The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1902-05-15

! liccr. lie answered in characteristi
Il tersc manner: Well, ITampton's
o gentleman, and if you arc taken al
. get to him he'll discharge you, but Jt
0 (StuarD wants you damn bad" Seve
clClzens had been arrested and wei
s. taken to Libby, one of whom died b
8 fore his release. l asked Logan VIII;
nc thought it best that should do,
, which he answcrcd: eco out to yo,
, nome. We're in a holl of hurry an
you probably won't be disturbed, b,
II you are taken I'll put you ont tt
morrow night" If had been take
ne would have fulfilled his promise
even at the peril of his life. went l.
my home on farm some distance out
side the town, and found my ten horse
had already been conscriptcd into tn
Confederate army. l was not dis
turbed, and thus escaped an unpleasant
journey to Libby prison and the ncccs
slty OF an appeal to Gen. Hampton 70
my discharge.
| SUBSEQUENT MEETINGS..
did not again meet Hampton unit
after his election to the Governship II
III 1876. AT our first meeting we hat
a pleasant evening, recalling the in
| terestlng incidents of the Chambers
burg raid. From then until the last
few years | met him many times in
Washington and was always delighted
TO enjoy his genial and kindly com.
panionship. He had been a canddat,
Tor Governor Immediately after the
war and before the Congressional re.
construction of the South, but vas dc.
fcatcd by Governor Orr. In 1876
when the people were goaded TO des.
peration by the licentious carpet-bag
rule Of the State, Hampton was forced
into the campaign for Governor against
Governor Chamberlain, who was great
ly the best of all the carpet -baggers of
the STAT, and who would have made
reputable Republican government had
it been possible. The contest was one
Of III usual desperation, but with all
The power and machinery in the hands
OF the State authorities, sustained by
the army and by a State constabulary
that pcrmeatcd every precinct, Hamp-
ton was elected by ,l3I majority. a
State return board III South Carolina
had the authority to revise the returns
and it bodily threw out the counties of
Edgelield and l.aurcns, the first of
which gave 5000 Democratic majority
and the second LOO, by which it re-
turned majority for Chamberlain of
3,433. The Senators and Representa-
tivcs elected OH the Democratic ticket
IN those counties were refused admis-
sion to their seats and the result was
the organization OF two Legislatures
and the inauguration Of two Cover
nOrs.
Chamberlain had the advantage Of
being IN possession, and doubt wheth-
cr Hampton rendered more heroic
service III the lame of battle than he
did in restraining his friends from re-
sorting to violence, when the election
fraud was perpetratcd, and driving the
corrupt carpct-baggers from the State ;
but he held his people steadily to law
and order, feeling assured that in time
the right would triumph President
IIayes's assurance had been given that
the Democratic State officers of Louis
lana, Florida and South Carolina would
be gwen their places, as they were un-
doubtcdly elected, and after several
conferences between both the disput-
ing parties and the President, notice
was finally given that the Federal IL oops
would be withdrawn from Columbia,
and that at once ended the contest
Chamberlain quietly gave up the Office
of Governor, and the Democratic State
and Legislative officers were admitted
to their seats without further dispute.
Having assured honest government in
his State, his friends naturally desired
to confer upon him the highest honors
within their gift, and he was soon there.
after chosen United States Senator
practically without a contest, and at
the end of his first term was reelected
III like manner.
HAMPTON IN THE SENATE.
Dunng his twelve years. service il
the Senate he was always one of tht
most cOnscrt ative and patriotic o
| Southern lawmakers. He exhausted
his efforts to suppress sectional strife
! Not only by example, but by every dc
hverancc he ever made, he pleaded 70
the suppression of sectional bitterness
and the restoration of fratcrnal rcla
tions between the North and the Soutl,
He was one of the most delightful O
all the Senators to meet IN social inter
course, and his magnificent physique
soldierly bearing and honest face con
mandcd the admiration Of all who cam
I within the range of his acquaintance
At the end of his twelve years. scrvic
in the Senate he was overwhelmed b
the agrarian Popullst element tha
swept the South. lie could have n
sympathy with those who would destro
the Government credit that is the lif
of the Republic, and he had none {
the arts of the dcmagoguc to pacif
the masses BY promising them imposs
bilitics. He could have retained hi
position IN the Senate until his deaf
if he had joined in the tempest of pas
sion, but he was honest in all thing.
and he bowed to it, prclcrring to mali
tain his convictions, his integrity an
his patriotic manhood to continuanc
in Office. President Cleveland II
cognzcd Ilampton's claim upon u,
country by appointing him as commi