Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-07-26
speech of Hon. BENJAMIN H. Hill on the
Condition Of the Country.


Delivered in the city of Atlanta,
Tuesday, July l6, 1867.
LADIES' AND FELtow.C CITIZENS. Human
governments, like everything else human,
naturally tend to decay. They can only
be preserved by constant watchfulness,
courage, and adherence to correct prin'
ciples. These remarks apply with un'
usual force to free governments, which
are the most difficult of all to maintain.
If we, the people Of the United States,
were the first in history wEo had
attempted the experiment Of living under.
democratic or republican form OF
government, we might be excused II we
failed to discover the symptoms OF ap-
preaching death, and to apply the RENE
dies TO preserve our liberty and the
blessings we have heretofore enjoyed.
But we are not the first who have made
this experiment. Other peoples and
nations, for thousands Of years, have had
com monwealths, republics, and demoe'
racies, which have risen and fallen times
almost without number. but assert
great truth-one which finds no contra
diction or exception on all history
when | say that the great leading and
substantial causes Of the decay OF tree
dom in all countries, haveever been the
same. How inexcusable must we be II
we fail to discover the symptoms, and
how cowardly and recreant if we fail to
apply the proper remedy to prevent SO
foul death
No people ever commenced to build
nm a free government under such favor
able auspices as we. What q climate,
soil, variety of productions and material
resources do we possess and what an
ancestry and what common struggle Tor
liberty did our fathers pass through
Did any people ever before commence
with such advantages Rome COM
mencedas small city, and was despised
by the barbarians around it. She ex-
tended her power by her arms, and in
creased till at last she became mistress
of the world. We commenced with such
n people, country and productions as no
people ever had before, and we had fewer
dissentions and elements Of discord than
any people ever suffered from; and
Providence, as if to separate us from the
crimes and corrupting influences OF the
| Old World, spread out this great CONT
nent before us, with the wide sea to sep.
arate us from them, with no influence Of
monarchy and oppressive systems to
threaten or make war upon us. II we
fail, it will be by our own folly. What
excuse can we render to our posterity
and to the world, if we, in this day, with
the lessons of history before US, allow
free institutions to perish on this CONT
nent2 And our race will have been the
soonest run. We have not yet lived q
century. 1t is but seventy eight years
| since the Constitution was formed, and
hut ninety.one years since independence
WAS declared by our fathers, while the
commonwealth of Rome lived four hun
| dred years before the measures which
| produced her decay were proposed.
What a spectacle The best people, the
richest soil, the most valuable produc-
tions, established as if by the Providence
of God as a new era in the history OF the
world, and bidding fair to be the shortest
lived of any free government in the his
tory of nations
I There is no difficulty whsIever-and |
assert it without fear of contradiction
in discovering when and how nation is
diving. / cannot now go into an analysis
of all the symptoms Of national decay
and death. Itis only important to pre-
sent the leading one which controls all
others-which existing, produces all
others, and which being remedied, cures
all Others. Then hear it: The great
symptom of the decay and death OF q
government is the disregard of the fun
damental law of that government. When
ever a people come to treat lightly their
own fundamental law, they have arrived
at the most dangerous point that is pos
sible. short Of entire destruction. Ra'
nublics. above all other kinds of govern
ments, are maintained by respect for
law. If the people of the United States
fail to have sacred regard for their own
law-which is not like that of other
nations. to be ascertained by argument,
by decisions, or by searching, but is
plain and wisely written Constitution
thew will deserve the awful fate that
awaits them; and he who disregards It's
plain language has no excuse to shield
himself from the infamy Of a traitor
IApplause. ! Old as it is-trampled upon
torn and tattered as it is-my theme
to-day is the Constitution of our country
and Sor all our country. [Applause. i
charge before Heaven and the American
people this day, that every evil by which
yo have been afflicted is attributable
directly to the violation Of the Constitu
ton. Thinkers may work, quacks may
prescribe, and demagogues may deceive
but | declare to you that there is nc
remedy for us, and no hope to escape
the threatened evils, but in adhering tC
the Constitution.
Fellow.citizens Pardon me while !
say that in presenting my views, l thinR
of no living man, fndirfdudttB to whom
my remarks are to apply. | have come
to talk freely to you about the dangers o
the country. Little minds ascribe LITTLE
objects to those whose views they do no
agree with, and he has attained an unen
viable reputation whose friends say ''yoT
mean him" when / am speaking o
trsachery and showing the evil conse
ouences of q certain line Of policy.
have no personal attacks TO make on al
enemy. even if have one God know
if / could, with my own hands, l woui'
Gladly place a crown of imPerishaol'
honor on the brow Of my most bitter foe
If | could thereby rescue my country
from the perils that environ At. lap
plause But if / have an enemy, an'
t have a vindictiYe spirit, and desired HIN
; 10 become forever Infamous, could asl
no more Of him than that he should sup
mort the hellish schemes Of those VIII
are now seeking to subvert the Consiltu
lion and destroy our liberty: lie IS avg
ging a grave for himself which posteritl
will never water with tear Let hn
, alone. have come TO discuss the pres
: ent phase Of the revolution. -,
Z ] NJ -. L.I = rar uAIrh RACED no