, 1879-05-11
THE LEGISLATIVE BILL.

THE LEGISLATIVE BILL.
:. BEN H11L. MAKES TREASON GLORIOUS.
zoeciaz Dspcscs to Tie 1ri1une
WASHINGTON, D. C., May 10-Senator Ben
Hill, Of Georgia, delivered great speech in the
Senate, ostensibly in favor OF the political Sec
ton attached to the Legislative Appropriation
bill, but in reality on the political issues which
at present divide the two great parties and are
aeitating the country. Mr. Hill spoke Tor near
II four hours, and, although he traversed good
deal Of familiar ground, his treatment Of the
seycral topics was new aud interesting. Mr..
Hill lacks the polished rhetoric and perfect elo-
cuion Of Conkling, yet his earnestuess and
clearness always makes him IN interesting
speaker. He never fails to command the undi-
v1ded attention Of the Senate He devoted
considerable portion OF his effort to replying to
the speeches Of Messrs. Conkling and Edmunds.
: THE BURDEN OF HILLS SPEECH
Was to show that the Rebellion vas precipitated
by the North. According 70 his theory, the
North had undertaken to, interfere With what
the people Of the South considered their lawful
property: He disclaimed on. the part bf bis
Section any intention of ever going into another
war. Secession, he said, wns a doctrine. which
had had its day, wrought its wrongs, and de-
scended to its grave. 1t was the end Of The at
tempt to vitalize the doctrine OF State riQhts:::
The other doctrine. the twin Of the dead Issue,
was ccntralism, which, however, was not dead.
It still reared aloft its head and it is that which
now prompts the opposition to the pending
measure ;: ~, -.
HI. HIPS attempt to put himself, and his
party, and the South in good atrtude was very
Ingenious In order to make the North appear
responsible far the War, he tried to show. that
many OF the leading meny of the South had
been opposed to the War at the outset. Out of
the eleven Representatives and Senators now in
Congress from Georgia,
- NINE WERE UNION MEN
And opposed to secession. he read from an old
newspaper, yellow with age and almost worn
out with handling, letter he had written at
Aillageyille. Ga, year after the articles Of
secession had been passed by the Convention OF
that State, in which be deeply dcplored the
event, and looked with dark misgivings into the
future. -, .
He went into an elaborate argument. TO show
that the War Of the Rebellion was entered into
reluctantly BY the people OF the State. who we're
especially devoted to the Union. It was only
the institution of slavery which eectioualized
the country and divided the people Of the North
and South against each other. The men who
preclpitated the War, he said, we're now trying
: to start another, but they would never succeed.
he expressed strong belief that the President
would not veto the new bill, for the reason that
1t would be an act Of partizanship, and the Pres
fdent had once said that he serves lis party
best who serves his country best
He read 4 letter .
-: WRITTEN By zACK CHANDLER
In 1851 to the Governor OF Michigan, in which
the hope was expressed that the Peace Con-
gress then assembled might come to grief He
wss afraid that Indiana and Illinois might be
weakening. There must be, said SIR Chandler,
in the letter quoted by Mr. Hill, little blood
letting. Without it the Union would not be
worth rush.
Hill then asked If Chandler had lost any
blood 10 the War. At this Mr.. Chundler's eyes
flashed fire, and his face became unspeakably
savage: He Immediately sent for some docn-
ments: and glass OF water, and after Senator
H1l sat down he arose aud delivered -;
TERRIBLE FH1LLRlc
against the Democracy. "This is the fourth
time since 1851 he said, "a that allusion has
been made to circumstances under which that
letter was written. had been in this Senate
for four years listening to treason. The threat
was universally, DO this or we will dissolve
House. treason ia the Cabinet, treason in the
Senate and House Of Representatives. boldly
outspoken- treason daily and hourly uttered.
The threat was made upon this floor and in rny |
hearing: Treason was app1audcd in the gale !
ries Of this chamber, and no notice was taken |
OF it, The flag OF Rebellion was raised and then |
that letter was written pY me to the Governor |
OF Michigan. He wanted to make use Of it. I |
told him he could make any use OF it be saw ht:;
To-day that is my 1ettcr.'' :.
sncaking Of proposition OF Powell, of-Ken-
tueky' to negotiate, Chandler said: :.;sir, it
Was : .: -!
$. NO TINE THEN 10 NEGOTIATE. K
The time for negotiations had passed. had
offered everything in the way OF: :negotf6tti
This was the condition Of things when thax
letter was written. Michigan was loJat;;~ and
her Governor WAS loyal. That was all there
was OF it. But how much blood did the Senator
from Georgia shed in that WareA.tt & !
-Mr. Hill Quterruptng}-"T The chief differ
:nce between us is that T.lxfsfift IT, 1aT0t .of1
shedding anybody's blood5' - T. <t;s: f7:!:
Mr. Chandler" Nor Was i, except to punish I
reason- The Senator from Georgia is not the