The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1903-02-04

OuS"aA . dImy bhCkcu auu
burned Columbia. The march through
South and North Carolina, the battle
OF Averysboro, the early morning sur
PRISE and attack on Kilpatrick's camp,
where that daring officer escaped from
his camp in dishabille-the battle Of
BeDtonville and the end came. Gen.
Hampton had determined tc cross :hhe
Irans-Mississippi Department and
join the Confederate forces there. He
accordingly left Gen. Johneon's army
at Greensboro, before the final terms
OF capitulation were arranged. He,
however. changed his mind at Char.
iotte, N. c., and Returned to his desc
late home in Columbia, like SO many
thousands Of his comrades, pauper-
izea, but not dismayed, sustained by
the consciousness of his duty we'll per-
formed and proud of the great service
ne had rendered his country.
This ended his military career. It
was honorable, brilliant, successful.
Gen. Robert E. Lee trusted and con-
hded in him implicitly. He inspired
his soldiers with a confidence in his
leadership and respect for his person.
They were ready to follow him
blindly and unainchingly. No higher
test q be found of a commanding
officers ability. His bearing in camp
was quiet, dignificd, ssdate. Or the
battlefield superb. faultless. He began
life anew by d~evoting himself to the
pacihcation and rehabilitation of his
strlcken.State, was a delegate to the
National Democratic Convention that
nominated Seymour and Blair; also a
member Of the State Convention that
met in Columbia to ratify the nomina-
ton OF the national ticket.
Then came the horrors of recon-
struotion with it's deluge of crime and
debauchery by the white vampires,
foreign and domestic, who got control
Of the newly em~anoipated and enfran-
chised deluded negroes, and held high
carnival Of corruption and outrage for
eight long, weary, dismal years.
Gen. Hampton was o member of a
strong delegation SEM by Taxpayers
Convention to protest with the author
tiles in Washington against their sus-
tanning the enemies of law and order
and decency in South Carolina. The
remonstrance vas strongly but respect
fully presented, but the appeal vas
made to deaf and unsympathetic ears.
No relief was vouohsafed.
In 1876, when every to
secure peace and order was exhausted,
the white people of the State met in
convention at Columbia and nominated
Hampton for Governor.
1t is unnecessary for me to discuss
at length the events of that political
under Hampton's match
less leadership. Many Of you were
participants and bore conspicuous
parts in the redemption of your State.
In fact, it may safely be affirmed that
every white man, woman and child,
except the few ~time-servers and CO.
conspirators with the invading camp
followers, lined up behind Hampton
and drove the criminals from the tenn
pies they had desecrated. 1t is due
to the contingent of colored men who
took their lives in their hands and
contributed TO the triumph of intelli-
gence, Flaw and order to give them full
credit for their aid.
I cannot linger to relate in detail
the vents following the election.
The organization o. the two houses Of
the Legislature, the intensity of pub
lilo feeling, the strain ON the people,
the anxiety, the excitement, the I'M
certainty, the interference by Federal
troops. the final triumph Of the Wal
lace House, Hampton's Inauguration
q assumption OF the reins OF Gov
eminent.
Throughout that trying ordeal he
was calm, sedate, firm. counselling
patience and moderation, the central
figure of a great momentous political
%upheavel, skillfully guiding the move
ments of the excited multitude through
the storm of political end social re.
demption-he made a place in the
hearts of his countrymen more endur-
ing than any monument his grateful
and admiring countrymen and coun-
trywomen to erect to his memory.
He 30 administered the great Office
OF Governor IS to bring order out Of
chaos, inspire confidence among ell
the people, by honestly managing the
States finances, justly executing the