The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1865-12-06

There are two prominent Hills in
Georgia-Joshua Hill, the constant
Unionist, who bore himself so bravely
in the late State convention, and Ben
B. Hill, an old democratic politician,
who has much power with the people.
The latter wrote u letter just before the
late congressional election, giving his
views on the test oath and other matters,
in which he said:-
81 would vote for no man to repre-
sent Georgia who could take this oath !;
because it is the highest evidence of
infideltty to the sentiments of the peo-
pie of the State. I would vote for no
man, anywhere, who would take this
oath; because 1t is the highest evidence
of infdelity to the constitution. The
man who takes the ohth admits power
in Congress to destroy every depart
ment ofthe government as we1las every
right of representation. There is no
danger now from any spirit of resist
ance In Georgia. The only danger comes
from an opposite direCtion-servility
1 intend to be loyal myself, and have
not been faithless to any obligation 1
ever r,assumed-even when unwillingly
assumed. resisted secession until
resistance was hopeless, and then 1
resisted snbjugation until resistance
was hopeless. II would not if I
could change my record. The right
of the States to representation in Con-
gresS is the clearest of all rights under
the Constitution. 1t is the right without
which no other right can exist, and no
Obligation can be Imposed. ] have an
abiding faith that the president will
not permit its destruction by test oaths
or otherwise. He was for the Union
against the South; and 1t is my opinion
thEnt kNa Ii
against Massachusetts, when the issue
comes" 1000 sIf JllalT. >
Another important Indication of
southern opinion is found in recent
letter of Benjamin Rhett, of South
Carolina, in which he boldly proclaims
his scepticism as to the free labor system,
and let's out his dislike of Pnritanism
and New England doctrines. He says
1T is a question whether northern
philanthropy and red republfcanism
viii not defeat any efforts looking to
the ettectual reorganization of the labor
of the South. The timer light of New
England'sZ conscience can brook the
wholesale destruction ofthe negro race,
which is now taking place, and for
which they are responsible before God,
but will hardly tolerate the recupera-
ton of southern prosperity, unless for
tax-paying purposes"
He goes on to propose the adoption of
the labor system invented by Louis
Napoleon for French Guiana, which is
only well-regulated slavery, and says:
Whether this, or any other efectual
system, Will exempt us from that pesti-
lent, intermedllng philanthropy which,
however excellent in spirit, has proved
SO destructive to white and black in
practice, is problematicaI. I have nv
doubts If even Louis Napoieon's or
French phi ilanthropy and hnmanitafia-
nism will prove acceptable TO the spot-
less descendants of the Plymouth Rock
Pilgrim Fathers, whose garments are
so clean that they never require inspec-
tion, and as natural sequence they
are always searching for spots on their
neighbors' coats. It is true the above
system is different from and inferior to
slavery in this respect-that 1t does not
provide for the increase of the colored
race. That property in the negro which
made the planter SO carefully nurture
the children upon his plantation, is gone
with the institution OF slavery. Already
the havoc among the eolored innocents
has been fearful-nlone so than the terri
bic destruction TO the older negroes,
which has been frightfnl enough to have
enemiesn ~