New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-01-19
HILLS PROTECTIVE MEASURES

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HILLS PROTECTIVE MEASURES
In the debates in the House, Mr.. Blain
quoted resolution offered by Nh. Hill il
the Confederate Congress to the effec
that all persons pretending to be soldier
or officers of the United States capture,
on the soil Of the Confederacy after Jan
uary, 1863, should be presumed to hav
entered the territory for the purpose o
melting instruction and must SUITE
death. Mr.. Hill, of Georgia, who is nov
Representative in the United State.
Congress, was then a Senator in tn,
Southern Confederacy and chairman O
the Judiciary Committee. He explains
that it was necessary at the time to adop,
the most stringent measures for the pro-
lection of women and children, though he
did not remember the resolution read by
Mr.. Blaine, but said:
What measures the Confederate govern
mens might have thought proper to take al
that time to protect the women and chill
dren Of the Confederacy from the insurrec.
ton, do not recOllect.
Mr.. Hill has one of the happy memories
sometimes given to men who think much
of themselves and forget ugly truths. OF
course he did not fear for himself and his
friend Davis, but Union soldiers captured
were to be shot on account Of the women
and childen whose natural protectors
were in the trenches guarding Richmond
ALI the women and children of the South
must have been in Richmond. along with
the Confederate Congress, and it was of
the greatest Importance that they should
be protected. In the eyes of Mr.. Davis
Richmond was the Confederacy, and when
that city fell the gentleman who does not
ask pardon started on travelling tour.
Long before the fall OF Richmond every
Confederate officer had voted that city
with its red tape heroes a nuisance. 1t
was the pivot on which every military ex-
petition turned. 1t hampered the army,
and its constant guarding became burden
some General Lee frequently complain
ed that the insane desire to protect Rich
was worthless as a base of
supplies, aud no more valuable than other
places left open-embarrassed all his op-
erations on the bolder. Pollard, the
Southern historian, credits Lee with say
ing that he chad got creak in his neck
from constantly looking over his shoulder
after Richmond"
We do not know why Edward A. Pol
lard, the author of the Lost Cause" was
not as valiant and good a rebel as
Ben Hill. He calls attention in his
life Of jefferson Davis to the declara-
lions Of desperate courage the Con-
sederate Congress had made regarding
he defense Of Richmond. The members
Of that Congress, including Mr.. Hill, had
arrived at that heroic point attained by
Artemus Ward when he resolved to sacri-
ice all of his wife's relatives in defense of
his country. When General Mcclellan
was discovered in the branches of tree
IN the Peninsula, Pollard tells US of the
Confederate G. ngress that
The infamcu, response Of this body to
the popular alarm was to exceed it, to
adjourn precip ately, and to break up in
its n ~mbers fleeing to the safety
Of their obscure homes, amid the execca-
lions of the press, the ho0tings of the
populace, and with even the contempt of
the women thrown after them.
We are told that the shame of the
Fugacious Congress was in the mouth of
every one in Richmond. Mr.. Davis had
sent his wife to North Carolina. The
instead Of defending the
women and Children by going to the
picket front with guns, sought their
obscure homes" That Congress could
pass resolution to shoot defenseless
prisoner of war. but its members them
selves showed tie most contemplate cow
.rdice
Mr.. Hill now rings his loud voice
n the halls of the Congress of
he United States. He is not afraid.
He says 'We have come to stay" He
.rembled before the helpless, starving
men at Libby, Belle Isle and Anderson
vile; but he trembled only for the safety
If the women and children. He does not
:ecollect exactly what measures were
aiken to protect them. Aparagraph pub
ished in the Richmond Wing immedi-
.tely after the panic stricken Confederate
Congress adjourned may refresh his men,
Dry; it may call to mind the measures
aiken to protect the women and children,
who were protected in Richmond much as
General Lowell protected the women of
New Orleans when Butler came up the
liver. The Wing said:
For fear Of accident on the railroad the
Congress left in number of
The strongest and newest canal boats
These boats are drawn by mules of ap-
proved sweetness Of temper To protect
The stampeders from the snakes and bull
frogs that abound along the line of the
lanai, General Winder has detailed regi-
nent of ladies to march in advance of the
mules and clear the towpath of the pirates.
The ladies will accompany the stampeders
% q secluded cave in the mountains Of Hep
,idan, and leave them there in charge Of
he children of the vicinage until Mcclellan
links proper to let them come forth. The
aides return to the defense Of their
country.
This paragraph was written and pub
iahod az Tho f;na ond r,1on &ho xuo,,,ox,