The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-01-14
spyECH N Tl6E H0x. !. II. NIL.

sklllful ana most effective mind In the
South now engaged In active political
life. Since his triumphant and In some
respects extraordinary election to Con-
gress. We have believed that when q
proper opportunity came that this
courageous and gifted man would
make an indelible mark In the
House Of Representatives, whether
rs lawyer or statesman, equally ~
much to the CONSERVATION OF
the enemies Of sectional peace
| and Of the traditional principles and
the true interests Of tho, country, as to
tho delight, II not TO the surprise, Of his
friends and Of the Democratic party gem
orally. Heretofore his splendid politi-
raj speeches aud forensic displays have
had more a local than . national repu.
tatlon2have been spoken to Georgia
assemblages and courts, and not on the
broad theatre upon which he now 80
heroically and grandly moves. His
| first encounter has been with the Repub-
| lican leader OF the House, Mr.. Blaine,
lately Its accomplished Speakcr,a person
noted above others OF the Radical fra
ternity, greatly admired for his argu.
mentative power and dcxterous parlia-
mentary and partisan management,
whom by the universal ncquiescence,
both on the part Of Democratic rivals
and critics aud Republican foes, Mr..
Hill has met and overcome IN debate,
and this, too, while the heretofore latent
advantages OF the discussion, 50 TO speak,
so far as the Northern. popular feeling
enters into u us a prominent element,
wero all with, his Willy Antagonist. II
was d delicate subject. II was no other
thnn upon proposition TO grant univer.
sal amnesty 20 all Southern men,
including Jefferson Davis himself, the
President land leading statesman OF
tho late Southern Confcdcracy. II re-.
quired high courage and consummate
abilities. backed by the. Invaluable
truths contained In the historical evil
dence Of the case. uttered by a fear
less and commanding intellect and
with a nerve whose moral tension
WIS stronger than steel to expose
In good temper the real, mean. election
eering purposes Of the Radical party,
and TO thoroughly maintain the truth
and right, without the slightest cohlpro-
mise u Southern manhood. 1t certain
ly required all the qualities that give
Mr. Hill the undoubted title Of first
rate leader and debater, to have made
such a man us Mr.. Blaine occupy the
second place III such q controversy, and
TO have won the applause, ~ the tele.
graphic dispatches inform us he did,
both OF the House and galleries
At the last session OF Congress the
then Republican majority introduced
and passed a bill In favor of general
amnesty, and the Democratic majority
Of the present Congress took up the
identical bill passed by the last Con
gress and underworld to send II TO the
Senate without excitement or debate,
To this bill, Mr.. Blaine moved an
amendment excluding Mr.. Davis from
the amnesty granted to all others,
and since Il Is obvious that
Mr.. Davis was no more morally
or politically guilty than any other
true man devoting his heart and soul
as hundreds OF thousands assured
ly felt themselves justified In doing, to
the Southern cause In which he 50 nobly
struggled, Il follows that Mr.. Blaine's
object must have been either vindic-
tive and altogether unchristian spite
against Mr.. Davis as u man, or else of
some miserable party design which he
wished TO accomplish by stin-
ulating Northern prejudices and
passions In the House and
country, and by recognizing, II
possible, another crusade Of Radical
hatred and vengeance against the South.
II Is true that Mr.. Davis was the chief
officer In the service Of the Southern
Confederaoy. But he was no more ar
dent, or infiexibly resolved in the con-
test which the Southern States dis.
covered they could not escape, than
Lee. or Jackson, and many hundreds
OF soldiers and civilians who can be
named, The work Of the Con-
gress at Richmond was just as
important as that Of the Executive,
and the men who fought at Chancellors-
vile, fredericksburg, Chicamauga,
Cold Harbor, Manassas, and scores Of
battles. are quite as likelyto be remem-
bered In history, and IL any are to be
held in humanity vengeance, are just
as apt to curdle the unforgiving Radical
veins as jefferson Davis himself The
war has been closed for eleven long
years. Mr.. Davis has been under bond
aud ready for trial on an indictment for
alleged treason, since his release from
that imprisonment In chains at Fort
Monroe by the order and procurement
OF the Infamous suicide, Edwin Stan
ton, at which act OF combined coward.
ice and cruelty the whole civilized world
stood In irrepressible indignation and
horror. Not daring to try him for treason,
and thus reducing the great conflict
between the sections, In a moral and
legal point Of view, to court record, in
which the defendant would necessarily
stand acquitted II fairly tried; after
putting heavy chains upon his sick
body and combining his proud, uncon-
quered and unconquerable spirit within
anarrow easement OF a Virginia fortress,
thi1o ~ u II III A al ,o 81 ., ,nu ~ l. -