The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-06-16
((eresting Chapter Of unpublished
History.
e Personal D,meuIfy Betweea
Yancey and Hill.

SOllal interest," tnat tfansplTeu IN tne
South during the late war, but few
are of more dramatic character, or
aroused deeper interest among our
people, than the unfortunate personal
difficulty which took place in the
Confederate States Senate at Rich
mond during its secret session, be-
tween Mr.. WILLIAM L. YANcEY OF
Alabama and Mr.. BEN. II. HILL OF
Georgia. Several different and con-
fiicting versions of this affair have
been given through the Southern
press; but none has yet been pub
lished that accords with statement
we recently derived from a gentlemen
who was at the time Senator, and
an eye witness to all that transpired
Oh the occasion.
The difficulty had its origin in the
heated political contests so COM
mon in this country prior to the
breaking out of the war. 1t was
when YANcEY, with his dazzling elo-
qucnce was "firing the Southern
heart" that barbecue, attended by
thousands, was given in one of the
Southern counties of Georgia. 1t
was here that HILL and YANCEY met,
the one, the bold and eloquent de-
fender of the Union, and the other,
the boosted champion of Secs
sion; and during the debate which
ensued, words were uttered that
caused an arrangement that was
never afterwards reconciled.
The two had met again in the Con-
fedcratc Senate, both doubtless
smarting under the recollection of
past conflicts, and entertaining no
kindly feeling for each other. It was
when the cause of the South was
dropping, and every patriot heart
was heavy with dependency and
gloom, that MIR. YANCEY, rising in
his place in the Senate, declared that
war could no longer be carried on
with any hope of success unless
many of the Constitutional restraints
and embarrassments were thrown
aside; and boldly advocated radi-
cal change in the Government TO
meet the demands of the public and
the exigencies of the hour.
Upon the conclusion of Mr.. YAM
cEY's remarks, Mr.. HILL promptly
arose TO reply. The scene was one
of most intense excitement. Tie
deprecated the opinion advocated by
Mr.. YANcEY, and proceeded with
great severity to review his past po-
litical career, running back to the
beginning of the times when our
sectional troubles were first being
agitated. He said Mr.. YANCEY,
not satisfied with having warred
upon and disrupted the old Union,
was now crying out against, and en-
deavoring to subvert and break
down the Confederate Government.
When Mr.. HILL concluded, the ex-
element already at white heat was
increased beyond anything ever
before witnessed during those
troublous times. Mr.. YANCEY arose,
and in a calm, dignified and self
poised manner peculiarly his own,
commenced his reply. He described
MR.. HILL as repeating ISLANDERS that
had been uttered against him for the
past twenty years; and that all
which Mr.. HILL had uttered, had
been said innumerable times before
by every third rate politician in the
country; and continued by saying
"nature had designed the Senator
from Georgia as an imitator; that he
had been cast in q certain die, and il
was vain to attempt to enlarge his
dimensions"
Pallid with rage, Mr.. HILL mount
ed to his feet and selling heavy
glass ink stand, hurled it with all OF
his might and power at the head o.
Mr.. YANCEY, which, grazing his
forehead, plowed its way to the skull
and passed on its furious course,
crushing a heavy window-facing
beyond. Without turning his head,
Mr.. YANCEY, who was at the time
addressing the Speaker, continuing
hisspeech, deliberately remarked, iii
is always the prerogative of towards
to strike from the rear" Enraged
still more at this remark, Mr.. HILL
gathering a chair, rushed upon hi;
antagonist, who needless Of the at
tack was continuing his remarks az
calmly as if nothing had happened
when number of Senators inter
posing the difficulty was ended
Mr.. YANCEY's wound bled mos
profusly, and scene of the ut
most confusion prevailed.
1t has several times been stated
since MIR. YANCEy's death, that it re
suited from injuries received in thi!
rencountre, but such is not the fact
as he died from disease that coui(
in no way have been superinduced by
this Caufe.
Great Earthquake i'm China.