The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1897-11-16
ABOUT WADE HAMPTON.
The Gallant General Was Popular
Wt,h the Senator'S

|
"Savoyard," in the Louisville
Courier-Journal, says that there il
nice little story, altogether pro
babe, that Ex-senator Edmunds
asked the President to retain Gen.
Hampton. There is also nice little
story, altogether improbable, that
Secretary Sherman joined in the re-
quest, FOR John Sherman has always
| held every man as an enemy who was
at feud with Gen. Sherman, and he
has not forgotten the fierce quarrel
between Hampton ar Gen. Sherman,
growing out of the burning of Co.
| lumbia, S. O.
The fellowship OF the United States
Senate is beautiful to behold. After
Thurman left, Edmunds took up with
Hamilton and they were almost as
thick AS Beck and Allison. Tney have
the strongest friendships in the Senate
Tor example, Conkling, a Republi-
can from New York. was the bosom
crony OF Eaton, a Democrat from Con-
necticut. Harris aud Ingalls, were
cronies, and strangest Of all, Bill
Chandler Is about to give Cabot Lodge
the sack and take up with Ben Till
man. Little Wilson, OF Washington,
and Paeco, OF Florida, are as thick as
Brindle and Cherry are when going
from the pasture to tho cuppen.
There is no such fellowship in Eng
land. When Pitt and Fox could not
agree on the combination against the
ministry Of Lord North the two never
again met under the same roof except
In the House of Commons, where they
were leaders OF their respective parties
Fox disagreed over the French revolu-
tlon they never again exchanged
greetings 1t is doubtful if Lord Sails.
bury was ever under the roof OF q
Liberal. We ord, r such things diff
ferent and better on our side. Blaine
mum oered his warmest friends on the
Democratic side. Mckinley is the
devoted personal friend OF Mile.
Young Mr.. Bailey is pet of Tom Reed
And SO 1t goes, for these are but very
few OF the scores OF examples that
could be cited.
Wade Hampton was general
favorite In the Senate. When he was
present no other Senator would pre-.
anme to perform on the cbating dish
Even Reverdy johnson would have &C
knowledged him his master, as Eugene
Hale did so recognize him. Matt Q Jay
declared he never knew what brook
trout fishing was until he took a whirl
with Hampton in Western North Caro-
INA and East Tennessee, and to this
day Quay swears no other man born of
woman knows how to cook mountain
trout. 1t is something like this: Catch
| your trout, dress him instanter, wrap
him 10 the green shuck from which u
roasting ear has been that moment
taken and roast him in the fire like an
| ash cake. There Is dressing of
bacon, butter, pepper and salt; but
only Hampton ever got the exact
quantities.
Such man was bound to be popular
In the Senate, and, besides, he was the
most courtly, princely gentleman OF
the lot. Nothing and nobody could
swerve him from what he considered
his duty. For example, not even i'm.
perious Ben Hill could induce him to
vote to give Spofford Kellogg's scat as
Senator from Louisiana, and he detied
the revolutionary government set uE
by Ben Tillman In South Carolina
though he knew it would cost him his
seat In the Senate. He was "gold
bug" from the beginning. l believe
he even voted against the Stanley
Mathews resolutions.
One day, in 1880, Senator Hampton
was going on his crutches from the
Senate chamber to the House OF Re
|
big rOtunda he met very large man
also on crutches. He was memb Der o
Congress from Illinois, Republican
whose name | can not now recall
Hampton stopped him aud kindl,
asked his name, and how he had re
ceived his injury. After giving hi
name, the Congressman said amputa
tion was necessary by reason OF sho
, he had received in a fight with Hamp
, tons cavalry. te did not dream h
, was talking to Wade Hampton himsel
II am Wade Hampton" said tn
| Senator, IF you have the leisure
, please sit down and let us talk" HamI
ton had lost his leg after the wal
I when thrown from mule while dee
| hunting The amputation was ident
h cal with that OF the Congressman, an
y they fell a-talking. Up to that tim
d neither had found cork leg he coul
wear, and they discussed cork legs fc
@ a great while They parted, afte
4 mutual professions OF esteem. Th
/ next morning 1 heard the Congress
d man tell the story In the committe
q room, and there never was man WI
d had higher regard for Wade Ham
"a ton than he had. / believe Hamptt
d later found leg he could wear.