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

The Elitor 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 appreciativa
tribute to Gen Lee by Mr. Hauoke,
wbloh l have read with intsres. and
pleasure, but the writer has fallen into
aD error whioh am sble to correct 90
the authority of Gen Lee himself Mr.
Hanckel intimates that Gen Lee felt
embarrassed in determining the course
be would take wbeo the War Between
the States took place, but 10 this be ia
mistaken. He did not hesitate for a
moment, and. while. like many of Us
Who followed him he doubtless regretted
the var, aud doubted the wisdom Of il.
be felt that bis duty demanded that be
should give bis service to bis native
State. sod be never for ooe moment
regretted that be had followed the
dictstes OF duty. lie ooce said that
Duty was The sublimest word 10 on
language. and IL there ever was . man
whose every action was prompted by q
sense of duty be surely was that man.
Some time after the close of the war.
| bad the pleasure Of spending several
days with the general At bis home, 10
Lexington. and once while discussing
the war be ssid: Il did only what nv
duty demanded. I could have taken
90 other course without dishouor, aud
it it was all to do over I should 40,
precisely ss I did,"
It was bis Intention to write a bis
tory OF the var, but unfortunately for
the South. and for the truth of history,
death cut short bis 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 we're shown in the Cooven
tion Of 1787, and be then went 90 to
say THAT those differences 10 1861
eliminated 10 blood, but not 10 trea
son." II there was any "tressou"
pertaining to the war it surely was no,
90 tbe part of Gen Lee or Of the
South.
Wade Hampton
Columbia, s. c., November / ,
1900
There has been q good deal of dis.
cussioo about the Hall of fame. vhich
it is proposed to establish at the Colum.
bis University 10 New York. and the
"great" weo whose names bave been
selected for advertise ment there do not
represest the total output of our
abouodiog country. Why some Of
them we're gssested for this bonor. We
are unable to explain-tbers are so
macy others who have accom- plished
more than they, 10 art snd Industry. 10
var and peace. 10 Law and politics, 10
administration and eoverpmsot. Iu
our opinion. Robert e. Lee should not
have been included in auy douhtfai
catalogue Of greatness
The malevoleuce with which be and
his oooduot hes been diseased 10 tho
Northeru papers. aod particularly 10
the New York Sun, makes Geo Hsmp.
tons statement touching tho motiyss
which controlled Lees action very per.
.iueut to The p.s.eot ea:reussioo No
honest man doubts the houes'y Of
Robert E Lee. No siucere mao auss
tioos tho high sense Of duly BY which
oil bic conduct wss governed No
pstriotic mao withbolds bis approval
OF Lees decision 20 to where bis slls
eispoe wss due 10 the struggle for
Southern Independence. Il did "ouly
what my duty demanded" be said to
Gen Hsmptou II could have taken
900 other course With disbouor srd
cit it VAS ell to do over, I "sbouid act
precisely as I did," Thauk God for
that There can be 90 forther
doubt. even smoog tho revilers Of the
Southern people. and the trimmers, Of
where Lse stood 10 bis relation to his
State sod people. and to the immortal
cause which hs represented -News and
Courier.