Year: 1878

| On Friday night, at an enter


tainment given by the Washing


ton Light Infantry, Gov. Hamp-


ton, in response to a toast, made


the following remarks:


Ny friends Of the Washington
Light Infantry: This is the Sec
ond occasion to-day that 1 have


had the pleasure of meeting men
| who were my comrades during the
| war. | have seen the men of the
Washington Artillery and now l
meet those of the first company
that volunteered for the Hampton
Legion, the men who were on the
right of that legion; who under
Conner went always nearest the
flashing Of the guns, and out of
1O6 came out Of the war with but
two men who were not killed or
wounded. I remember all these
things: I remember all the in
cidents connected with the legion,
and l tell you that you and all
who served with me are bound to
me by ties which death may, but
nothing else can ever sever. I
have had the good fortune to lead
many Of you in battle. 1t has
been, perhaps, my better fortune
to lead you during this, ,]ast politi-
cal canvass. I take no credit to
myself, for was but the exponent
Of the feelings, the voice and the
entire heart of the people ofsouth
Carolina. But I can say this to
you, young men Of South Caro-
Ina, that 1 declared every feeling,


wish aud thought to the safety,


honor and prosperity Of South


Carolina. You cannot know, you


can never know, the sacrifices I


made in that canvass; but, had


they been tenfold greater-had


they involved even my life-the


satisfaction I have felt since in


seeing a free people once more up


on the soil Of my old mother, and


in recognizing that in the hearts


Of the people of South Carolina I


have warm place, would afford


me ample compensation for all that


I have had to endure. [Applause.l
| My time is almost out. Let me


say to you that the fight is not


over yet. That this next election


will be tbs crisis in the history of


this State. You have 1t in your


hands to say whether that will
perpetuate the prosperity of the


State: whether the power will


remain in your hands, or whe-


ther it will be lost. You have


seen that by doing justice to all,


recognizing the rights of all cit


izens of South Carolina, you can


carry the State. If you 60 on in


that line you will carry itagain,


but I warn you ifyou depart from


that straight and narrow road, if
you allow the extreme men OF


this State to take possession of it,
just as sure as the sun will rise it


will rise upon your failure. I
speak as Carolinian to Caro-


linians. I ask you to think Of
these things. You, the young men
| of South Carolina, into whose
! hands her destinies will soon be
placed, who are to take our places,
are the ones to work upon this


line. You have glorious destiny


before you. By your conduct in


the last election you havestamped
yourselves heroes. You have
| shown a courage higher than the


highest courage in facing the can


mons mouth-that you are worthy


of the freedom you can govern
yourselves that you have achiev-
ed. Now, let. me adjure you, to
60 on in the same line and devote
yourselves to your State. Think
| of nothiug but the interest Of that
State. Work for it, dedicate your
selves to it, and though may not
see st-it may be l will have
passed off the scene-but your
children and my children will rise
up to call you blessed.


I did not intend to say word
tonight, but there are themes
which, when they are touched,
arouse the emotions Of my heart,
and one Of those themes is that
toast just given-South Caro-
lima. .-.--.
A pious ruler is great blessing


to any. people.