The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1877-01-03
SENSIBLE IND PA TREOTTC.

SENSIBLE And PATRIOTIC.
Hon. Ben. Hill, of Georgia, has
been interviewed as to his views on
the Situation, and gives expression
TO the following sensible and patri-
otto sentiments:
There is, in my opinion. neither
necessity nor excuse for trouble in
the settlement of the Presidential
question. If we are as patriotic as
the men who framed the constitution
we shall find no difficulty whatever
in its fair and true Interpretation.
There can be no possible apology
for breach Of the peace, nor for
any physical collision, much less for
a civil war. l must be permitted to
say that the chief trouble of the pre-
sent situation lies in the deplorable
fact that too many of the prominent
leaders Of both parties seem to be
exerting all their ingenuity, not in
discovering the truth about the cleo
ton, but in devising ways to secure
q mere party triumph, and 1 am
afraid they are only too willing to
secure a mere party triumph, by any
means foul or fair l do wish some
means could be adopted to make
General Grant realize that he is the
President OF the whole country and
not the President Of the Republican
party. / must confess that no fea-
ture of the situation gives me so
much uneasiness as the evidences l
daily see that General Grant seems
to think that he is under some obli-
CATION to use his Office to secure the
success of the Republican party. IF
my fears in this respect are well
grounded and General Grant should
persist in such a partisan admins
tration of the Government, then l
do fear the most serious conse-
quences will result. The Southern
Representative feel, and feel keen
ly, the embarrassment of their stu
alton. They are the subjects of sus-
picion. This suspicion may be con-
sidered somewhat natural. AS a re-
suit Of this feeling they are not in
clined to make themselves promin-
ent or conspicuous in directing
events, but you may rely upon it
that they will be calm, self-poised
and determined to do whatever they
can to secure q peaceable solution
of the present difficulties. If war
must come it will not by their fault |
And now let me add emphaticalIy |
that, come what may, the Southern
people will remain in the Union and |
true to the Union. They have tried |
secession, and they know it bore no |
fruit but bitterness. They will never |
try it again. The people of the
North, too, should know that the
negro will receive from the Southern
people absolute protection in all his
civil and political rights. The South
has no prejudices against the negro
we charge none of our wrongs TO the
negro; it is our interest not only to
protect the negro, but 10 do all we
can TO educate and improve him; he
Is O citizen, andit is our interest TO
make him an intelligent citizen; he
s o freeman, and it is our interest
% make him worthy freeman; he
s voter, and it is our interest to
make him a wise voter. This is es-
1ecially true because the fourteenth
amendment increases the power of
he South in the Electoral College
md in Congress. We would not,
therefore,, if we could, take the right
# suffrage away from the negro.
The South is not afraid Of the negro !
7hen sinister Influences are removed
rom him he is docile and easy gov ]
rned, and, being a necessary ele- {
rent in our society, we are also de- s
irous that he should be an element :