The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1883-03-22

iniases On poAltIVdA AS well as otner human
establishments, and that the Utopia of fic-
uon could never exist in fact.
The constitution of the American Union,
to which his best thought was long and pro,
rtably given, he considered the nearest APP
/ proach 10 perfection in governmental
| structure human effort had vet attained
| Under the methods, however, which
even this instrument provided he
WAS prepared to see measures conSum-
mated which his Judgment condemned as
errors and told hun were trausAt with dis
aSter aud woe. Emergencies of this kind,
the crucial tests of character, did not con-
found his faculties, but rather stimulated
them to the most reliable il not highest ex-
ertions OF craftsmanship, namely, TO see
when thing was inevitable, and accepting
IT as such, to make the best OF the situation,
( however bad II might be. He lost no time,
/ therefore, IN beNaillng accomplished facts,
/ but when proposed measures against which
/ he warred became irreversible policies, his
| quick, comprehensive perception took IN
/ the whole situation, anu he at once applied
/ htmseli not TO a continuance OF vain re-
sistance but the more sensible work of SO
control ling these policies as TO avert, as far
| possible, the rum they threatened,
and bring out of them the pest attainable
results. This quality of craftsmanship,
which, on close analysis, will be found
nothing more nor less than than the power
/ OF ludlclouS selection between evils, Mr.
| Hill notably exhibited in his political
course prior to and during the late war.
| From 1880 up to the passage OF the
| declaratory resolution by the convention
OF Georgia, January Is, 1861, he combatted
the disunion sentiment with all the force
ana earnestness OF his nature. The motives
which influenced him were his attachment
]
his desire to avert the calamities he pro-
/ ioundly believed war would bring upon the
south.
FOR years he did all man could do
| 10 stay the swelling tide of popu-
lar sentiment drifting his state and
section, as he firmly believed, into
night OF storm and tempest, whose starless
gloom would prove intenser than Memphian
darkness. His efforts were Intellectual,
The oeclaratory resolution before referred
/ TO, against which he voted, fixed and deter
mined Georgia's policy.
The die was cast. Then it was under a
high sense OF duty to his state, he accented
as inevitable what he had struggled to pre-.
vent, and recorded his vote in favor of the
ordinance, believing this TO he the initial
and au important step to the unitication of
his people IN the course they had deter
mined, against his Judgment, to adopt, OF
the conspicuous part he bore during the
eonvulslye throes that ensued | shall not
speak further than to say that
all Investigations and researches thus
far made into that pe.iod of storm and
gloom have but served to confirm and draw
out in holder lines as his shining cbaree.
teristics an intellect equal to every emer.
gencr IN which he was pie ed, fidelity to
conviction nothing could swerve, a resou-
ton difficulties could not unsetile, a our
age dangers could not appel, and forti-
tude whose endurance no advei sites could
exhaust. This chapter of manly virtues
will ever be held III warm remembrance by
his associates in misfortune and defeat and
can but be read with respectful attention
even by those who conuemn the cause in
which these virtues were displayed.
Mr. Hill's abilities as lawyer, an orator
and statesman were subjC ctcd while he was
in public Iife to the guidance of one grand
sentiment: The nobest motive is The
public good"
lie loved his country with an intensity
and ardor only lofty and generous natures
| can know. Good government he consld-
cred the highest boon that could be be-
slowed on people, For this he sought
and studied long and diligently. The re.
suit OF this search and study was one of the
protonndest and most valued convictions Of
his life, namely, that there was no other
form OF government nor had there ever been
one comparable to the Union under the
constitution. Hear him as he tells to a lis
tening senate, in stately phrase, the ex.
celiency Of this government:
ut is the noblest government, the greatest
! government that human wisdom ever de-
| yised, and 1t could not have been framed by
human wisdom alone. The human intel
leCt never existed in this world that could
! from its own evolutions have wrought out
/ such thing as this constitution OF the
/ United States. 1t is govern
ment such as Roman never dreamed OF,
such as Grecian never conceived, and
such as European never had the
power to evolve. When the Amer
lean people, either Tor the purpose OF dis
Numbering the states or of destroying
them, shall destroy this unparalleled gov.
eminent, this government without model,
this government without prototype, they
will have destroyed government which
seems to have been wisely adapted to the
peculiar condition of the time and to all
their future wants, and they will launch
out ona sea of uncertainty, the result of
which no man can forecast"
| Hear HIM again, as he declares to vast
multitude at his own home, in rapid, beau
titul utterance, his admiration for the
| y
My cOuntrymen, have you ever studied
this wonderful American system of free
! government? Have you compared it with
former systems, and noted how our fathers
sought TO avoid their defects? Let me com
mend this study TO every American citizen
to-day. To him who loves liberty it is
more ench anting than romance, more
bewitching than love, and more
elevating than any other science.
Our fathers adopted this plan with inn
provements in the details which cannot be
noble impulse OF patriotism they
states and Joined their counsels to
perfect this system, thenceiorward to be
known rs the American system of free
constitutional government. The SHOWS
that fall on Mount Washington are not
purer than the motives which begot it.
The fresh dew-laden Sephyrs from the
orange groves of the south are not sweeter
than the hopes its advent inspired. The
flight of our own symbolic eagle, though he
blow his breath on the sun, cannot be
higher than its expected destiny"
Mr. Speaker, the voice OF patriotism calls
to us to-day from the grave of the great
Georgian. In silence more eloquent than
stirring language, it points TO the "Ameri-
can system of free constitutional govern.
ment" as the modest government the
greatest government that human wisdom
ever devised 1t impresses upon us that
this system is the one founded
by Washington and other patri-
OTIS Of the Revolution; that 1t is
hallowed by sacred memories and freighted
with precious hopes; that though the right
full inheritance OF one people, humanity
everywhere has an interest in its preserva.
ton; that, il in an evil hour 1t should per-
sh, its ruins would entomb forever the in
sttutions OF freedom and give new birth
to the establishments OF despotism.
BY all these high considerations 1t pleads
for the perpetuation of this incompatible
system of government, this government
without q model, this government without
q prototype ana points out the path oil
public duty by urging as the measure OF
public worth that he shall be the greatest
patriot the truest patriot, the noblest pa
b | trint yshA uhaI 1in most Al rauatr the