Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-08-17

whelming majority, took his seat in Dem
ocratIc House IN December, 1875 He m AIDE
several notable speeches during his canvass,
the one best remembered being that COM
menung upon the respective treatment of
Federal and Confederate prisoners during
the war. He voted for the electoral
commission bill, and after the eight 10
seven movement developed itself, uniformly
opposed hllbustering and voted to complete
The count. In the winter of 1877 be became
candidate for the United States Senate,
mis- opponents being the retiring Senator
Thomas NJ. Norwood and James NJ. Smith,
who had Just left the eubernatoriaI chair
As in 1878 it was a free fight in the Legisla-
ture, the Republicans NJ aking no nomination.
Senator Norwood led on the first ballot, with
Mr.. Hill close behind and Ex-Governor
Smith bad third. In few ballots, how
ever, Mr.. Hill secured the lead, and Smiths
friends supporting him he was elected, re-
ceIvlng IN the nick OF time the votes of the
Jour negro members. His career in the
Senate has generally been acceptable to the
people Of Georgia. He was ever ready to
defend the South when attacked, and some
times his zeal carried him far beyond the
bounds of prudence. His best work was in
the Committee on Elections, of which his re-
port in favor OF Spoford and against Kellogg
is the most elaborate.
1t was Mr.. Hill who unmarked General
forced the little Virginia repudiator to ap-
pear in his true condition. Were he alive
and well next November there would be no
doubt OF his triumphant reelection 10 the
Senate as proof of his Endorsement by the
Democratic party of his State. Since his
election TO the Senate he has opposed the In
dependent movement in Georgia and sup
ported the opponents of the Independent
congressman, FELTON, and Speer though the
latter were his personal friends. The fatal
malady which caused his death was first
known to the public in the summer of 1880,
when the bitter contest began between Gov
ernor Colquitt and Ex-senator Norwood for
the gubernatorial Office. Hewas solicited BY
both sides to take part in the canvass, but
declined on the ground that he had a sore on
his tongue which prevented his speaking in
the open air. Not much attention was paid
TO the statement, it being generally received
as an excuse for not taking part in CAM
paign in which neither of the candidates
was especially friendly to him. The trouble
grew worse, however, and about a year ago re-
suited In an operation for removal of the
sore, which has been many times repeated. |
His journeys to Philadelphia and "trip 10
Arkansas for relief are familiar 10 our read |
ers, as we'll as his cad return to his home in |
Atlanta to spend his few remaining dsys |
Me-. Hill lived in Athens for a time after the |
war, but some years ago removed TO Atlanta, |
where he owned delightful residence His |
son, z. II. Hill, jr., has been for nearly six |
years the solicitor-general of the Atlanta cir |
cult. Mr.. Hills great strength lay in his |
remarkable gift of speech and his force as i |
writer. He was one of the few men who both |
talked and wrote and did either equally well. |
He was the most candid and eloquent of |
speakers and the most forcible and logical of |
writers, and as a lawyer he had no admitted |
superior in the State. His great weakness |
was his vacIllation in politics, rendering him |
often unsafe counselor and guide. I'm
partial observers must admit, however, that |
this was the result of a constitutional infrm- |
ity rather than careless habit of thought or |
reasoning. Senator HilPs name, in spite OF |
his defects, which were few indeed compared |
to his abilities, will go down to history as
one of the greatest of Georgia's great men.