Year: 1877

IN ILLINOIS.


CHICAGO, Sept. 13-The Inter Gceai:
| Rockford special says: Governor Wade
Hamptonspoke here to-day before the Win
nebago county fair. He began by saying
if any evidence We're needed to prove lis
high appreciation of the invitation ex-
tended him to speak, it would appear in
the fact that he had left his official duties
and travelled so far tc acknowledge the
honor. The warmth of his reception had
amply compensated him He alluded to
the fact that this society had been the
first among northern organizations that
inaugIIrated spirit of fraternity and rec
oReiliation, which was now bearing such
wholesome fruit, In its invitation TO JEFF
ferson Davis TO speak To them. He
deemed it his duty to thank them for
their spirit of patriotism. He would not
speak of merely agricultural topics in the
presence of the great topic which agitates
the whole country, but he should not Of
fend- 1tseemed important that the north
and sonth should understand each other.
Much of the evil that has befallen the
country sprang from misrepresentation of
motives | speak for no party, 20 sec
ton, but for the whole country, and shall
strive to sink every trace Of partisanship.


There is a profound truth and knowl-
edge OF human nature hid under that IA
bic told of the shield white on one side,
black on the other, and hung at the in
tersectlon of two roads in those DAYS
when knights errant went in quest Of ad-
venture or in search of some chosen dam
sell As the story goes, two knights ap-
preaching the shield in opposite direct
ions, after disputing about It's color, PIT
their lances in rest and periled life, each
to maintain his opinion. Something
of the same sort happened between the
south and the north. The constitution
represents the shield; viewed as it WAS
from different standpoints it had different
shades The dispute waxed warm the
sword Was called III to decide the vexed
question, and under its stern arbitrament
laany a soldier, as brave, as gallant, as
knightly as Bayard, gave his life for his
conviction


What might have been the result had
prudence aud not passion ruled, 1t is idle
to consider 1t was only natural that
temporary confusion should arise, but
that the pride of triumph on one side and
bitterness Of defeat on the other should
combine to keep the opposing sections of
the country apart, was deplorable, and
time with healing on its Wings, can bind
up the wounds of war. God himself,
speaking through the immutable laws of
nature, tells us it is orr duty to strive
earnestly and constantly to efI;.ce the dark
hlots wEick evil disaster may haze made
When the wild torrent hurls itself down
the mountain side, sweeping off all that
opposes II, and le1yizg IN its trace devas-
tation and ruin, nature, the bencticent
mother, with Il gentle and slow but sure
hand, clothes the hillside and valley with
her perpetual verdure and her smiling
flowers. As III the natural, so in the
whole universe, philosophy and religion
so hand III band, one teaching that mat
ter is indestructible, the other that lie is
immortal


The south has one need above all things,
peace, and to plead for peace | am here
to-day. | do not conceal the part taken
Icy mesin the late war, nor woald Your re-
spoct for me be increased Were to offer
any unmanly apology Up to the begin
ming of the contest used all my infiu-
ence to preserve the union and to avoid
var, but when that ealae | obeyed the
commands OF my state, as you did yours,
and fought you rs long and as hard as
could, but when, surrendered | did 50 IN
good faith, and from that day TO this |
challenge any one to show that the terms
of my parole have been violated, or that
any act of mine has been inconsistent
with my honor rs a soldier and my duty
rs citizen lon of the north followed
the dictates of your own conscienccs. We
Of the south did the same. Let us each
do justice each to the other, for without
material self-reSpaet there can be no per-
mment peace and no restored fraternity.
Can you doubt that the south seeks peace?
Look at her wasted fields, her ruined in
dustries, her fearful misrule, and you can
doubt no longer. Her worst enemies
have never charged her with hypocrisy or
insincerity.


Hampton referred to the position OF
the south during the trying times succeed
ing the last presidential election to the
attitude of southern congressman to her
law abiding disposition during the recent
riots and strikes, and alluded to the de-
plorable, devastating fratricidal war which
would have occurred had the nation be-
come involved in war over the contested
election, and said: These are evidences
OF good feeling at the south She wants
peace. We surrendered IN good faith
| pledged them to support the eonstitu-
ton of the United States and al Of its
amendments, and when took the official
oath as governor Of South Carolina, !
swore to uphold it, and so help me God |
intend to keep it. As Wellington said,
''it is the duty OF every Christian to obey
the Laws OF his country, right or wrong.


We propose TO obey the constitution, and
ask that its protection shall extend equal
ly TO South Carolina aid Massachusetts,,
to LouiSiana ard Illinois. come, then,
appealing FOR peace, because it is the high
est wisdom 10 restore peace.


Coy. WILLIAMS, Of Indianna, attending
II