The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1876-03-01
Fun Restoration.

Perhaps no single circumstance
in tho history of political parties
during theP past ten years has at
tracted fatS1e attention and called
forth the expression Of more diverse
opinions thai tho recent debate in
congress a9AoA the amnesty biH. 1t
Will be remembered that Mr. Blaine
made most violent speech against
the tssttor&tion of Jefferson Davis to
full citizenship, rdsphg ,hi, opposi-
ton upon the nllegea'romplicity of
Mr., Davis in tho naltreatment-as
no is pleased to term it-of federal
prisoners confined in the South
during the war. Mr. Hill, of
Georgia, replied, showing the posi-
tive absurdity OF any attempt to
involve the ex-president in any
complictyin the cruelty to prison
ers, oven admitting, for the sake
OF argument, that such cruelty
really existed. The. distinguished
member from Georgia used very
plain language, and while express
ing the utmost loyalty to the ma
tional government, claimed the
! right. for Raims self and for the
Southern people, to reply to all
charges or irnputations unfo,mdod
III fact, and made sololy to subscrve
.parbsan purposes. Without en-
tcri"g iMto the merits of tho re-
spec4ivc parties to the discussion rs
to the treatment Of prisoners upon
each side du, ing the war, we must
say word upon the construction
that has been placed upon Mr..
, Hills course by the radical press
of the North. There is scarcely a
republican paper of any note in the
! entire Union that has not seized
upon the remarks Of Mr.. Hill, to
show the disloyalty of the Southern
people and the consequent danger
to the country likely to arise from
their exercise of proportionatc
share OF power in the governments
All the arguments, all tho appeals
to sectional prejudice. all tho spite
ful abuse that the bitterest partisan
spirit could suggest; have bcon
evoked by the course of Mr., Hill
IN his vmdication Of tho Southern
people from tho slandorous attacks
of Dlnino and his followers, All
the ovor.wrought and highly color
cd stories about tho horrors of
Anderaonyille, anil nll the nonscnsi
cal theories rs to the complicity
of the Confederate authorities in
tho alleged maltroltmcnt of Tudcral
soldiers confined in the South. have
boon givon to thu public, with such
additions. and comments as the
eS'Sencics Of the party scnm to
demand. Mr.. Hills only offence is
that hc darod to say II word in
reply to tho positive and, as We
believe, the deliberate misStatc-
ment" of Blaine, ahd appealed to
tho record to show That tho lattcrs
position was entirely groundlcss.
Wo NJ" not disposed to discuss the
wisdom Of Mr., Kills course in
allowing himself to bo drawn into
II controversy with most willy and
'nscrnpnlous adversary, who was
intent entirely upon making polit;
cal capital for the party to which ho
has sworn unqucstioning allegiance
and Of which he aspircs to be tho
st"ndard-bcarcr in the noxt prcsidcn-
tial campaign. This has nothing to do
with the main question presented
ny the comments of tho radical
press upon the dclmtc in tho house
to which we now have reference.
That question is simply whether
Southern men. having cohformed
to all tho requirements Of congress,
E having sworn allegiance to tho
United States, and havitig been duly
sent to reprosont their people in
tho national legislature, havo the
wight to express their views upon
tho questions therc presented for
dlscussion' If they have that right,
Mr. Hills course was not ONLY
eminontly proper. but it was simply
in tho fulfilmcnt of duty hc owod
to his constituency. IF tho people
Of the South arc, as tho radicals
claim whefr given to boast of their
magnaliimity, fully restored to
citizenship, then surely it is their
right, III commot> with their fellow
citizens of the North. to give
,itterance through their chosen