National Republican., 1875-07-21
TIE sourHxRx srruArroH.

THE SOUTHERN SITUATION.
In the issue of March III II was claimed that
there was in the South an army Of two hun
dred thousand men, fully equipped and ripe
for whatever might occur. There can be no
doubt that the number given was too small.
The organized military In the South numbers
not less than three hundred thousand men, all
Of whom, or nearly all, could take the field in
less than a week, and a short campaign will
make them q veteran army, as fine as the
world has ever seen.
That they are ripe for whatever may occur
will not be believed, but an examination of the
sentiments of the South may cause suspen-
sion of judgment and further investigation.
Up to the firing upon Fort Sumter, in 1861, 1t
was not generally believed that war would
ensue, but four years experience cured
that opinion. May lethargy and unbelief no
more bring such reward.
We will first pay our respects to Hon. Benja-
min II. Hill, the most prominent man in
Georgia. And he is worth the trouble, for we
shall heaI of him often; his great talents, and
perfect consciousness of them, will bring him
prominently upon the national stage, and the
American history to be written few years
hence will be incomplete without his name
and deeds. He has fulfilled the destiny
marked out for him by the article of March II /,
and that tall figure, with light hair and COM
plexion, full whiskers, neatly dressed, with
nervous energy showing in every restless move
ment, will arise In the House of Representa-
tiyes this winter and support the extreme
Southern ideas in eloquent words and bitter
thoughts.
Mr.. Hill was a Confederate Senator-'my
right arm," Mr.. jefferson Davis called him
and he came out of the war one of the loved
Of the people. In 1867 he wrote his "Notes on
the Situation" )" which, with his speeches, con-
solidated the white vote Of Georgia and other
Southern States, established the political repu-
tation Of Mr.. Hill, and caused the ostracism
Of all who believed In the Republican idea
sufficiently 10 identify themselves with that
party. As TO the value Of his services In the
last direction we have the evidence Of the Mon
roe Advertiser, under date Of May 4, 1875:
ave s.ssrs and b.ys ne fear OF iueos.lful con.
tradiotion, that Mr. Hill, BY his bitter denunoia-
Thousands from sntsring the ranks Of the Radical
party. They dared not do 90 for fear Of social
oltrisIsB, and to-day Che white people Of dsofsl.
-
the speeches and IGbofi Of Mr. Hill"
Social ostracism IN the South has always
been bitterly denied but truth, like murder,
will out,
As consequence Of Mr.. Hill's labors dur.
Ing reconstruction he stood very hlgh-iew
higher IN tho stAte-in tho estimation OF the
people but the Republicans had possession OF
the State government the Democrats could
not bestow upon him the honors he desired,
and his thoughts turned 10 those who could
and would advance him In return for the ready
pen and eloquent tongue that could 50 beguile
men, and he went to the enemy's camp. What
occurred can be judged by what followed.
First, he made an address at the commence
ment Of the University OF Georgia-located In
Athens-in June or July, 1871, In which hs
took very square Republican ground. This ad.
dress called forth quite sharp criticism, In
answer TO which he wrote Q letter 10 the At
lantA Constitution, and II might have been
written by any Southern Republican without
his loyalty to party being questioned. Again,
the american Union, an outspoken Republican
paper and earnest supporter Of Governor X. B.
Bullock, published at Macon, advocated "for
Chairman Of the State Central Committee
Ben. II. Hill :" this nomination received the
Endorsement Of the Atlanta Ns0 Era, then q
Republican paper and the personal organ of
Governor Bullock. Again, he was lessee
with Hon. Simon Cameron and others In the
State road. These different actions brought
forth q response which sstonished him the
evil powers he had invoked turned upon him |;
his past was remembered only to condemn his
present the power which as q true Democrat
he welded fell from him when he said she
didn't go to be Democrat" and . sigh of
contempt passed over the State his family
then at Athens-was visited End insulted by
Ku-Klux. In a word, he was a victim of that
social ostracism which he had forced upon the
people. He had not fairly counted the cost,
and could not bear the consequences, and he
hastened to assure his friends that his de-
mocracy was beyond suspicion. He has since
endeayored to explain this portion of his his
tory, and his explanation dishonors him Being
in substance that he went in perfidy,
with deceit upon his lips, to pre-
vent second reconstruction. For
several years he has been trying to regain the
confidence Of the people, and when his full
opportunity came was quick to seize it. The
referred to was on January 20,
1875, at q convention Of Confederate soldiers
to form the Survivors Association. Let us
take brief look at this convention through
the glasses Of correspondent of the Savan-
nah .AdVertiSer of January %, 1875. The
meeting is in the Hall of the House of Repre-
sentatiyes in Atlanta. We quote:
The men who make the laws Of the country
give place to the men who have fought its battles
and we all feel thrill Of the old-tfme passionate
from many well-contested field defeat, (alss!)
but never, thank God, dtshonor."
Colonel Tom Hardemen nominates General
9 perfect storm OF applause, cheers, and wells
and clappings that shake the very house There
is provision Of the constitution that the oficers
not parliamentarianS, and don't intend to waste
time that way. when they already know their
own wishes. General Johnston-the glorious old
soldier, who kept his army's and his country's
confidence even in defeat-they will have and
nobody else, SO they elect him by acciauaticn."
1t is at this time, when the recollections of
the war have been wildly recalled to the
mind, and the "old-time passionate pa
evoked by the presence and speeches
Of all the distinguished Confederate soldiers of
the State, that Mr.. Hill mounts the rostrum
and delivers to two thousand people a speech,
which is called "the grandest effort of his
lifc." We repeat few extracts, to show its
tenor:
Secession was mistake, q terrible mistake,
but secession was no crime" alive
fall with the ballot.box In 1870, BY reason or
force, startling question will present Itself 70
e the COnStitdtion OF our fathers worth bloodP
WI you have war Or deIpotism3 will you have
!, blood J Or snplrei That I. tho question: -.
country until Radcallsm 10 erushedi not only
cfuIhed, but dospilodt not only despised, but
made infamous throughout America"
III lnordnate love Of power shall decree that
America must save her Constitution by blood,
lot Il como, i an ready" "IfanoLher
war should come, We of tho South Will rally
under the old nag OF our fathers. IL always was
our nag. We were never ialthless 70 it, and our
enemies were never faithful 70 &C."
n will be said that tho utterances OF one
man cannot be taken as an index OF the feel.
ings OF people. But this man occupies Pc
rulIar position; from the highest In tho esteem
Of the people, his dealings with the Republi-
cans cast him to the lowest depths condemned
by all, slowly he worked up until this speech
was made, which was received by the widest
applause, and placed him above all sthers.
That 10 not all. There was q vacancy In the
delegation, caused by the death
Of Garnett Mcmillan, In the Ninth district,
n lr.. NN..S H.. l.