The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1877-02-08
Ben Hills Great Speech in Favor of
che Electoral Bill.

Edmunds bill, and there could have
been given no better evidence of tho
truth of Mr.. Conkling's parodox when
he apologized the other day, in tho
Senate, for the loogth Of his speech
"becauso ho had not had timo to
shorten it," Nearly overy speech was
a model in it's way of taking Judge
Blacks celebrated plan of "coming at
once to the middle of things" of
terseness and diroctness to tho point
desired, and in several instances open
applause from both sidos of the House
greeted the momber as the Speakers
hammer fell.
BEN HILLS BRILLIANT SPEECH.
Especially was this so in the case OF
"Ben" Hill, of Georgia-he who has
always been known as representing
the fire>eating element of the South.
When he started off tho noisy House
calmod down to listen as they thought
TO q repetition Of last years intomre-
rate madness-to call it by mild
name--but no, the man whose aspira-
tion to the higher seat in the Senate
of the United States was at that very
moment in the presence of realization
or defeat, uttered the most patriotic
sentiments in q few Of the most thrill
iingIy beautiful periods that probably
ever wero spoken in that cbamber.-
Before he sat down everybody was
convinced, even the most partisan dc.
maGoguos toward whom lo was look
ing on the other side of tho house,
that he WAS b dding for no votes,
though the snarIing pessmist might
say so, but simply giving in a few
burning words his adhesion to the
measure. His sentences describing
tho condition Of the South, speaking
as he did Of himself as tho product of
Southern institutions, created an "of>
fusion" to uso French word, among
tho listopers OF a full house and crowd
ed galleHiDs, which broke out in ap-
plauso so sincere and so we'll moritcd
that Ran dnll had not tho heart to
curb it with generally Industrious
gsIal,
80 PEACE PEACE PEACE
"The South" cried he, in splendid
burst Of genuine oratory, "tho South
stands neck deep in the ashes Of her
poverty" alluding to the results of
the civil war-'and her cry is Peace!
Peace! Peace! with ono voice-civil
war redrosses no wrong, preserves no
right-if you doubt it look here and
be oonvincedW and then he came to
his, ,peroration, tho whole House by
this time standing mentally a-tip toe
TO hear his words-"My country, nv
whole country. y; Blessed is
he that blesseth thee, and cursed bo
he that cursoth thee" Horo no closed
amid solid applause and made q mo-
tion TO sit down, but littlo telegraph
boy hand him dispatch. Ho broke
the seal and read what had that mo-
ment bocn received, for it boro the
private mark Of "1.30" showing the
minute it had boen received:
ATLANTA, Ga.-Hon. B. II. Hill;
You are elected Senator.
15~'.@'. HILL,
KENNON.
so that literally while he was ut
tering his patriotic words, the ballots
w2ore falling which would give him as
aareward the object of his highest
ambition--a seat in the United States
Senate. ... ..
Probably every man in the House
in the next hour, Republicans and
Democrats aliko, shook his hand in
corgratnlation both for his spooch and
tor his success over Norwood, tho
present Senator. Frye, of Maine, one
OF the most Radical members, express.
cd the general foeling whom he said.
~ give you my most sincere con ORC.
tuIatioa." Hill was as ploased with
his telegram as child with a nov
toy; smiles flooded his somewhat rur.
god face, which, say what you please
1s not the ideal face or head of an abIe
man, but rather suggest q !, nov,