Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1882-09-02
"reminiscences Of Ben Hill.

late Senator Ben II. Hill: In 1855 Mr..
Hill declared himself candidate for
congress in the Fourth congressional
district, and Mt an informal meeting Of
representatives of the whig party, held
in the town Of Newman, his candidacy
was indorsed. In this campaign Mr..
Hill was in reality the candidate of the
American or "know-nothing" party
which had just taken shape in Georgia.
He was opposed by cx-Chicf Justice
Hiram Warner, Of tireenvillc, who ran
az the nominee Of the democratic party.
The race was warm and clscly contest
cd, warner winning by the thrilling
majority of 66 votes in a district which,
prior TO that time. was accustomed to
roll up majority Of $500 votes. In
1856 Hill WAS placed on the electoral
ticket for Millard Fillmore. 1t was dur
ing tins year that his wonderful powers
on the "hnstings" were first shown to
the best advantage, he having met and
vanqnished both Alexander IL. Stephens
and Robert Toombs in debate in the
town Of Lexington, Oglethorpe county.
Toombs didn't care to fight him, but
Stephens was SO incensed at the new
great man who had literally laid him
ont on his own stamping ground that he
forthwith challenged him. In reply
Hill wrote that celebrated note which is
now part of the political history Of the
state. 1t was in these words: 81 will
not fight you. have conscience and
family. You have neither"
In 1858 Hill was retained to defend
William A. Choice, who killed the
bailf, Webb, at Atlanta The case is
reported in "a Georgia. and is famous.
Bill Choice, as he was called, Has man
of good education and marked talent,
belonging to one Of the best families at
Rome, Ga. While on visit to Atlanta
he got on spree, and while drinking
with some friends in the bar of the old
| Atlanta hotel, which then stood where
| the kimball house now stands, James
Webb, the justice court bailiff, handed
him a notice showing that he had been
sued for $40. This SO enraged Choice
that he attempted to punish Webb on
the spot, but was prevented by by
standers. Early the following morning
fresh from the nights debauch, Choice
walked into Prior street, and, seeing
Webb standing on the opposite side OF
the street several hundred feet away,
drew hi' pistol, and having taken deiib-
crate aim shot him down without the
slightest warning. The town was in an
uproar in a few minutes, and many OF
the best citizens We're so outraged at the
act that they declared for lynch law.
Choice defed the officers saying that
he would kill the first man who laid
hands on him. He was finally captured
by strategy and safely lodged in the
lookup just before the bowling mob,
clamorous for his blood, reached the
station-house. Many able lawyers were
engaged to defend him, young Hill
among the number. Public opinion was
lead against the prisoner. The defense
pleaded insanity, and after the longest
and most exciting trial in the annals OF
Fulton county the prisoner was con
yicted. Hill had thrown his whole soul
into the case, and was bent upon saving
his client. In those days the pardoning
power was vested in the state senate
Hill went back to Troup county, made
the Choice case an issue in the cam.
paign, and was elected to the state sen.
ate, where he made his celebrated
speech for the pardon of Choice. O
this remarkable effort, State Senator
William Harris, of Worth county, once
said: ut WAS the grandest effort tina,
ever fell from human lips. Mrs. Choice
the good and lovely mother Of the pris
oner, dressed il the deepest black, lean
ell upon the arm Of young Hill, as pale
slender, and thoughtful, he walked dowr
the aisle. The galleries were packed
and the excitement was smothered bu
intense. Hill spoke many hours. Hi.
tongue seemed to drop manna,' fo
surely such exquisite strains of patho
never fell upon the air. The senate wa
drowned in tears. The president wep
aioud. The women screamed. / shal
carry to the grave two sentences Of tina
marvellous speech. They ring in I'm!
ears even now, and that scene wa
enacted twenty-five years ago. He said
speaking Of Choices insanity: "Soft al
the zephyr from an orange grove, carry
ing the prayer of an angel, the spirit o
Webb will whisper in your ear, Spare
him, for he knows not what he did.
And again; If you hang William II
Choice inscribe upon the gallows in let
ters of blood that all time may syllable
the shame. "This is Georgia's Lunati
Asylum" Choice was declared insan'
by an overwhelming vote and was sen
To the asylum.
Hill was devoted to Davis, and in al
addr, "a before the Georgia Histories