The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1874-03-18
Address of the Hon. B. d. Hill Before
the Southern Historical Socie-
ty of Georgia.

;Vy III NooAS
The Aelgatsta Chronicle and Sent
mel publishes at length the speech
of the Hon. B. H, HiE of Geor
.gia, delivered before the Atlant:
Brapch of the Southern Historica
Society, on the 18th of February
1874, which presents an earnest ant
eloquent vindication of the Soutt
and its people. 1t makes a clea'
statement of the issues involved il
the late war, and the precise poiut:
determ!ned by the defeat OF the
Sou thern armies.
Whatever might have been ou'
convictions of the abstract right O.
secession, or of the suf6ciency O.
the causes which led to its asser
ton, defeat was confession of in
ability to maintain it, and a pledge
that the sword should be .sheathed
The sword had afforded practical
solution of the question without
determining the abstract right
BY the surrender we confessed oul
obligation to remain in the Union
and to discharge the duties imposed
by the Constitution-this and no
thing more.
The Northern people, on the
other hand, had constantly assert
ed, that in carrying on the wal
they had no other design than tc
preserve the Union, and were under
every obligation to accept the sur
render as meaning this and nothing
else. After the surrender they had
no right to enlarge and change the
issues which were made in the con,
test. Slavery itself formed no part
of those issues, yet the Southern
people cbeerfully consented tc
emancipation, and renouuced their
right Of property to millions Of
dollars. The issues themselves were
changed, and in spite of repeated
declarations and pledges made du-
ring the continuance Of q contest
la;vo ,dly to preserve the
Union, the right OF confscation and
prescription was asserted as its le'
gitimate result. But Mr.. Hill well
asks "were eight millions of people
traitors had sovereign States
committed treason.?-were leaders
who had only obeyed their States
and served their people criminals
worthy of death p
These were great questions to'be
determined in the Courts or in the
national councils. But the North
ern people declined to discuss these
questions in either tribunal. Pres
ident Davis had no Opportunity 'ot
vipdicating himself and his people
before the Courts, aud the National
Legislature was closed against any
true representation of the South in
It's deliberations. Congress usurped
all the powers Of legislation, and
inaugurated scheme of reconstruc-
ton which excluded the leading
Statesmen and true representatives
+ of theosouth from any voice in its
councils. Universal suffrage was
established, and, as a consequence.
Intelligence aud honesty were pro.
scriped, and ignorance and corr1p.
ton installed into Office. Intrigue.
ing politicians controlled the negro
and made him the tool of their
own wicked purposes. Mr.. Hill
urged very forcibly the violation
of Constitutional right which was
involved in all this, as we'll as the
numberless evils which have beer
the natural and legitimate results
of the Congressional scheme of Re
construction
Denied q viudication in the
Courts and in Congress, the South.
ern people have turned to history
as a resource, and have established
q Society, which is designed to pre-
serve the records, and vindicate the
principles, of the late contest. Mr..
Hill passes a glowing eulogium
upoa tho character Of the soldiers