The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-11-22

ss4 of the book apeArs Mir. Hilrs address to the Alumni Association of the Univer- sity of Georgia, July Sf. 1871. In so far as the sentiment is clear, it is an unequi- vocal announcement of the feebleness of Southern society before the war made stronger by the results of the war.
 I am not discussing the wisdom or the folly of Mir. Hill at any period of his political life. He was the most con- sistent opponent of the Southern pre- dominating impulse and reason that ever stepped upon the stage of action. It Is to be remembered that he never in his life agred with MT. Davis on any funda- mental theory of federal government.
 You allege sir, with an audacity which is wholly without justification in the necessity of your case that "the most brilliant orator in either the Northern or Southern States was the victim of a srovelling ambition to hold ofice. Let us bring this munchausenism to trial, however brief.
 MT. Yancey was in Europe in November, 1881, out of reach of Montgomery or of Alabama politics. There was no such feature of government as the "Confeder- ate Senate when he left home nor was the institution to. be safely predicted as of early birth. On November 20. 1881, the General Assembly of Alabama, con taining 131 members elected, met in joint session to chose two Senators of the Con- federate Congress. Senator Calhoun from Dallas put in nomination W. l.. Yancey, for the long term. No other name being presented, the vote was taken. One hundred and twenty-three votes were cast, Yancey receiving all but three.
 Messrs Mcclellan of Limestone, Sheets of winston and Robinson of Covington, cast their votes for the eminent lawyer and disciple of Yancey, Robert H. Smith. Yancey, referring to the honor of his election said 1t indicated to him what part the State desired him to take in its emergency. Lest 1t be assumed the of- flee went begging. 1t appears that nomi- nations for the short term being next in order. c. c. Clay, Jr., Thomas H. Watts. Robert H. Smith and Richard W. walker, all illustrious citizens were named on the floor. The competition was so sharp and prolonged that only on the tenth ballot was Clay successful.
 It may be well to interject here other instances in Yancey's life of direct bear ing upon your imaginary character set up under his name. He resigned from the State Senate in 1S44. where he had been elected under singularly complimentary circumstances. He resigned his seat in Congress- fin 1s4e. to which he had been elected from a district, usually closely contested. without opposition. He re- fused to be nominated for Congress in 1s4s by the Convention sitting at Mont. gomery. He declined the nomination giv- en to him by the Convention sitting at Clayton in 1851 In his absence.
 You are singularly at sea, "in the air." as to MT. Yancey's alleged hostility to Mir. Davis. There Is letter at my hand from him to John c. Calhoun. written from Montgomery, in 1s4S. suggesting Jefferson Davis. the young Senator, as a proper candidate for President of the United States. The city authorities of Montgomery selected Yancey to deliver the welcome address to President-elect Davis upon his arrival in February, 1861.