would not have existed. Other
counsels prevailed, aud the result is
divided party and bitter contest between
Democrats, all of whom should be united TO
maintain the supremacy of our party and
10 promote the welfarcof our State.
No enc deplOres the unhappy dissensious
In our party more than myself, and l would
willingly make any sacrifice to heal them
were it in my power to do so. But the
only remedy that can be applied must come
from conservatism and the patriotism of
the people themselves, and we can only
hope that by the exercise of these virtues
the dangers threating Us may be averted.
it was the CONVICTION CT MY inabiluy--to
reform our broken ranks now That Induced
me to decline to take part in any public dis
cussion on the hustings. My judgement is
clear that public meetings st this juncture
would be unwise; that lhcy would only
tend to widen the existing breach in our
party, and perhaps to make il irrcconcilable.
We want no futher excitement; we have
had already too much of that, and of
pcrnicious character the issues involved
are fully understood by the people, who arc
entirely competent to decide them.
But whilst shall not speak again in this
col I obo11 fha t,olot Il
by the convention in September but in do
ing this by no means endorse the grave
charges which have been made against the
democratic party of the State. Honesty
and integrity have marked every admins
triton which has governed the State since
1876, and we shall indeed be fortunate if
our officials in the future shall he as able,
as patriotic and as honest as they have been
in the last fourteen years.
am impelled to support the September
ticket because it was nominated by the
Democratic convention, and because the
other ticket lacks that eudQyaGur sre-
s6t though have the greatest resp ectrsf for. /.
the gentlemen composing it, and do not. /
for one moment, question the motives Of
Il ose who nominated it. For the gallant
and distinguished gentlemen who is at its
head i entertain the highest possible regard
and esteem. canuot forget his eminent
services to the State, in peace and in war
To him we were largely indebted for the
success which crowned our political efforts
in 1876 and there is no office in the gift of
the State for which would not earnestly
and cordially support him were he endorsed
by the recognized authority of the demo-
cratic party. All denunciation of him and
of those whom he represents is, in my
opinion, unworthy Of those who indulge in
it, and will only serve to prolong and embit-
ter the unfortunate strife which now divides
our party. No one who knows Colonel
Haskell can doubt his sincerity, his consci-
entiousness or his democracy. / certainly
do not; and while / think that he has made
n mistake in lending his name and his infiu-
ence 10 the movement inaugurated by his
friends, shall not denounce the man who
was my comrade in the war; who was one of
the ablest rnd bravest officers in my COM
mand, and who was my trusted friend and
adviser in '76.
do not venture TO offer advice to my
fellow citizens, for my last honest effort to
do so fell unheeded; but l do appeal to-
them, by the glorious memories of '7G, by
all our hopes for the enduring prosperity of
the State, to avoid all semblance Of violence
in the conduct CT the election. Any act of
that sort would not only tarnish the fair I
name of the State. but it would place in the |
hands of our political opponents the most |
powerful weapon to be used against us, and |
it would furnish the strongest argument for /
the enactment of the odious federal election
bill now pending before Congress.
Let every man who holds the honor of our /
State dear constitute himself special guar
dian Of the peace, aud let us prove to those
who traduce us that whatever difference |
may exist in our party we can settle them at |
the ballot box, without restoring to iniimidr.l
,a'sS ,s fsasS ssssi. ss E NJ s1slSsl
bitterness engendered By the ~ - - - - ~
,y strife has died out we shall see sRain z
united party and prosperous peoples re-
urn to the time
when none was for party,