Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1868-03-27
SPEECH ON THE SITUATION
BY HON. B., II. HILL.
Delivered in Atlanta, Ga, March 10, 1868

Mr.. President, Ladies' and 0enflemen
lappear l to-day at the instance and uu
der the auspices Of the Young Men
Democratic Club" of this city. Politica
like other revolutions, have their periods
and often rapidly change in character, pur
pose and issues.
Far up the Niagara river the waters ar
quiet and still. Little children battle an
play in their depths, anu parties Of pleasur
1ide merrily and safely on their bosom
But atagiue:a point the current makes it
start for tue great Falls, and moving slowl,
At first, it grows more and constantly NOR
rapid, until there sa point in its wild, mac
rush, from which, once reached, nothing
alive has evor been rescued.
Tho American people have been peaceful
hsrpy, free, and prosperous. They lovec
thGr Constitution and loved each other
but evil whispers divided them, and ster
by atep they approached and 6nallv entered
upon revolution. And how wildly and
still moro wildly we havo rushed, aud yet
rush along! The question now reached is
not whether this or that party SHALL triumph
hot whether we shall have Union-not,
alas! whether we shall have government
founded on our consent. 1t is more vital
still. The issue has wholly changed, and
has ceased 10 political question. The
issue now pressing is one Of actual political
l'le-of social existence. Nothing moro
startIcs the man Of thought, tho readers of
history, than the gildiness with v hich the
people are riding on the rapids 10 destruc-
,ion, seemingly unconscious Of what awaits
them. You are as giddy this day as were
the dupes who married and were given in
marriage, and carried on their ordinary
transactions, before the Hood. Tho world
was neither more wicked, nor gidIy, nor
guilty in that day than is the political world
Of America at this day. The great diff
Guilty of the times is this the people have
no regard lor truth {; they have no love for
it-not particle. You thuk no less OF a
msn who VIGOROUSLY and avowedly engages
j" deception, provided Le be politician,
than you do Of a Christian gentleman. /
rather think you think more Of deception
,han you do Of truth; and that is the rca-
ron Why SO much deception is practiced.
It has not only become harmless thing,
but il has absolutely become passport 10
power-A m; ans of surcess policy BY
Which you manufacture greatness out Of
nothing. The Church and Society are all
at fault fhe people themselves are a, fault
upon this question. Why, it has not only
grown to be n habit, bu. it has become al
mpst a maxim, that il is "no harm TO tel
lie in politics" Oh. VIA. a prevented
judgment! What immortality No harm 2;
''piac;ice has made it so.' Ny friend,
political liza is the tsorst Of all lies, aud ouSl,
TO lie held more Infamous Than all others,
4te who is guilty Of it ought to receive the
frown aud scorn and condemnation of every
man, and # every member of society. Why,
the very reason why the country has reach.
ed its present condition, is the failure Of
your rulers 10 be henest and truthful, and
the failure Of the people to call them to
account for their in6delity 10 truth.
What a spectacle the American now
presents! What spectacle for the world
and posterity: And not merely political
~, but morally. For four long gears the
people, North and South, were anxiously
watching the struggle-a. struggle to de-
termine whether certain States should be
considered in the Union or out of it. Fl.
n A'5, The struggle endsl. ;iThc Southern
peopaa mop4ly said Well consent
TO remain IN she sUnidh-worl admit that
our attempt 70 leave tle Union is fail
ure." Nearly three years has elapsed since
thon, and you have seen yonr rulers-the
pretentious leaders of polticrl sentiment of
tic country-going to Washington City,
laying their hands upon tie Bit1e, swear
~S6 W ,oukPobt -luo sSOUstltutIOu OF
tho United states, and daily violating
every principle Of that Constitution, and
setting at naught the whole issue and the
result Of tbe,wsr: Nay, The people have
become 50 fslssto thsmselvss-so false TO
every principle of truth and virtue-that
ar old man; the leader Of ths grea. party,
Without damage to his character openly
pp6 bodily avows and declares that ali the |
legshasian t6sSLibg these State. has been
entirely outside the Constitution, auhich he !
snas s,oorn to support! You have seen
ths Legislative departn ent, governed by
passion, actuatsd by .sipdic.ivsnsss, over.
in:ping tho institutions Of the codh.r4 ~
Rotto suppoft'1'e Union which they fengh.
to preserve. but for the sole purpose Of pre-
serving power and continuing .bemselses
in Office. Thus wrpressot TO the nations
Of the world the rpectaste of an absolutely
dsmoralizsd Legislative Department of |
government.
In all time, the army has been consider
cd the very esftdiNenupf chivalry, or. at
,. esl[AA uA IiftEs Lt'E