The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1882-08-23
Death Of Senator Benjamin I. Hill.

Oar dispatches bring intelligence of
the not unexpected; death Of Hon. Ben
jamin II. Hill. the gifted and distin-
gpished Senator ircm Georgia. Though
universal sadness will be felt at such a
natural calamity, the generous and
tenAer-hearted cannot but feel that if
was mercy to free him from the great
Suffering he has borne SO long, so pa
tientlv and Will, so lrnch resignation,
BENJAMIN Harvey Hill was Goln ii
Jasper county, Ca, September l4th,
1923, and had consequently Hot reach
cd lis seth year; dying when, bat fo,
his insidious 'nalady, he might have
hoped for many years Of usefulness to
come. he graduated at the State Uni
yersitv o. Georgia i'll 1874 and WIS nj
uitted to the bar in 1915. He served
in tie Lower House Of the Georgia
Legislature in 1881, and in the Senate
in 1859. In 1855 he was the American
candidate for Congress in his District
and was defeated, though BY less than
q hundred votes. Mr. Hill was never
q Democrat until the collapse Of all
the conservative parties by which the
Democratic patty Was opposed. He
was originally q Clay Wing In 1891
he was the American or Know Moth
Ing candidate for Governor against
Joseph Z. Brown, bis late colleague in
the United States Senate, but was de-
feated. lie was a member OF che Geor-
gia Secession Convention in 1861 aud
opposed secession. bnt vigorously sus
tanned the policy of his State sitter the
ordinance had been passed. de was a
member OF the Provisional Congress OF
the Confederate States, and subse-
queutly a Confederate States Senator.
About the time Of Mr.. Yancy's death
strange story was told, to the effect
that it was caused by blow from an
irkstaDd thrown at his head by BEN
Hill in the midst Of & heated debate in
the Senate. We have never heard it
confirmed, bot it is we'll known that
the relations between these two great
orators were not very harmonious
After the war MI. Hill, like other
) Southern statesmen, settled down to
his private business until reconstruc
ton had run its appointed course. In
1876 he was elected to Congress to ill
vacancy, ana served through the
, short session. The same year I've was
elected to the 45th Congress, but nev.
or took bis seat, having been elected
to the Senate for a full term before
Congress met. His Senatorial tern
1 would have expired March 18th, 1853
e MFR. Hill was trulp great man. III
e occupied high position in every pub
j. lie station he had been called to NIL
He leaped into the front rank OF oena
= tors tbs moment he took his seat
= There were few members Of that ADJ
body who could cope with him IN de
bate and none who excele1, if equal
G cd him in eioquence. He was states
man of large and patriotic views
# though his genius served sometimes
d lead him into what might be deeme
?, an cratic c. urse on certain measures
But no one ever doubted his thoroug
l. sincerity and honesty Of purpose. I'll
70 social and kindly disposition was pre-
~ verbal and made him such generf
p. favorite with his fellow Senators th ~
+ 10 intemperance of debate could shak
y !, they friendship for him. AS an ind
"a cation Of this we may note the lettt
of congratulation sent him SOU
Il, mouths age, when be was thought
he iUproyiilg, written by Mr.. Hoar,
= Republican Senator, and at his II
-, stance, signed by every Senator,
!. whatever political party. His loss vi
I, ba deeply felt, not only by the peop
u of hie own State but by the people
y, the whole country, and it is not oEte
t. that State is called Oh to lose fro
OF It's Congressional representation at Il
ii same time two such men as Renjam
n. Il. Hin and Alexander #. STEPHEN
10 Georgia can hardly ill their p!acs
nf --[ShIeveport Times.