Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1865-11-23
Speech a Loyal Georgian.

On tho last day Of the Georgia Conven.
tion after the reputation of the war deb,
by a vote of l35 to III, Hon. Joshua Hill,
called up the address to the President,
which had been reported by q committee of
sixteen, and laid on the table, and moved
to recommit, with instructions to the COM
mittee to incorporate in it statement of
the fact that the Convention had rejected
the rebel war debt.
Mr.. A. Fl. Kenan, of Baldwin, moved
the previous question, which was on the
adoption of the adress as reported by the
Committee. Call not sustained-8l to 80
In support Of his motion for the previous
question, or rather preliminary thereto,
Kenan made one of the most malignant
speeches that had been uttered in the Con.
vention. AS soon as Kenan had finished,
Hill arose.
Mr. Hill modestly and TRANQUILITY replied
to Kenan's frat speech against his motion
to recommit the address; and Kenan again
took the floor.
This time he even surpassed himself in
malignity. Contrary to all rules of order
and decency, he soundly rated the Conven.
ton for its action in reference to the rebel
debt. He spoke of Mr.. Hill, and Of his mo-
ton, in the most offensive terms. In reply
to a remark of the latter gentleman, he de-
clared that he (Kenan) would have regard
ed it as the highest qualification of his life
if the Southern Confederacy had succeeded.
He said he made this declaration, and was
always willing to make it, in the face of God
and man. APPLAUSE When he asked
President johnson for his pardon which he
carried in his pocket, he did not make whin-
ing and hypocritical professions of Union,
ism, but told the President be was rebel,
had not changed his principles, and had
merely submitted to the result of the war.
And thus Mr.. Kenan went on in his raw
ings, to the disgust of every sensible man in
the Convention, whatever his political
views.
| As soon as Kenan had finished Hill arose :
"Mr. President" he began, ''it seems
am unfortunate, and can no melton, even If
unimportant, but what il exci.es opposition
and elicits debate. declare that in making
the proposition to lay on the table tempor-
ariy the report of the Committe on the Ad-
dress to the President, only intended to
include, with the specification therein, an
other of the most important acts OF this
body.
'ESurely no one will pretend, after the dis
play Of feeling consequent on the PROPOSE
tion, that the reputation Of the war debt
is not among the most important measures
we have considered. 1t is for this reason
that object in sending an addres infroming
the President of our meritorious deeds, to
omitting this.
II am not responsible for the wide range
this debate has taken. / would have limit
ed it strictly to the immediate object had
in view but it has suited the gentleman
from Baldwin (Mr, Kensn, to bring in top
les foreign and exciting, snd not german tt
the question before us. When he present!
an issue that, l feel, reflects upon me- can
not decline my own defense. He has eulo
gised the gallant deeds Of Southern heroes
n and rejoiced at his own devotion to the lat,
Confederacy. 1t Is far from my feeling o.
purpose to depreciate the hard earrad lau
rels Of the brave, no matter In what caus,
obtained While | can not boast, as other
may, of deeds Of arms on ensaaguined fields
| / can afford to do Justice to the valor ant
daring ofthose whose fortunes led them :,
battle. l never professed, because | neve
felt it, devotion to the i'll starred Confeder