The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1898-01-11

army as worthy OF imitation unde
similar circumstances. Brig. Gen. Ha
good is brave and meritorious Office
who has distinguished himself alread
at Battery Wagner and Drury's Blu
and participated actively in the battl
Of Ware, Bottoms Church, Cold Hal
Dor and Petersburg, June l6 and II
1864, and J respectfully recommen
him for promotion at the earliest or
pOrtunity."
Shortly before Christmas, 1861, Ger
Hagood was ordered to reinforce tn
troops in North Carolina and was en-
gagged in the operations around Will
mington and afterwards in Gen. Hoke'
division at the battles OF Kingston aut
Bentonville. Retiring before over
whelming numbers, Ger. Hagood'
command surrendered with Gen. John
ston at Greensboro, N. 9.
His brigade entered the war ,50t
strong; at its conclusion oniy I99 vet
Grams remained Of that gallant band
including himself and his staff At the
termination Of hostilities Gen. HagooG
returned to active supervision of his
planting interests.
But he was not long permitted to de-
vote his entire time and attention tC
his private affairs. In 1871 the burden
OF taxation under a pronigate carpet
bag rule in South Carolina having be-
como well-nigh intolerable, Gen. Ha.
good became delegate to the State
taxpayers convention held at Co!um-
bia and composed Of the most iutelli-
| gent and responsible men in tho State.
The convention was called to consider
the enormous and increasing State debt
and to ascertain if possible its actual
amount and what portion OF it had
been legally contracted. A false state.
ment Of the States liabilities was
placed before them by Gov. II. *. Scott
and the State officers, and false set
OF books were produced. The history
of the work Of this convention looking
to the final reputation of good pro-
portion OF the fraudulent public deb.
Is familiar to many. Gen. Hagood was
the chairman OF the committee that
made the investigation, being APP
pointed to that position on February 20,
1871.
In 1876 Gen. Hagood was nominated
on the Democratic ticket for comptrol-
Ter general and by his patient, prudent
and courageous course during the ex-
citing campaign that followed contrib
uted largely to secure the great moral
triumph of law and order and the down
fall OF the corrupt radical rule in the
old Palmetto State.
His management as county chairman
OF the campaign in Barnweil was per-
fect in It's organization and such as to
gain the confidence OF all moderate Re-
publicans as we'll as Democrats. The
colored voters Hooked in largo numbe
to the Democratic standard and Joined
the Democratic clubs, and although
hitherto there had been Republican
majority OF 800, almost wholly colored,
the county was carried by majority
OF more than 100 for the Democratic
ticket. More than 1000 mounted men
in red shirts escorted Gen. Hampton
through Barnwell County, camping
from time to time at various points
where he stopped to speak and the
enthusiasm of all classes was uneXam-
pied.
During the Ellenton riots, Gen. Ha-
good was placed by the Republican
Judge Wiggins, in command of an
armed posse to rcpro SIS the disturbance
And during the uncertain and perilous
time between the election in November,
1876, and the recognition Of the Hamp-
ton government by President Hayes,
when any moment might have precip-
itated a collision betw cen the rival par.
ties, Governor Hampton called only two
Gen. HagOod and Attorney General
James Conner. Acting in entire accord
with Gen. Hampton they were both an
advisory council and his executive Of
icers during the existence of the dual
governments. 1t was largely through
the influence Of Governor Hagood that
over q thousand OF the negroes in the
county at the time united in the vol
untary contribution by the citizens of
the State of one-tenth of the taxes they
had paid the previous year to the sup
port of the Hampton government be-
fore it had been formally recognized
by President Hayes. n May, 1877, he
formally took possession OF his Office in
the State capital and at once entered
upon the duties thereof. He applied
himself to the task o. thoroughly or
ganizing and systematZing his depart
ment, which task he successfully ac-
complished
At the regular election in 1878, his
admirable conduct OF the Office was
recognized and rewatded by re-elec-
tion and he continl ed in this Office
another two years, OnlY to be still
more honored by tho people, who, in
1880, elected him governor of the
State.
His inaugural address, was an able
paper 1T was characteristic OF the man.
Brief, practical, suggestive, it dis
carded generalities and dealing with
the matter in hand set forth succinctly
the present condition OF the State,
marked the Improvements which had
followed the restoration OF honest gov
ernment in 1877 aid indicated in what
direction, in his opinion. further pro.
gress could be made. He contrasted
the then conditions with those OF the
period of riOtous misrule that preceded.
In concluding his address he said /:
But the political quality OF all men In
South Carolina la now as fixed feat
ure of her policy rs is the Blue RIDGE
in her geography 1t can neither be
suppressed nor etaded. The solution
of the problem lequires the wisest
thought, the graPst counsel. 1t seems
to me that see II 1T tirmness, mOdera-
tiOn, Justice. Ley these characterize
every act of legis htion. 1t is my duty
as governor to Ia Ye care that the laws
are faithfully executed In mercy. | re-
peat the pledge Made before my cleo
tion-that In the discharge of this high
trust | shall knOF neither white man
nor colored mani but only citizens OF
South Carolina }ike amenable to her
laws and entitlc{ to their protection"
Gov. Hagood' administration upon
, these lines was success. Nothwith-
standing his exFessed desire to retire
, at the end OF bj term, the disposition
OF the people of the State was strong
, for his reelectid as their chief execu.
, tive, and 1t wal upon his declaration
Al 4. 4 f..