The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1871-01-13
JAe aegarietta 9utIrnal.
THE DELANo BANQUET

ianta In n0nor OF MT. OSldilo vi
Grants Cabinet. The introductory
speech Of Gov. Bullock was in every
respect appropriate, and, strange as
it may appear, there is not a word in
it chat any one who loves Georgia
and desires her highest material de-
velopment might not have uttered.
On the contrary, the speech of B. IL.
Hill was just such an one as no true
friend of Georgia-no unsellish pa
triot-no friend of Constitutional lib
orty, could have delivered.
1t is amazing how popular opin-
ion GENES to overrate the abilities of
men, Ben has been for many years
apcrsistent aspirant for public hon
ors and if he has ever presented any
claim to them beyond his frothy dec
lamation if he has ever exhibited
one scintilla of that true greatness OF
heart and soul which lifts man out
of himself and devotes all his ener-
gios to his country, we have never
seen it. He was elected to The Sc
cession Convention a conservative
and came cut a protested fire-eater.
He was elected a Confederate States
Senator and voted for c0nScrpt'on
and all the tyrannical acts passed by
the Richmond governmental polit-
ical ally Of Davis, opposed to any
other arbitrament of our troubles but
the sword, and in words and votes,
an implacablc and unrelenting foe to
the Union. Hear him now. He
never was secessionst. He al
ways loved the Union and if he went
against it, it was from compulsion!
Hear him, too, on radical recon
structionl He opposed the passage
Of these laws, but he avows his
highest principle of action to be
submission to the laws. Read
his own words. lie has three ideas
"'thc first is to resist wrong; the
second is to resent insult and the
third is 10 submit to the law" That
is to say, when wrong is proposed
by political party, he says, "don't."
When insult is about to be cram
med down his throat he sputters aw-
fully; but when it is down it be-
comes a settled thing and should be
accepted as fnaIity.
Now, it has So happened that our
laws are themselves subject to the
popular will, the highest sovereign
authority, and while there is not
democrat in Georgia who proposes
to resist the law, there is hardly one
Of them who would not vote on the
National Democratic Platform to re-
peal, to annul, to declare the recon
struction acts unconstitutional and
void. But, HILL says he never
was and never intended to be dem
ocrat. Let him then retain his high
est public sentiment until he finds in
ii only the badge of political slave
We find something worthy of far
greater esteem in the response of
Gen. PHILLIPS OH the same oceas-
ion. 1t was our fortune to be always
opposed to Gen. p. on the subject of
secession. He saw, or fancied he
saw, coed in it, to the South and the
country. We saw nothing in it, win
or lose, but disaster; but now, when
the "L0St Case" is being more and
more regarded as an unfortunate
blunder; when public opinion is
every day more and more rallying
to national unity, and the cause of
of disiutegration is still losing the
few friends left, it is manly and ad-
mirablo to see one Of them on such
al occasion ayowins his RESPONSE
bility for the honest convictions of
his Judgment. The General said:
'.lIy friend Hill has stated that he
never was a Democrat, but a Bell
and Everett Union man. As for
myself always have been (and /
belonged to the breckenridge par
ty) a straight-out secession Demo
erat. l fought on that line, and
was defeated on that line, and feel
sorry tonight that was beat on that
line Yes, l feel the ittorpanss of
sorrow on account of that defeat. -
But, these things are past, and all /
want now is the highest advance
ment ofmy Statc--her present peace
and herfuturo prosperity and glory"
LET US REST.
We have accomplished great