New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-01-12
WASHINGTON.
Mr.. HILL ON ANDERsONvILLE.

MIX. HILL ON ANDEitScN llIi1t'
= STRANGE SCENE IL THE EoUSE-THE RESPONSE
BuTrY or ANDERsoNyuLG CHARGED on THE
UNITED srATEs-THK SOUTH NOW BACK IN THE
UNION TO STAY.
Br TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 11.-Those who vent TO the
House OF Representatives to-day, witnessed strange
spccta Gle. There the floor surrounded by nearly
q hundred men who sympathized with him, stood an
ex-senator Of the Confederate Congress, benjamin
Hill OF Georgia, defending the Confederate Govern
ment from attacks which had been made upon it, its
highest officers from the charge of cruelty TO Union
prisoners and charging the crime and outrage OF
Andcrsonvillo upon the policy of the Federal Gov
eminent. The prophet who, ten years ago, should
have forctold the events of to-day, would have been
looked upon az crazy. Mr.. Hill is regarded in the
South one Of the strongest men sent from that
section to this Congress and the announcement in
the morning papers that lie had the floor for
to-day drew to the Capitol the customary
crowd OF curious listeners Selecting spot on the
Democratic side of the House, from which he could
be easily heard and ranging before him on the desk
half a dozen books, from which he was TO quote, he
entered upon the task one accustomed TO speak III
that place His former service, though long years
have interviewed since ended, seemed to make him
feel perfectly at home. 1t is customary on such
occasions for about half of the members OF the
House to gather around the speaker, standing as
tliclly as possible, as men gather about stump
speaker; but Mr.. Kerr, ut the request OF member
on the Republican side, requested and insisted that
Representatives should keep their seats, and pre-
serve degree of order not often known in the
House. Almost every member was in his seat and
listened TO the orator from beginning to end of his
long speech.
On the character OF Mr Hips speech il is unneces
sary to remark since full synopsis of it will reach
the public through the regular press reports. 1t was
strougn argument, much stronger than 1t was sup
posed a speech on that side Of the question could be,
and was fortified throughout with quotations from
official documents and letters. 1t was no doubt
strange revelation to more than one veteran North
err Democrat 10 see the Government of tho United
ates arraigued for suierngs OF Union prisoners In
the South, to hear ex-Confederate Senator quote
history to prove that the policy of the South was
humane and that of the United States brutal. One
Of tho most startling assertions made by the speaker,
which he said was supported by the reports Of Secre-
tary Stanton and Surgcon-Gencral Barnes, was that
Of the Confederate prisoners in Federal hands II
per cent died. while of the Union prisoners in Con-
federae hands only nine per cent died The closing
portions Of the speech will be those most open to
criticism. To Northern man and Republican 1t
will look like tho sublimcst impudence for Mr.. Hill
to say that the South did great wrong to tho Union
10y leaving IT to fall into the hands OF party which
never kept it's pledges. and which had denounced 1t
as . compact with hell and league with the devil
IL would be difficult for him to have found stronger
words than he used when he said that the south had
come back, was here III this Chamber, and here she
proposed to stay. There were here, no said no Sc
cessionists, no Confelcrates, but men who in the
Union would strive to labor for the good OF the
country Nothing could ever drive them again to
commit the folly OF going out of the Union.
As Slr Hill sat down, the Secretary OF the Senate
appeared at the bar Of the House 10 announce the
death of Andrew johnson, and SO this most remark
able debate, in which in sense the battles OF the
past are being fought over again was interrupted to
nav the customary tributes of respect 70 the memory
of ole who wa, made by il one Of the most prou-
nrut figures of the age. The debate will he con
tinued tomorrow By 4ir. Garfield and Will probably
last several days.