Year: 1876




a few days since a correspondent of
the Baltimore Gazette interviewed this
distinguished Georgian, who said: g |
do not know if it is proper for me to ex-
press any views upon the subject of the
ensuing presidential election. The peO-
ple of the south recognize the sensitive
ness of the public mind of the north in
regard to the active interference of the
south in politics. While this Is but
natural, it is doing the south an inius-
tice, as she is on an equality with the
other sections of the country, and has
the same duty to perform. The south
has abandoned slavery, secession, and
all her other old ideas, and desires cor
dial reunion, peace between the races,
and desires also the advancement of the
colOred man. The people ask of the party
in power equal constitutional rights,
and no more. They do not want to be
put in any other position. We desire to
support the national sentiment. We
prefer that the northern democracy
should select the candidate. All we hope
is that he will be a good, sound, cOnsti-
tutionaI and national man, who viii dc
| Justice to all men, to every race, and
who will ask no favOrs nor indulge In
any extravagances. Above all things
we desire reconciliation and revision,
} If the northern democracy should be SO
divided as to be unable to agree, then
| the south must decide it. Her delegates
will endeavOr to do it in such a manner
| as best to contribute to success, as we re-
gard the question at issue in the ap-
preaching election the preservation OF
our constitutional system. Tilden, Hen
bricks, Bayard and Thurman are all ac-
ceptable to us, but we prefer the strong
est man. We hope that the northern
democracy may be able to select man
of whose national sentiments there can
be no doubt. We expect great se1sl-
tiveness on this question on the part OF
the north. and we intend to show the
northern people that we will be lOyals l
am represented as an extreme man.
Such has never been my reputation at
home. I cannot admit that the entire
southern people are criminals, but / am
as much devoted to our constitutional
| form of government as any other man.
! / did not wish to speak, but l was com
pelled to defend the south. / was brought
| into the debate by a wicked assault upon
| our people, who for ten years had been
| uniustly accused and misrepresented.
would have been glad had no dead issues
| come up, but would net admit that al
! least one third of the people of this


country were criminals. Our Difficult


ties were settled by war, as reasoning
| could not settle them, and 1T Is manly
and religious for us to accept the fact
The republican party is a sectional one
its history is sectional ; it is itself one o
the features of the war which 1T Is neces


sary to get rid of. Whether its wOTl
| has been patriotic or not is for the wOTlC


to Judge. The currency question / lOOl


upon as a subordinate one. Restore hon


est government, the currency will adjUs


itself and soon he all right. 1t IS to b


hoped thst the matter will be settled a


St. Louis without division and wlthou


the interpositiOn of the south. II 50


the entire southern vote will be cast 10


the nominee. The south recognize


there is a new era. Formerly she ha


slavery aud distractions. The next cen
turv she will work out her destiny wit


free labor and good, hard sense: Tegre


nv speech was misinteTpreted, as / an
for the union under the constitution an
the laws, as are my people, and l mop
that the time is fast arriving when tn
, only difference between the geographic


sections of the country will be as


which shall be foremost in devotion I
our common country. The time mus
4 come when the people of the north wi
3 better understand the people of tn
) south, and then the proper fraterni
: feeling will be restored never to be agai
: interrupted" Mr.. Hill spoke in 2
|. earnest and forcible manner, and was G
D IDENTIFY most sincere in every utteran,
e he made.