The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-01-12

&c pdrte testimcny-:aken while the gentle
man now on trial before the country was in
prison, without q hearing and without the
opportunity Of appearing. II there was
any pricciple held sacred in the Anglo
Saxon mind 1t was that an Englishman was
not to be condemned until be should be con-
fronted with his witnesses. But the testimo.
NJ was not only er pdrte, but was mutilated-
palpably mutilated- most adroitly mutiated.
The speaker further continued !: EVen-on
the day of his execution Captain Wirz had
been offered a Communication of bis sentence
If he would implicate MI. D5Vis; but Wirz's
answer to bis counsel was: :" Mr.. Schade,
you know that have always told you that l
do not know anything about Jefferson Davis.
He had no connection with nae rs to what
was done at Andersonville. I would not
become traitor against him Or anybody
else even to save my life" But what
poor Wirz within two hours OF his eXecu-
ton would not say for bis life the gentle
man from Maine says TO the country for the
sake of keeping his party in power. [Sensa.
toni Sir, Christianity is falsehood, hu-
maul.y Is a lie. civilization is cheat, or the
man who would not make false charge for
his life was never guilty of wilful murder.
Mr.. Hill went on to argue that the logic
of Mr.. Blaine's speech. holding Dir. Davis
responsible for the acts of Mr.. Winder,
President Grant might be held responsible
for the acts Of Med onald and Joyce and ne
asked whether Mr.. Blline meant TO estab-
li:h rule Of construction that would au-
thorize The country TO arraign President
Grant for completely in the whiskey frauds.
Was DIR. Grant responsible, he asked, for
the c!e1it.mobIiers, for the Sanborn con-
truct, or for the frauds on the District of
Columbia? And yet l1r. Grant had abso-
lutely sent TO the Senate Of the United States
for confirmation for high Office the name of
a man (slluding to Mr.. Alexander r. Shep.
perd, Of Washington,) who stood charged
before the country with the grossest pecula-
ton and frauds on this D Strict after the
charges had been made and while they were
pending. He (Mr. HilD was neither the
author nor the disciple of such political logic,
but if the gentleiDan's (B!aine'.) PROPOSE
tions with regard to Mr. Davis were true,
thea by the same logic General Grant, in
stead OF being entitled to third term, was
entitled to twenty terms in twenty peniten-
tiaries. [Laugbter.]
Mr. Hill said: "Whatever horrors had
existed at AndersonviIle, not one of them
could be attributed to single order of the
Confederate Government, AID that every
one of them grew out of the necessities Of
the occasion, which necessity was fastened
on the Confederates by the conduct of the
other side." He challenged Mr.. Blaine to
meet him face to face and fact to fact in the
discussion of the questions, declaring that
the time was of the past when the country
could accept the impudeuce Of assertion for
the force Of argument, or the recklessness of
statement for the truth Of history.
Mr. Hill here read some articles regarding
the prison at Elmira.
Mr.. Piatt, of New York, asked him who
was the author of the letters.
Mr.. Hill replied that he did not know.
! Mr. Platt declared. as living within Thirty.
six miles of Elmira, that The statements were
unquali6edy false.
Mr. Hill, after reading from u:geon-Gene-
raj Barnes, said: "The ratio was twelve per
cent. OF Confederate prisoners in Federal
hands who died, and less than nine per cent.
of Federal prisoners in Confederate hands !;
and, my friend, addressing Blaine With great
emphasis,) who is the murderer? I would
believe Surgeon.Geueral Barnes in preference
to any politician over there. The gentleman
| (Patt) says be lives thirty.siX miles away
from Elmira. Perhaps he could have smelled
the smallpox that far. He certainly could
not have seen it. and I venture to say that
il the smallpox was at the prison camp no
one could have got him nearer than thirty
six miles. He is d wonderful witness.
| TLauehter1 Butthe question Is,
at last, Who was responsible for that state OF
things? And that is really The only import
ant question. ....-.. ..
Mr.. Hill went on to discuss the history
of the exchange of prisoners, dwelling on
the fact that the cartel which was established
in 1862 was interrupted in 1868, and that the
Federal authorities refused to continue the
exchange.
at this point of the debate Mr.. HIPS hour
expired, but by unanimous consent be was
allowed to proceed without any limita-
ton as to time.
Mr.. Blaine asked him whether be had not
been member Of the Confederate Senate.
Mr. Hill replied that he bad been.
Mr.. Blaine then quoted a resolution offered
10 the Confederate Senate by Mr.. Hill OF
Georgia, TO the following effect:
"That every person pretending to be a
soldier or officer of the Uoited States on the
soil of the Confederate States after the list
Of January, 1863. shall be presumed to have
entered the territory Of the Confederate
to abet murder; and that unless satisfactory
proof be adduced to the contrary before the
military court before which his trial shall be
had he shall suffer DEATH"
He asked Mr. Hill whether he was the
author of that resolution. H.
Mr.. Hill 81 will say to the gentleman
from Maine, very frankly, that have not the
slightest recollection Of hearing of 1t before"
Mr. Blaine: "You do not deny it,"
Mr.. Hill: 81 do not know. My own
opinion is that l never was the author of
that 1e:olut:o on, but have no recollection
o. it. If the gentleman can give me the cir
cumstances under which it was introduced
I may recollect."
MIR. Blaine: "On the 1st of October, 1862,
the judiciary Committee Of the Confederate
Congress made report and offered a series
of resolutions, and thereupon Senator Hill,
of Georgia, is recorded as having offered the
resolution which have just read"
Mr.. Hill: II 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" daughter at the expense Of
Mr.. Blaine.]
MIR, Blaine: "Does the gentleman admit
that he made that report?"
Mr.. Hill 81 do not know; but it is very
likely" IDerisive laughter on the Republic
can side.l 49,,
Mr.. Blaine: "The copy which quoted
from is entitled Republication in America
I wish to know whether the gentleman was
the author of the resolution" :,
Mr.. Hill: 81 really do BOT reeohect."
Renewed laughter on the Republican side.]
Dir. Blaine (persistently): 1.-THE gentleman
does not say he was not the author OF it."
AZ Hill: UI do not. but I think | was