American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-11-08
PICTURE OF THE RENEGADE,

Hon. Il. II. Hill, of Georgia, one
of the grandest orators and purest
patriots in the South, delivered a
scathing speech at Atlanta during
the campaign of 1865, in which he
fixed the status of the renegade.
and assigned him his proper place
in the social graduation. Many may
think that the distinguished Georg-
ian permitted his prejndices to warp
his better Judgment, aud that the
social OStraciSm recommended for
this character is too great pun
ishment for the crime. With this
we have nothing to do, nor do we
now reproduce a portion of that
speech SO much to show Mr.. Hills
estimate of the renegade, us to
point out its peculiar applicability
to those renegades and Radicals
who have controlled the politics
and legislation OF Mississippi for
the past six Years. Had the speech
been delivered in jackson, during
the recent canvass. instead OF at
Atlanta in 1868, he could not have
drawn more to the life, certain char
acters who haze diSgraced their Off
ces by a shameful violation of every
oath and obligation by winch they
pledged feai.y to the State and the
rights of her people. In another
essential feature the picture is per
feet, and we invite these WORTHLESS
to peruSe the following extract, and
there see their images reelected as
in a mirror. Looking hopefully
forward to tie triumph of the Dem
ocracy, and referring to the pres
ence of the renegades, in reply to
the question, .'what will you do with
them ?" Mr.. Hill said:
IL would not hurt Il hair of their
heads. do them no personal harm.
and deprive them of no right.
Give them oveT-OI, give over the
miscreantS to the ineXtinguiSIIable
hell of their own consciousness of
infamy. But some things you must
do for the protection of your chill
dren and OF yourselves. and for the
vindIcation of your honor. l affirm
it and | want it heard. 1t is going
to be the law of this country. and IA
law more iirepealab!e than the law
of the Medcs and PerSians. Not
one man that dares record his vote
for the inequality ana vassalage of
the Soul hern States and the deGra
datiOn of his own race, ought ever
to be received in a decent family in
Georgia or in the South now or
hereafter. And this rule we make
now. If we have not the power to
help make the laws of our Govern
ment OF for society, thank God we
can at least pass social laws for our
homes. l charge you this day, as
You honor your household, aud
would preserve your good name for
youi postcrity, never suffer IA single
renegade who votes for the vasSal-
age OF these States, and the dis
grace of your children and yaur
race, to darken your doors or to
speak to any member of your fami-
ly. You condemn the poor victim
TO the penItentiary who steals a
horse or IA hundred dollars. and vet
these miserable creatures have every
thing that you have or can have.
You scOrn the criminal; who has VIZ
clatei the penal law Of your country.
These miserable renegades are faith !
less to every law of Heaven and of
earth, aud have used every means
to sell YOU to those who hate YOU. |
and to place your lives and Your all
in the power of the ignorant and
debased. An other thing | insist |
shall be done: \ people who will |
not resent such tout Innovations OF
their rights are not worthy OF free !
dom. You have been helpless
your great men have been silenced:
you surrendered your arms to what |
you thought Il gallant foe; you sur
rendered them under the assurance,
OF protection, and yet these men,
your own citizens many of them,
who buried You to war have taken
advantage of your helplessness and |
of the presence OF the baNonet they |
have invaded your households: they |
have stolen your property; they
have robbed you of your goods: they
have joined the negro ard stranger
to tax, insult and OPP press you; and
they have. contrary to the laws of
the land, forced into dungeons and
before military commissions, the
proud freemen of this country. You
have been powerlesS to prevent
these things. But my VOW is rrcor-
ded, and | shall redeem it. | find
the people willing TO sustain me.
Men who have tIampled upon the
ri gifts of the citizens OF Georgia at
a time WHEN the law was paraiizetl,
shall feel the power of that restored
la when liberty is reawaked. We
makers. We men tkai
sprung at one bound from the penn
tentiaries OF the country to frame
for honest people We
men Who oscillate tio.n glapd Jury
rooms with charges of perjury upon
You up TO legislative halls and other
high places in the land, l serve YOU I
notice to-day that the money you !
have stolen from the people shall be
repaid with interest.