The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1894-05-29
JAMES III.

&
JAMES III. HAMMOND.
A Sketch of the Statesman, Patriot,
Planter and Gentleman.
The following sketch of Governor
Hammond was read not long ago he
fore the literary society of the Bam-
berg graded school by one of the pu-
pills, n deserves to receive a wider
reading among the present generation,
who know very little of the man who
once filed SO large q place in the eye
OF South C~arolinians. Graded schools
are doing much to develop u knowledge
Of local history. and in this instance
there Is an excellent example of the
work being done in this direction:
Mr.. James H. Hammond was born in
the district of Newberry, S. c., on the
10Th day Of November, 1907. In 1923
he entered the junior class of the South
Carolina College, and two years later
graduated in a class of distinguished
merit. Mr.. Hammond then adopted
the profession of law and was admitted
entered upon a large and successful
practice.
In 1880, in addition to his professional
duties, he undertook to edit a paper
known as 1.-The Southern Times" and
during a period of intense excitement
conducted the paper with marked
ability. Mr.. Hammond early imbibed
the doctrine Of the absolute and indivi-
sible sovereignty Of every State. With
these doctrines he entered upon his
public career, and stood by them with
u~nwavering conviction and untiinching
fidelity to the last moment of his life.
In 1881 MI. Hammond married q
Miss Fitzsimmons, OF Columbia. He
then settled at Silver Bluff, on the
Savannah river, near Allendale, and
entered upon agricultural pursuits but
did not neglect public affairs. He took
organizing the forces with which South
Carolina was preparing to meet the
impending conflict with the Federal
government.
He was elected to Congress in 1884,
and in a vigorous speech during his
first session pointed out the abolition
movement, which from a single society
OF eleven persons in New England in
1882 had grown to have a membership
OF one hundred thousand, who were
flooding the mails with abolition docu-
ments and besieging. Congress with
petitions for the abolition Of slavery.
Mr.. Hammond demanded the rejec-
ton OF these petitions. He declared
that the result of continued attacks on
the institution of slavery would be a
dissolution of the Union. About this
time that great struggle began which
was carried on for 80 years and resulted
in the overthrow of the Confederate
government.
Before the expiration of his term OF
Office, Mr.. Hammond's health, which
had never. been robust, failed COM
pletely and forced him to resign. He
vent to Europe and travelled for about
two years, returning only partially re-
stored. The next few years were di-
vided between a search for health and
attention to private business.
In lS42 he was elected Governor. 1t
was under his administration that the
arsenals at Columbia and Charleston
were converted into military academ-
les on the plan of West Point. At the
expiration OF his term of office, Mr..
Hammond returned to planting pur-
suits with renewed ardor. For several
years his efforts in this direction were
confined to clearing new lands and to
such experiments and improvements
as would occur naturally to the mind of
an active and Intelligent planter.
The most remarkable of Mr.. Ham
mond's experiments was the clearing
OF fifteen hundred acres of Savannah
river swamp. This land was q WORTH
less bog which he brought up by drain
age and careful cultivation to @ high
state OF culture, and in q few years
alter he cleared this swamp, he made
t~hirty-ive thousand bushels Of corn on
the fifteen hundred acres in one wear.
IT must not be supposed that this
work was done mainly through the
agency OF others, as was too often the
custom of large planters in the South.
Mr.. Hammond mounted his horse every
morning and often at dawn he was MAX
ing the surveys and laying off the par
ailels for the ditches. His y super
viscd every importantapiece of work
n his brain planned and directed
every movement.
1t n 0iso be said that no planter
was over moro devoted to the health
and comfort Of his slaves. He was firm
in his discipline, requiring full work
but not too much Of it. He was ALWAYS
Just and kind, and did not entrust his
ave to the care of others, but daily |
ATTENDED the hospitals and smoothed
fevered brow.
Although Mr.. Hammond did nothsye
ms lame upon any church roll he was
Nv IoWeFu I'LL FellRlOuS enter |
BE contributed q magnificent
stained glass window to the Episcopal
church at Barnwell, which stands the re
today. He also built q church which
for his slaves and was included In
the Methodist circuit.
Although he was busy on his farm
his pen was never idle. Article after
article flowed from his fluent pen and
made millions think. In 1860 Mr.. Ham
mond attended tho Southern State
held In June at Nashville.
and took q prominent part in
debates. For personal reasons he
11d not return to the second meeting.
He went to Charleston In November
upon an invitation of the City Council
and delivered an grafton on the life and
character of John G. Calhoun. By
many this is considered the best effort
,f his life. Failing health did not per.
nit Mr.. Hammond to take any active
part In u great struggle, but what
could do he did. He sold all thai
40 could sell and placed the proceeds
Confederate bonds. After HIS health
allied, and when he was no longer
lble to work for his country's good, his
seemed to be directed to
welfare OF his country.