National Republican., 1883-01-26
THE SENATE AND HOUSE.
A Day Mostly Devoted to Eulogies on the Late
Senator Hill
Remarks by Senators Brown, ingalls,,
Vest, Edmunds, and Sherman.
Also by Representatives Hammond, Speer, Tucker,
House. WelbOrn, and Others.
Tho Navy Bill Passed and the whisky
Bill Given Very Black Eye.
THE SENATE.

This day having been set apart for services
in honor Of the late Senator Hill, of Georgia,
Mr.. Brown, Immediately after the reading of
the journal, moved the following resolution: :
Resolved That earnestly desiring to show every
possible mark of respect to the memory of the
Hon. BENJAMIN. II. Hill, late senator of the
United States from the state of Georgia, and TO
manifest the high estimate in which his eminent
public servicespnd distinguished patriotism are
held, the business OF the senate be now suspended
that the friends and associates of the late Senator
Hill may pay fitting tribute to his high character
his public services, and his private virtues.
Resolved, That in the death of Senator Hill the
country has sustained n loss which has been felt
and deplored to the utmost limits Of the union.
Resolved, That the secretary of the senate COM
municate these resolutions TO the house OF repre-
Resolred, That, ns an additional mark OF respect
for the memory OF the deceased, the senate do
now adjourn.
MR.. BROWN
then delivered an address, in which he
sSetched the history of Mr.. Hill and spoke of
his own early differences with him in the pol
itics of Georgia and of their later cooperation
and friendship. In one of the last letters writ
ten by Senator HILL before his death, to Mr..
Brown, referring to the past, he said; WHO
would then have thought that you were, dur
ing my lifetime, to become my most trusted
and confidential friend?" Speaking of Mr..
Hills career in congress, Mr.. Brown
said that by his ability and character
he soon won the respect, and even the friend
ship, Of his leading opponents, and that Mt his
death Mr.. Blaine, his great antagonist in the
house of representatives, wrote letter of
coincidence which did honor to the writer's
head and heart and which was highly ap-
preciated by the friends of the deceased.
Mr.. Brown said that Mr.. Hills love for his
mother and veneration for her memory after
her death was a beautiful and touching fea-
ture of his character. When at homo it was
his habit to go every day into the parlor
where her portrait hung, look tenderly into
her face, and bow reverently on retiring, and
when he had become too feeble to walk alone
he had himself carried into the parlor, and,
gazing lovingly on the face, with eyes filed
with tears, he said: "I shall soon be with her
again."
Mr.. Brown spoke at some length Of the re-
ligious education and character of Senator
Hill, and said that the last sentence uttered
by him was "Almost home"
Mr.. INGALLS,
delivered brief and eloquent address, in
which he spoke of the dead senator as born
polemic," and said that of all the dead whose
obsequies the senate had paused to solemnize,
he recalled none whose untimely fate seemed
so lamentable, and yet so rich in prophecy as
that of Senator Hill. Few scenes in modern
history were more tragic than that protracted
combat with death.
MR.. VEST
spoke of Mr.. Hill's opposition to secession, of
his labors in the confederate congress (after
he had gone out with his state) in defence of
the president of the confederacy against
Toombs, Yancey, Wigfall and other assail-
ants, and of his attempt to nerve the people to
continue the struggle until he became satis-
fed that all was over, and that nothing re-
mained for him but "to share the fortunes of
the people of Georgia" In concluding, Mr..
Vest apostrophized the dead senator, saying
"Patriot, orator, statesman, farewell. Let
Georgia guard well thy grave; for in her soil
rest not the ashes of one whose life has done
more to illustrate her manhood, whose genius
has given such glory to her name.
MIR. MORGAN
said that Alabama, the eldest daughter OF
Georgia, approached this occasion with a
proud but stricken spirit. He spoke of Mr..
Hills devotion to the union and his reluct-
ance to admit that secession and war were in
evitable; of the greatness of the task which
the confederate congress had to perform of
Mr.. Hills share in its labors, and of his sub
sequent efforts in behalf of the people of
Georgia in the reconstruction period, and
said that the late senator was bold, daring,
and powerful man, whose convictions were
always the guide of his action and the meas
ure Of his duty.
MIR. SHERMAN,
in brief address, spoke of the late senator
as an ardent but courteous antagonist, as q
ready debater, strong, earnest, and convinc-
ing, and expressed the opinion that when he
died he had not yet attained to the full
measure of national reputation to which his
abilities would have raised him.
Among the features of the career of the de-
ceased which Mr. Sherman noticed approv-
ingly was the fact that in his early manhood
he appreciated the Importance of the position
held by Georgia as containing within her
bounds the chief elements for manufacturing
industries, and attached himself to the whig
party, mainly on account of tho attitude OF
that party in favor of the protective policy.
MIR. VOORHEES,
eulogizcd Mr.. Hill for his strength of intellect
and character and his progressive spirit, and
defended him from the charge Of incon-
sistency. He was not inconsistent, but he
believed with Burke that statesmanship is
the science of circumstances, and he addressed
himself always with wisdom and courage to
the situation in which ho found himself
placed. In conclusion Mr.. Voorhees, drew a
vivid picture Of the sudden death which he
witnessed at the white house ON New Years
day, so peaceful and easy in contrast with the
long and terrible agony endured by Senator
Hill, lasting through months. The ancient
stole would have sought refuge from such a
fate in self-destruCtion, but tho American
tanned by his Christian faith.
MIR. FDMUNDs
spoke OF Mr.. Hill as II man of tho very
highest order of intellectual strength, both
in his perceptive and in his reflective
faculties, able to receive with clearness tho
relations of things, and the remote as well as
the near effects of current events A whig
and an American, he foresaw something OF
the future and opposed secession, but when II
was resolved upon and undertaken, he gave
himself up to what he considered his duty To
his state. This notion of fidelity TO ones
state was almost a natural instinct and often
appeared even in the senate, whose members
are senators of the United States, and not, In
constitutional sense, any more representa-.
tives of the particular states electing them
than of all the other states. Understanding
and sympathizing with Senator Hill, though
differing widely from him in respect to many
of his acts and opinions, Mr.. Edmunds had
felt deeply for him and his family and his
people, in the calamity that had come upon
them, and the sympathy and admiration oi
all had grown more profound and tender
when they had seen him bearing the greatest
of human sutierings with the calmness, manly
fortitude, and the supreme happiness of Chris
tian hope.
MIR. JONES, OF FLORIDA,
analyzed Mr.. Hill's characteristics as an orator
and statesman. In little matters he was not
as great as little men, but when the occasion
rose to the height of his great ability his
power was felt in congress and throughout the
country.
MR.. BARROW
made the closing address He spoke Of the