The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-01-29
Hon. %. H. HaII,s speech,


which, lie requested the Atlanta newspapers
not to publish until be furnished it to them
written out by himself. was taken down
phonographica!ly, and has appeared in
print. It is full of self-glorification, and in
that respect is mere amplificaton OF his
recent letter published in the Union. He
deals at length, and very effectively, with
an imaginary conspiracy against him in
Washington, and drags in burlesQue re-
port OF q speech he was said to have delivered
in caucus, and which was published in q
city paper, as part OF the proof that such
conspiracy existed. It was this speech, no
doubt, that secured his election, though
General Hill was no more the victim OF a
conspiracy than was General Logan or
Judge Davis, or any one OF the successful
or unsuccessful senatorial candidates. Por-
tons OF the speech are really admirable,
and it Is to be regretted that the spirit
which peryades them does not peryade the
whole. But that would be expecting too
much of Dir. Hill. OF the Democratic
policy he said:
The policy OF the Republicans had to be
met by Democratic policy. What was IT.?
It may be stated in the statement OF few
principles. The first manifestly wise one
was this: That the party must look upon
this great question, raised for the first time
in oil our history, not rs an occasion for
mere party triumph, but that the Demo.
cratic party must now become the party OF
the people, entrusted with the great
work OF ascertaining and declaring
the will OF the people. That high posi-
ton was taken by this party because
the question for us TO determine was
not whom the people ought to elect
that had been done during the canvass, and
the peopIe had voted-but the question we
had to determine was, How the people had
voted, whom they hat elected? And in
determining that question we were bound
by all the obligations, sacred in their char
acter OF Judge and jury, in determining all
questions submitted to them under their
oaths, and l submit it to every intelligent
person if, upon this proposition, the Dem
ocratic party didn't distinguish itself as en-
titled to credit from the American people
in contradistinction TO the Republican
party? [Applause.]
The Republicans were bent upon solving
the problem CHOW to secure our man,
whether the people elected him or not"
They had worked in the three disputed
States to overthrow the will OF the people.
They had no purpose to serve but partisan
purpose. The President even lent himself
to this; a most remarkable spectacle for
him to present. He requested gentlemen
to 20 to those States. Who gave him any
authority to do so? And they went because
he requested them to-, and every one who
went made OF himself a partisan, witness,
and attorney to defend the frauds
and illegal actions OF these return
ing boards. They came back and made their
report. They sent it to the President, ana
he transmitted it 10 Congress and made IL
part OF the official proceedings. Now, wnen
the Democratic party stepped in at this time
wasn't it wisdom-wasn't it patriotism that
it should say, "Our purpose is to repre-
sent the people, the peace, and the laws OF
the country, and ascertain the will OF the
people and abide by it, not as party mat
ter, but in patriotic spirit?" [Applause.]