Year: 1876

cal! of the Executive Committee
The organization was completed on
that day and an adjournment had until
the next, when, the. convention went
into secret session, which late in the
evening resulted IN a vote of SO mem
bers for an Immediate nomination OF
II straight out ticket to 65 for postpone
ment of the nominations until some
time after the Kadica! nominations.
The doors were then opened and Gen
eral Hampton was nominated by accla-
nation.
General Hampton thon assembled the
| Speakers stand and said:


Mr. President and Gentlemen Of South
Carolina:


[ need not tell yon, for every one of
yon must know, thai the words have
| heard spoken in kindly alIusion to my
self have touched my heart deeply.
| But I had intended, before my nomi-
nation had been made. to make per
sOnal explanation to this convention,
i and before we proceed any further in
l. voting. l desire to do SO now. There
are varions reasons which prompt
me to this, During all the dis
.cussion that has taken place, / have
| refraiued studiously from express
ing my opinion one way or an,
other; L only expressed myself
when called upon to do SO as a dele
gate. but did not try by word or act
to influence this Convention. [ came
here only to promote unity and har


mony if | could. 1 would pour oil on
the troubled waters in this Conven-
ton. if it should bt. necessary. When
I published a, card the other day, l
Expressed fully, earnestly and truth
| fully my views, my wishes and my
opinions. When the war was raging,
and we bad a legislature here, / was
asked to come back from the field and
allow my name to be presented as
candidate for Governor; bnt / prefer
| red to stay where I thought I could
be of most service TO my State and
country. [Checrs But since the
war, appeal to yon anil to every man
in South Carolina, 7 have never off r.
ed one word of advice unless it was
naked of me. [ have never concealed
my opinions, either in the South, at
the North or in the West; bnt have
never ventured to give any advice. or
| bTltu W toubIol duy III toOubl
Carolina. felt, literally. that my day
was past, md, in coming back to South
Carolina, I felt as he did, who said:
"An old man, whose heart is broken,
is cor le to lay his weary bones amongst
you; give me little earth for charity" "
[ have clnimed nothing of South
Carolina but what I gave i'll yonder
churchyard.


But 1 have always said that when~
ever I could, by word or deed, serve
the State, the mel of the State had
only to call me, and would devote all


that L had of life, of time, and of en-


ergy to her service. [ will now be


perfectly unreserved with you on


another point. Men whose patriotism


is beyond all question, men in whose


wisdom and Judgment [ place great


condolences, think that your nomination


of me- would injure the Democratic


pnrty throughout the United States.


If the question were left with me to


decide whether the interests of South
Carolina or those of the Democratic


party of the United States were to be


placed uppermost, / could not hest


tate in my choice; hut [ believe that


the success of the Democratic party
will inevitably bring success and relief
to South Carolina.


believe there eau be nc question
that if Tildeu is elected the State of
South Carolina will be ours. We will


work for her redemption, and we will
secure it. [Cheers.l


Now gentlemen L do not wish yon


i'll tho slightest degree to jeor ardize
the general Democratic party. [ would
gladly decline the nomination, L speak
| to, il / Il


much prefer t1 do SO. Besides the in


f1uence which this nomination might
exert on The general prosperity of our


party, there are mon in the State in
whose eyes [ possess disqualification,
of which l cannot divest myself and


would not if [ could; it is what they


are pleased to call my war record.


That record is the record of sixty
. Thousand Conf, derate soldiers OF


South Carolina. and if l am to forfeit


that, snd say 7 am ashamed of that,
ashamed to have been one of them; all
, the offices in South Carolina, all the


offices in America or in the world.
might perish before I would accept


them. "Cheers.


Now, gentlemen, these are grave
} topics for your consideration. L i'm
plore you let no partiality or kindness


for me lead you astray. Consider


solely what is good for the people OF


the State and for the Democratic par
| ty. Look over the whole field in dis
cussing this question. I shall retire


and leave yon to discuss it free from


embarrassment and to consider only


how you can do most good to your


constituents and to your general con-


stituency, the Democrat party; and il
you conclude that you will select some
, one else who is as true and as sincere
as I. and I know there are thousands ol


them, I will pledge myself to give al


my energy and influence for his suc
cess. III you give the nomination to me,
! 1 would be assuming a responsibility
which dread, and call on you all tn


remember that I have not said one


word to influence you in what you dc
'o.-day. I have told you frankly my
own feelings, and come veal or come
woe, I will stand by you to the last
, Immense applause.


The nomination of General Hamp-
ton as the candidate of the Democratic


party for the Office of Governor inau
gurates new policy in the affairs OF


South Carolina, and one that we trust
in Gods name, will prove successful.


If ever a people had cause worthy
of their every effort, and if ever peo.
pie had leader worthy of their cause
, the people of South Carolina are to-


day that people. The hour and the


man have indeed met. Their cause is
, the cause of good government, of civi
liberty, all that men hold dear in life,


and their leader is the peerless
! WADE HAMPTON. We pity the poor