Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1876-01-18

l,
| the =, cklessness of statement for the
truth of history. Mr. Hill here reau
some articles regarding the PRISON at
Elmira.
MIR. Plat, (rep. N. W asked him
who was the author of the letters.
Mr.. Hill replied that he did not
know.
Mr.. Platt declared. as living with SO
miles OF Elmira that the statements
were unqualItirdly alsp.
MIR. illil. after reading from Surgeon
GeCilial Barnes, said: The ratio was
II per cent. of Confederate prIsuuers
! in Federal hands who died, and less
than per cent. OF Federal prisoners
IN Confederate hands, aud, my friend
addressing Mr.. Blaine with great
emphasIs), who Is the the murderer?
| would believe Surgeon GeciliHl
Barnes in preference To ANY politician
over there, The gentleman tMF
! Piatt, says he lives thirty six miles
f,om ElminR. Perhaps lie could have
smelled the smallpox that far. He
certainly could not have seen 1t, and
venture TO say that If the smallpox
was at the prison camp no one could
have got HIM nearer than thirly-SiX
miles. He is II wonderful witness
! daughter But the utIps-
! ton is at last, who was Responsible tor
that state Of things? And that is real
| ly the only Important question. Mr.
| Hill went out TO discuss the history
of the exchange of prisoners, dwelling
or the fact THAT the cartel which was
established In 1862 was interrupted ia
! 1858, and that the Federal authorities
! refused TO continue the exchange.
Mr.. Blaine. The copy which quot
ed from Ii entitled "kepuUliCanIsm IN
| America" | wish to know whether
| the gentleman was the author of the
resolution.
| AIr. Hill I really do not recollect.
! Renewed laughter on the republican
side.
Mr. Blaine (persistentIy The gen
! tleman does not say he was not the
Hulh Or at 1t.
MIR. HE. / do not. but l think |
wa not the author of It.
NJ. Blaine. | thought that AZ the
gentleuan's effort was to show the
humane character of the Confederate
Congress- this migl aid him in re-
memberihg the facts.
Mr.. Hill. With all due Difference
To the gentleman, he did not think
| any such thing. Laughter. He
bought he would divert me from the
purpose of my argument.
Mr.. Blaine (apOlugetically.) Oh
no; the gentleman can have all the
time he wants.
Mr. Hi. What measures the
Confederate government might have
thought proper TO take at the time TO
protect tie women and children Of tin,
COnfederacy from insurrertion, | o."
not reCOlIeCt, hut | shall not be divert
ell by the gentleman from Maine from
the course OF my Argument to 20 into
the history OF slavery, or of the iusur-
rrction, or of John Browns raid |
know this, that whether | or Ally
other gentleman on the commits, g
was the author of the resolution. aud
which | think more than probable,
our purICse was not tn do injustice
t. any man, woman or chilli north OF
south hut to adopt what we deemed
stringent measures To protect our wives
all children from servile instruction
ani slaughter while our brave sons
were in the field. Murmurs of APP
plause on the democratic side. Mr..
Hill then passed in review the effutts
of The Con iederate government to get
rid of their prisoners and concluded
this branch of ms subject by sayings:
ANA of all the atrocities, both at An
dersOnyille and Elmira, the Confed-
crate government stands acquitted
from ali responsibility aud blame"
At this point Of the debate Mr..
Hill's hoursexpilel,b but by unanimous
CONSENT he WAS allowed 10 proceed
without any limita ion as to time.
Mr.. Blaine asked him whether he
had not been member of the Con
Tolerate Senate.
Mar. Hin replied that he had been
Air. Blaine then quoted resolution
offered in the Confederate Congress Ivy
Mr.. Hill, of Georgia, to the following
effect;
That every person pretending to be
soldier or officer of the United States
who shall he captured on the sOil of
the Confederate States after the LIST OF
January, 1868, shall be presumed to
have entered the territory of the Con-
Tolerate States with intent to incite
insurrectiOE and 10 abet murder, and
that unless satisfactory proof be adj
duced to the contrary before the mill
tary court before which his trial shall
be had lie shall suffer DEATH"
lie asked Mr.. Hill whether he was
the author of that resolution.
Mr.. Hill. | will say to the gentle
man from Maine, very frankly, that /
have not the slightest recollection of
hearing il before.
Mr. Blaine. You do not deny 1t.
Mr.. Hill. do not know. My own
opinion is hat never was the author
OF that resolution, but | have no recol-
lection Of it. If the gentleman can
give me the circumstances which il
was introduced, 1 may recollect.
Mr.. Blaiue. On the LIST Of October,
1862, lie JUDICIARY Committee of the
Confederate Congress made report
aud offered II series of Resolutions and
thereupon Senator Hill, of Georgia, is
recorded as having offered he resolu-
ton which | have just put.
Mr.. Hin. l was chairman of the
judiciary Committee IN the Senate.
and very likely, like the chairman of
the Committee on Rules at the last
session, may have consented to that
report, Laughter at the expense ol
Mr.. Blaine
Mr.. Blaine. Does the gentleman
admit that lie made that report?
Mr. Hin. | do not know, but it l.
very likely. [Derisive laughter on til,
republican side.
Mr., Hill concluded: But the soutl
IL here and here she intends To remain
Enthusiastic denominations on the
democratic side IN The galleries ! IL
hnatiuism do its worst, Let it