Year: 1872

We give place in our columns at this time
to the following eloquent and most sensible
speech of Hon. Henry w. Hilliard, of Geor
gia, delivered in Augusta, on May Doth, and
which evidently reflects the sentiments of nine
tenths of the Southern people, and is worthy
of careful perusal:


Mr.. CHAIRMAN: In responding to the cal
made on me by this large and respectable body
of the citizens of Richmond county, / shall
speak with perfect frankness. | approve the
resolutions which have been reported by the
committee-They are drawn with great force
and clearness and the spirit in which they are
conceived is eminently patriotic. They are
such resolutions as might be expected from the
gentlemen who prepared and reported them
| broad, elevated and statesmanlike.


! My own opinions are more pronounced than
| those of the distinguished gentleman (Gen
| Wright who has just taken his seat. My
mind is made up; | think see the actual con-
dition of the country; no stronger lights can
be shed upon it than We have before US now.
Its perils. its wants and its hopes are all open
to our view with disRRetness that leaves
nothing obscure.


The question before us is not whether the
Democratic party shall preserve its erganiza-
ton, but whether the Republic shall be saved.
am not here this evening to speak of the for
tunes OF any party-the question towers far
above all that wish to say something that
may rouse the people before it is too late, to
rise in their majesty, and overlooking all ale
glance to party rescue this great country from
an Administration that has not only already
turned the Government from its true course,
ignored the Constitution, outraged the prnci-
pies of civil liberty, but which threatens, if its
power ia prolonged to subvert utterly and for
ever the free institutions which have made us
heretofore a great, prosperous and happy peo.
pie | admire the Democratic party; know
its history; there is much in its principles that
must be preserved. | have seen its eminent
leaders bearing its standard with the highest
courage IN the face on overwhelming numbers,
making their way into the very heart of the
opposing lines, and almost winning victory
against the party ranged under the banners of
a corrupt government; but yet there is some
thing greater and more important than any
party and that ia the Republic. Can we save
that! If sO tell me rot of the interests of a
party; tell me not ct some faROrite leader;
tell me not of power to be attained, hoRers
won, rewards to be distributed; show me
leader, no matter by what name he has been





lied: show me leader who today is in the
field to contend for free government, whose
guns are turned upon an Administration that
must be defeated and driven from power, and
will stand up to his support without a single
question as to the past. 1t is enough for me
that he is right to-day, that coming out from
corrupt party, he is now reused and earnest,
and that he is fighting the enemies of Liberty
and the Constitution. Let him lead-I follow
his standard.


How can we forget what has occurred since
the war! The tyranny of military satrap;
the daily spectacle in the high places of the
Republic of the subordnation of the civil to
the military authority; the utter oblivion of the
old, grand principles that entered into the
very structure of the Governments the Union;
the decline of the great trust of the people in
free form of government; how can we forget
all this, and stand up and insist upon serving
the leaders of a party, whentour years more
of such rule will make it impossible to save
this country at all!


y anl utterly opposed to the "watch and
wait' policy. am for bolder and more gen.
erous course. would not say to the true men
who have taken a stand against the Admins
traton. wait until we see whether we cannot
do better; whether we cannot insure the sue
cess of our own party, and if we fail, if we
come to the conclusion that the stars are
against us, then we will ioir you.


l would rather say: We recognize you as
true men-men who will no lsnger tolerate
corrupt rule; you have courageously taken
position for liberty, for the Constitution, and
for the country. Hold your ground until we
can come up to your support!


am opposed to Democratic nomination.
It would result in the reelection of Gen.
Grant. The figures OF Gen. Wright are unan-
swerablc. You cannot elect Democrat; you
cannot secure for him majority of the elec-
toral college. Observe, the President is elect
ed by States, not by popular vote. Your
candidate might win the popular majority, and
yet fail to carry States enough to elect him.
A change of half million of votes OF the peo-
pie would not affect the result, unless proper
iy distributed in the States--uness candidate
can carry a majority-not pluralty-a una
jority Of the electoral college, the three
highest numes are sent to the United States
House of Representatives, and there each del
egation votes as q State Delaware one vote,
New York one vote. Observe the complexion
of the House to-day, for it is this House that
would choose from three names and you see
that the election of Gen. Grant would be in
evitable. IF the Democratic party bring
candidate into the field the party will close up
their ranks lock their shields, and it will be
impossible to make any impression on them.
You might prefer some other man to Mr.. Gree
ley, but he is beyond all question the strongest
candidate that can be brought into the field.


He has his peculiar views. his IDEAS but
what true man has not? He has been at0w-
er of strength in the Republican party; but he
is as honest man as the sun shines upon. ]