The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1882-10-11
BEN. HILLS SON.


The following letter appears in the
Atlanta Constitution
His Excellency. Gov. A. n. Colquit:
Dear Sir:-On last Saturday about
noon received note from an intimate
friend Of yours thai. you had appointed
me to the vacancy in the United States
Senate, caused by the death Of my
father. During she afternoon of the
same day I was visited by distinguish
ed gentleman, who told me that you
we're considering the appointment very
favorably, and be called to say to me
that such an appointment would meet
/ his appreciation On last Monday l
saw in the press, and was also informed
iby friends, that a petition was being
circulated in tie city asking you to
make the appointment. It is useless to
say that was deeply touched at the un-
iexpected news that you would most
probably, as the official head of the peo-
| pie of Georgia, pay this tribute to the
memory of my father. 1t is unnecessa-
ry to say, also, that the honor involved
in your alleged purpose, realized fully
II that under our republican institutions,
land the healthy democratic sentiment
that is the life of these institutions,
had no right to expect even eonsidera-
ton on the scores0f inheritance. real
lied even more fully that young and in
experienced as [ am, there was nothing
in my reputation or ability that would
/ have drawn your attention to me as an
original choice gratefully accepted
: the suggestion as another evidence OF
, the love of the people of Georgia for
my father-a love that honored him in
his life, sustained him in his days of suf-
fering, comfored him in his death, and
brings consolation to the sad hearts Oh
his bereaved family Without spark
of personal tmbition I hoped that the
sentiment moving you would find nc
dissent in cher quarters. Since then,
: however, opposition has been developed
to the proposed appointment. | do not
mean to Intimate that this opposition
} grows out of any want of respect for my
! fathers memory. Oh, no. Those who
oppose it have doubtless good and suf1i-
cient reasons. But the opposition ex-
lists, and now, therefore, anxiously
awaited your return to the city to urge
that you take no steps whatever in the
matter, but That you make answer to
the petition Of my friends, if such pc
tition be presented to you, with this let
ter. Had the appointment been ten
dered me, backed by unanimous SEN
timent, and had gained my consent to
have accepted for even a fragment of
three months a position so far beyond
my aspirations or my deserts, | should
have done SD humbly and with sense
of consecration. Under the circum-
stances / could not accept it at ALL To
make it an honor that should have
cherished above all things else in life,
and the tribute that would have filled
my dear fathers last moments with joy
and gratitude, it must be spontaneous
and without exciting the slightest hos
tillty to any one. / should disturb his
sacred memory and violate every honor
able sentiment e my nature if I con-
scented to encourage a wrangle over his
mantle, much less if [ entered into that
4 wrangle myself, and sacrificed his name
to my own promotion. [ thank you,
sir, for your reported inclination to
make this appointment. / thank the
friends who have interested themselves
in my behalf You and they can add
to my gratitude by accepting this letter
in the spirit in which it is written. I
have not the slightest criticism for those
who have felt called upon to oppose the
purpose of my friends. My father had
too much of kindness and honor from
the people of Georgia while living, and
too much devotion to his memory now
for my love to them to be shaken by
any course they may adopt toward his
son. Very respectfully, yours,
BENZ. III. HILL, JR.