The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-03-12
BEN HILLS NOBLE ACT.
A Claim that He Saved the Nation from n
Second Civil War.


a Washington special to the Philadelphia
Press says: In recent interview Repre-
sentative Blackburn. speaking OF the elec-
toral count in 1s76-'77, said that II was the
intention Of President Grant and his
Cabinet TO order the arrest OF all members
OF the House who were engaged in fiibus-
tering against the decision OF the Electoral
Commission. A writer for the Sunday
Herald to-day says:
Hon. j. ID. Cameron was Secretary OF War
at the time, and he was for saving MS par
ty, no matter at what cost. The late Mr..
Chandler, of Michigan, was Of the same
mind, and these two were really the prime
movers in the matter alluded to. They per-
suaded General Grant to agree TO the ar
rest OF the filibusters in ease the House re-
fused TO permit the count to be made. and
among those who were to be taken into
custody first was Mr.. Blackburn. For two
weeks many Democratic members OF the
House slept in Baltimore every night rather
than take the chances OF being awakened
by an officer with file Of men and an or
der for their arrest.
Something had to be done. The great
mind OF Ben. Hill, OF Georgia, compre-
hended the danger, and was equal to it.
He called 4 secret meeting OF thIrty-eight
OF his southern colleagues at a prominent
hotel here to consult upon what was their
duty in this hour Of great danger to the
republic. The signs OF the times were
ominous. In Indiana meetings were held
TO decide what the Democrats, who had
elected their President, should do. General
Steadman came here from Toledo, O., and
openly said his people did not mean TO be
robbed OF the fruits OF their victory, and
that there were five hundred men to his
knowledge who were ready with arms TO
maintain their rights.
Mr.. HIPS friends met. None but south
ern men heard Of the meeting. Ii escaped
those argus-eyed watchers OF events-the
special correspondents. The thirty-eight
decided to vote with the Republicans to
stop tilibustering. 1t is believed the saliva
tion OF the country demanded il. and they
rose TO the occasion. Not a whisper Of
what bad been done reached other ears
than theirs. Next morning when the lrou-
bic commenced i'm the House those thirty
eight began TO vote mo" | will never
forget the scene. The Republicans were
dazed. Jerry Rusk, then member Of
Congress from Wisconsin-aiterwardS the
Governor OF his State-said "When Ben.
Hill voted NO. / always voted 'Aye.' /
was puzzled. never found myself voting
with the rebels before"
Levi, Of Louisiana, made speech which
opened the eyes OF the House. Leading
Republlcans-men with national reputa.
tions for truth and honesty-had assured
the Louisiana delegation that Louisiana
should 90 from under the yoke, and Gem
eral NJ. C.. Butler, OF South Carolina, who
was here watching events for Governor
Hampton, telegraphed the same things to
his friends in Columbia. Mr.. Tilden be-
came alarmed. His case had already been
lost by Dir. Hewitt's famous Peace-at-
anv-price" speech. but Tilden did not seem
to know it. He sent his agents all over the
South, and at once from every quarter
there came letters and kilograms to the de-
voted thirty y-eight, asking them what they
meant by thus betraying the party. In
some of the more rabid newspapers they
were denounced as traitors, compared to
whom Judas Iscariot was saint and Bene-
dict Arnold patriot.
But they never sweTved, and in face OF
the abuse, the entreaties, the ieerS, in
many cases, of their opponents. In spite
Of all this they voted as they believed their
duty called on them to do until the count
was ended. At that time the country did
not know, but now the people see with
clearer eyes, and, in the light OF past
events, the men who stood in the breach
against such a storm as seldom comes are
justified by their friends and their country.