The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-12-22
The Civilian Leaders Of the Confederacy
BY John Goode, Of Virginia.
Sometime Member Of the Confederate Congress Of the Virginia
Secession Convention, Of the Congress Of the United States and
President Of the Virginia Constitutional Convention Of 1902
By John Goode, Of Virginia.

organize the SUPREME Court OF the
Confederate States was due entirely to
the fact that the military situation de-
mandcd all their time and attention.
The city OF Richmond. tho capital OF
the Confederacy, was besieged on oil
sides by large armies. Every afternoon
the balloons OF the enemy could be
seen lowering over tho city, and 1t
frequently happened that tho flash Of
hostile guns could be seen In every
direction. That was no time to de-
libernte about the organization of
courts. and the House naturally post
poned the consideration OF that sub
ject until 1t was determined by tho
arbitranlent of war whether or not the
Confederacy should be established as
an independent government.
Mr.. Hill made his first appearance as
a member OF the House OF Representa-
lives OF the United States in Decem-
Der. 1876. He appeared az member
from the State OF Georgia in the
Forty-fourth Congress. This body was
distinguished for its able and talented
leaders,. who would have attracted at
tention in the best days OF the repub-
lie. such men as Michael c. Kerr,
Samuel j.. Randall. Samuel s. Coz,
Alexander Fl. Stephens. Fernando
Wood. Abraham S. Hewitt, Benjamin
II. HILL L. q. c. Lamar, j. Proctor
Knott. j. G. s. Blackburn. William S.
Holman. William N. Springer. Adlai Il.
stevenson. W. r. Morrison, John H.
Reagan, David b. Culberson. Charles j.
Faulkner. John Randolph Tucker and
others. On the Republican side were
found such members as James G..
Blaine. James A. Garfield. George r.
Hoar. William D. Kelley, Charles Eos
ter, Joseph G.. Cannon, Omar d. Con-
ger. George w. McCrary, John Casson
and others.' ~
leader on the Republican side, and
was undoubtedly man OF rare talent
and parliamentary. skill. He was re-
markedly quick and alert and excelled
all the men have ever heard in what
is known ASA running debate. But in
all that bright galaxy there was none
who could bear off the palm OF vic
tory from BENJAMIN H. Hill. who was
then universally recognized as the
foremost lawyer and most gifted ora
tor OF the South.
Hill Met Blaine.
During the Forty fourth Congress
Mr.. Blaine took the floor one morning.
and under the stress Of party exigency
which. az he supposed. called for the
waving Of the bloody shirt. made an
assault upon Jefferson Davis which
has been rarely excelled for it's bitter
invective and biting sarcasm. Among
other things. he said:
''And I here before God measuring
my words, knowing their full extent
and import, declare that. neither the
deeds of the Duke OF Alva In the
low countries. nor the massacre of st.
Bartholomew, nor tho thumb-screws
and engines OF torture OF the Spanish
Inquisition begin to compare in
atrocity with the hideous crimes OF
Andersonvllle." AT another place. with
nostrils dilated and flashing eyes, he
said that Jefferson Davis was the
author, knowingly, deliberately. guilt
lily and wilfully OF the gigantic murder
and crime at Andersonville."
At the conclusion of Mr.. Blaine's
address the members from the South
gathered around Mr.. Hill and insisted
that he should make reply. 1t was then
5 O'Clock In the afternoon. Mr.. Hill
was very reluctant to consent because
he had had no opportunity to make
any preparation. and Mr.. Blaine, as
was we'll known, had been engaged
for many months with the aid OF nu-
merous clerks in the Department OF
War in getting ready for the con-
flict.
But. in Difference to the wishes OF
his friends, he finally yielded. and took
the floor on the following morning
for his reply. 1t is no disparagement
of Mr.. Blaine, who has been Justly
called THE Plumed Knight" TO say
that by common consent lie was UNI
horsed in the foray. Ele brought out
with tremendous effect the fact that
there was no medicine at the South
and the United States government was
the first and only government on
earth, not excepting the Consulship oc
Alva, In the Netherlands, to make
medicine a contrab band OF war.
mr.. Terrible Attack.
He then proceeded to refer TO Fed
eral statistics. showing, according to
a report OF Secretary Stanton. that the
Federal prisoners in Confederate
hands during the war were, In round
numbers, 10000. while the Confed-
crate prisoners In Federal hands were
10000: and yet but $4,000 Federal
prisoners died at the South, while 2s,-
600 Confederate prisoners died .at tho
North-that Is to say, more than "a
pSA 9StHt' III Vie SO!llcucldISSG MI y w.
eral hands died, and less than 0 per
cent. of the Federals In Confederate
hands died. During the Speech which
occupied several hours, ana command
ed unbroken attention, he brought out
other facts with such energy and
power and logic that 1t has been gem
orally conceded that Mr.. blaine came
out OF the contest wiser man,
Mr.. Hill admitted that there were
horrors at Andersonville, but showed
that the same rations that Were is-
sued to the Confederates In the ranks
were furnished to the prisoners at
Andersonville, and quoted high nedl-
cal authority to show that the large
death rate Mt Andersonville was Qua
IN great measure, to the want OF
medicines. In referring to the fact that
Captain Wirz was offered to have his
life spared IL he would only impli,
cate Mi. Davis in the horrors OF 5Ander-
tsonvillc, and 10 the fact that WirH
refused tho offer. he said, "sir,, What