The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-11-21
Wade Hampton's Talk With
Lee.

The Eltor OF The News aod Courier
received the following letter from Wade
Hampton yesterday
Ny Dear Sir 10 The News aud
Courier of Nov 10 is 40 appreciasive
tribute to Gen Lee by hlr Harckei,
which I have read with interest," aod
pleasure, but the write. has fallen into
az error wbich AN able to correct co
The authority Of Gen Lee himself Mr.
Hsockel intima:es thai Gen Lee felt
embarrassed in determining the course
be would take when the Wa, Between
the States took place, but in this be is
mistaken He did not hesitate 70. a
moment, and, while, Ike many of US
who followed him he doubtless regretted
the var, and doubted The wisdom of it,
be felt that his duty demanded that be
should give his service to bis pa,ise
State, aod be never for one moment
regretted that be had followed the
dictates of duty. He once said that
Duty was The sublimest word 10 ou
language, aud il there ever was q mar
whose every action was prompted by
sense of duty he surely WAS that man.
Some time after the close of the war,
} I had the pleasure of spending several
days With The general a: his home, in
Lexington, and ouce while discussing
the war be said Il did only what my
duty demanded. coald have taken
90 other course without dishonor, and
if it was all to do over should act
precisely as / did,
It was bis Intention to write his
tory of the war, but unfortunately for
the South, and for the truth of history,
death cut short his work. But be had
commenced the work. in which be
began by speaking of the differences of
opinion as to the true construction of
the Constitution, and how those oppos
log views were shown in the Conven
,ion of 1887, and be then went 90 to
say That those differences iu 1861
culmina:ed in blood, out not IN trea
son." If there was aoy ",reason"
pertaining to the war it surely was 90;
90 the part of Gen Lee or of the
South.
Wade Hampton.
Columbia, S. c., November 12.
1900
There has been good deal Of dis
cuasioo abou: the Hall of fame. which
it is proposed to establish at the Colum-
ois University 10 New York. and the
"sreat" uen whose names bavo been
selected for dvcrtisement there do not
represent the total output of our
abouodiog country. Why some Of
them we're gszested for this bonor. we
are unable to explain-tbere are SO
macy others who have accomplished
more than they, in art and industry. 10
var and peace, in law and politics, 10
administration and government. ln
our opinion, Robert E. Lee sbonld not
have been included in any douhsfal
catalogue Of greatness
The malevolepce With which be and
bis couduc. has been DISCUSSED in the
Northern papers. and particularly 10
the New York Sun, makes Gen Hamp-
tons statement touching the motives
!! which controlled Lees action very per.
tioen. to the p.etent ee;;rcussion No
honest man doubts the honesty OF
Robert E Lee. No siuoere man qats
tions the bigb sense Of duty by which
all bis conduct Was governed No
patriotic mau al,bbolds bis approval
Of Less decision as to where bis alle
glance was due 10 the struggle for
Southern independence. Il did "ouly
what my duty demanded" be said to
Gen Hamptoo II could have taken
500 other course With disbonor ard
eff it was all to do over, "sbouId act
precisely as l did Thank God for
that There can be no fortber
doubt. even among the revilers of the
Southern people. and the trimmers, of
where Lee stood in his relation TO bis
State aod people. and to the immortal
cause which be represented News and
Courier.