Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-08-23
Death OF Senator Hill.

Senator b. II. Hill of Georgia died in At
lanta, Wednesday, August 16. His death
was the result of cancerous affection which
appeared on his tongue little over year
ago. lie had submitted to frequent surgi-
cal operations, and when he left the hospital
in February last his physician considered
the main trouble cured and that he had
only to await the healing of the wound
made by the knife. Benjamin Harvey Hill
was born of Irish parentage September Nth,
1928. He graduated from the University of
Georgia and won high position in his
chosen profession of the law. He was con-
spicuous in local political contests during
the exciting slavery agitation Of thirty
years ago. He was defeated as an indepen-
dent candidate for congress in 1857 by the
democratic candidate, Joseph E. Brown, now
United States senator from Georgia. He
accepted a nomination to the state senate in
1859 and $780, in order that he might be in
the best position to fight the secession move
ment in his state. Throughout his political
career he had been distinguished as an ar
dent Union man, and as member of the
state convention in 1861, he took an I'M
hinching stand for the union but when the
secession ordinance passed, he went with his
state and followed her fortunes throughout
the civil war. He was member of the con-
federate provisional congress and afterwards
senator from Georgia in the congress of the
southern confederacy. He bitterly opposed
the scheme of reconstruction, but on its
adoption he appealed to the citizens of
Georgia in behalf Of Cancellation. lie sup
ported the Greeley movement with charac-
teristc zeal, but in 1873 was defeated for
the United States senate by the old-line
democratic candidate, General j. b. Gordon.
In 1875 he was elected to congress and his
name will be always associated with that of
James G. Blaine as his antagonist in a most
brilliant and most memorable parliamentary
tilt. In the trying times attending the
count of the electoral votes in 1876 his
course was distinguished by moderation and
wisdom 1t was significant of the changed
condition of southern sentiment that at the
close of a powerful speech in favor of the
electoral commission telegram was handed
him announcing his election to the United
States senate. His career since the war has
been generally conservative and patriotic.
His last conspicuous appearance in the arena
OF debate was in the spring of 1881, when
the republicans, by the aid of Senator Ma
hone of Virginia, undertook to reorganize
the senate. Senator Hill was leader of the
democracy and his speeches on this as on
many previous occasions when the interests
of the south were vitality affected, were dis
tinguished by a bulldog boldness and ferocity
of spirit. His long and patient suffering
softened the asperities of his political rela-
tions, and he had no more cordial or heart
felt sympathizers in his melancholy fate
than those whom he had most fercely com.
batted. Mr.. Hill was not statesman. lie
was curious mixture of liberalism and
bigotry,-frequently right, as often in the
wrong,-and too many times the victim of a
hot temper and Of narrow prejudices. Still
the general course of his political life since
the war has been salutary for the promotion
Of union sentiments and in furtherance of
reconciliation. The influence he exerted
and the sentiments he expressed during the
trying ordeal which preceded the Inaugural
ton of President Hayes will especially enti-
tie his name to grateful remembrance
throughout the Union.