The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-08-06
The Hon. b. fl. Hill, of Georgia.

The following sketch Of the afore-named distin-
guished Georgian is drawn from the life, BY eSc
Governor J. J. BROWN, Of that State We extract
it from the Augusta Chronicle and Sentine; in
which paper Mr.. BROWN answers MIR. HL1's
ssNotes on tho Situation"
III am correctly ipEarmed Mr. Hill started his
political life protesting to be Democrat. In 1873
he was the Know-Nothng candidate for Congress
in his District, and was defeated. IN 1856 he was
on the Electoral ticket, supported by the Know
Nothing party Of Georgia, and was defeated. In
1857 he was the Know-Nothing candidate for Coy
e1nor, and was defeated AS was the Democratic
candidate, probably the latter defeat had not been
forgotten by him when he prepared his 'Notes on
the Situation" In 1859 he took position in ad;
vance for war; without waiting for an overt aes OF
oppression by the Federal Government, IN case
the Republican party should elect their candidate
for President the next year In the TALL OF isos me ne
two years, the most distinguished honor ever
conferred upon him by popular vote.
After Mr.. Lincoln was elected President, he
backed down from his position for war, and was Z
candidate in the winter of 1860 for tho convention
elected and took his seat in the Secession Conven-
ton, Ho at first opposed secession. Before tho
passage of the Ordinance Of Secession after 1t was
known that majority Of the Convention favored
it, it began to be discussed in private circles VIM
should DC eleCteu 10 Inc TCOFlslOudl
in case the State seeded. Tho Ordi,
nance was put upon its final passage and
Mr.. Hill voted for it, and signed it. "A
few days afterward he was elected to Congress- 10y
the Convention. Whether by voting for the ordl-
nance he betrayed the people of IToup county,
then existing, do not pretend to inquire. AT any
rate he was not elected as secessi0nist, for the
chem existing causes he voted for the Ordinance,
and was elected to Congress by majority Of seces;
sionists. What important measure OF pracslcSl
craftsmanship he inaugurated or carried through
Congress by his ability or influence during his
whole term Of SERVICE have never been able to
learn,
When the SECESSION Convention was in session
at Savannah, Mr.. Hill, then I member of both the
convention and tho provisional Congress, made a
speech to the people, in which he said 1.-The
North would not fight. There would be no war.
But # the North should be 80 foolish as TO go into
the contest, there never was people on tho faco
Of the earth 80 well prepared for it as we were 1t
should be an aggressive var. The war should be
carried into Africa; and when the cities of the
North were laid in ashes, and the country deyas=
tated and laid waste, then we should find The peo,
pie Of the North the to GSh for terms aud
sue for peace" He pctared the rising glory OF
the new Confederacy, and went on to say, that
while this became moro compact and secure, Ais-
integration would come as sure as fate upon the
old Union, and they would seek entrance into this.
And he very graciouslY added TINT, "lf they came
humbly enough as hewers Of wood and drawers OF
water they might come :.
When the next Legislature met, there were in j,
majority of the old Know-Nothing party, and
Mr. Hill was elected to the Confederate Senate
over General Toombs,
While in the aenatehe voted, under oath, against
the first Conscrpt Bill. AS well known, oppos'
ed the measure when made public as upconstttl,
| tional, Not long after this was known, MIR. Hill
made speech in Mledgeville, in which he IN
| tended to be very severe on me for my opposition
| to measure against which he had cast his vote
under oath; and said tho country would have been
ruined il it had not passed. After that time he be,
came the jealous advocate Of the conscriptlop
policy, and denounced all who opposed it,
| During the war; when o call was made upon the
people not subject to conscrption, to volunteer
and organize for home defence. when it was doubt
ful whether they would be called out for active
service, MIR. Hill made speech in Lii Grange
means OF giving force to his appeals, and oil
showing his own patriotic devotion to tho cause
he enrolled, or authorized his own name to be
enrolled, as private in one OF the companies De-
ing formed, and pledged himself to go II they
we're called out. Soon afterward, upon the ad
vance of the Federal army, the company was or
dered to the field for active service, and Mr hil
not being one of the "dupes who showed Will r te
| lose blood" backed out and refused to Co. Inc
reason reported at the time, as given by him fol
his refusal, was that he was Confederate Senator
drawing salary, and that while in this condition
| il would be unconstitutional for him to draw tlI
nav of o private soldier. So it appears the prcsen
is not the only occasion when MIR. Hills motto has
been to stand by the Constitution as MS ON!
safety. AS he would certainly have been entlsle.
to the pay Of private soldier ii he had shouiuei
was wrong for Senator to violate the Constltu
tion he was NOT arrested and compelled to serve