Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

fAA'EtTKVlLLKGA LBUngf* 0 THE WEEKLY CONSTITUTION. M- VOIiUME XIV. TUESDAY MOB AUGUST 22. 1882. PRICE 5 CENTS BEN HILL DEAD. The Last Moments of Georgia’s Favorite Son. . HOW HE MET DEATH. The Scenes and Incidents About the Dead Man's Bier. HIS BIRTH; LIFE AND PUBLIC CAREER. On the Hustings, at the Bar and in Congress. When be first began the use of the pad be wrote very clearly and with a bold stroke. About two weeks ago he wrote bis will, giv ing direction to the way in which bis property was to be disposed of and appointing Mr. B. . Hill, Jr., bis executor. The last thing that Senator Hill ever wrote that was intelligible was addressed to bis wife. They were discussing wbat should be done for .him. He wrote on bis tablet: “My Dearest—Any nourishment that the doctors tiiink best, I will take.” The wound on Senator Hill’s neck was a most horrible one. The cruel cancer had eaten into the throat and exposed to view the windpipe and the elevation made by the ar tery. The root of the tongue could be seen. The cancer had eaten into the muscles on the leftside of the month and (he muscles on the right being strorger drew the lower jaw around out of position and caused the lip to protrude. A SKETCH OF MR. HILL. THE HISTORY OF HIS ILLNESS. The Unavailing Operations and Search for Relief. How the Newt' is Received at Home and Abroad—-The Funeral. . After a season of anxious waiting, into which not a single ray of hope lias entered, the people of Georgia .must at lost hear the sad uuuounccment that Senator Hill is dead. The distinguished sufferer—grand in health hut grainier still as lie approached the valley of the shadow of death—has sunk to sleep and is ut rest. For weeks each succeeding day has left him weaker, while no earthly power could stay the progress of the disease that was carrying him to the grave. Three weeks ago he ceased all efforts to speak and the tongue that once thrilled tlio multitudes by its tire and eloquence was hushed forever. The grand form, majestic in its proportions and dignity, became emaciated and helpless, and on Thursday night last the great man, from sheer exhaustion, was put to bed for the lost time. His pulse was weak and his fingers had'lost their strength so that the pad upon which he lmd been accustomed to write his thoughts '•ouUl no longer express his needs nml Ills wishes. The tube through which the fluid i. ' i.'htnent had been forced ...:o hib V— .t,«ch .".as abandoned a few -day ago when his stomach refused to retain the milk which furnished his usual meal. His nourishment had to be supplied by ene- roata. When this point was reached—which occurred Monday—his friends knew that his end was near and that his sufferings would soon draw to a close. % In this condition lie continued until Tues ■day, when it was believed that he was at times unconscious. He slept most of the day, but at times he would be aroused, and when fully awakened gave evidences that he was still conscious. Tuesday morning General ■Evans, pastor of the First Methodist church -called on Mr. HilL The sick man recognized liis visitor and postor, and feebly said: “Al most Home," the only words ho has spoken in nearly a month, aud the lost ho was des tined to utter on earth! His weary eyes closed again and he sank back to sleep. The nourishment which was administered by ■cnemata was discharged,and thusall possibili ty of supplying liis system with nourishment was ended. He grew gradually weaker until after midnight, when he began to •sink rapidly. His breathing became heavy .and labored. About 2 o’clock Wednesday , morning he was considered at the point of -death. He made a sign'that he desired a by- pedemic injection of morphine, which was -administered. He then went to sleep again! but at times would open his "eyes. It is not known whether or not his mind was clear, as he coull not speak or make himself under stood. Dr. Ridley and Mr. B. H. Hill, J .and .other membersof the family, were watch ing by the bedside of the dying senator. His pulse was very weak and quick, and about -daybreak the physicians saw that the ■end was near, and the members of the family were summoned to the bedside. There were present Mrs. Hill, wife of the .-senator, Mr. B. H. Hill, Jr., and his wife, Dr. ^tidley and his wife, a daughter of Senator .Hill, Mr. .Edgar Thompson and wife, a daugh ter of Senator Hill, Mr. Charles Hill, son of the senator, and Mr. Hill's two nephews, with Dr. Wright. For two hours they watched the labored breathing of the |ufferer. At fifteen minutes past six Senator Hill opened his eyes for a moment, then closed them wearily. There was not a tremor of his frame nor even a sigh or long-drawn breath as the grand life went out—and Georgia’s Hill was dead. SINCE Ills RETURN HOKE. Since Senator Hill's return from Eureka Springs he has had the most constant and un remitting attention. Never since the first operation has Dr. Wright left hkn, and since liis return from Eureka he has slept in an ad joining room to Mr. Hill’s private bed room. In another adjoining room, always used by Senator Hill as an office, two members of the family have sat up at night by turns. Two of Mr. Hill’s nephews, Mr. W. P. Hill and Mr. .Pinckney Hill, of near West Point, have been unremitting in their attention. The imme diate members of the family have watched by the bedside, doing all in their' power for the sufferer. Senator Hill has notbad many visi tors lately. The people seemed to realize that they could do no good and possibly harm by calling and hence retrained. Mr. Hill, however, always insisted on seeing all who called. He received many letters of con dolence, among them letters from all classes BY HENRY W. GRADY. , - To write of Ben Hill dead! What a sorrow Is that—and In spite of the dull forebodings of the past year, what a surprise! Inscrutable indeed are the ways of a Providence that demanded a life so richly endowed as bis, and stilled forever a tongue so eloquent. To the very last. In spite of all reason, there was a hope that by some miracle of mercy the great senator would be spared to his people. Against the inexorable logic of Nature there was a hope that his life, so poten tial in oil thiugs else, and so grandly calm in tnls, would stand unmoved against the assaults of death itself. Therefore it is that the end so definitely foretold brings a strange sense of sur prise. In the disquiet that always comes with death, emphasized by the shock that comes with this death against which all finite reason rebels, I am to writs of his life. I would dishonor the emotion that fills my heart In this sad hour if I attempted any study of a life that has just closed so solemnly or any analysis of a character that Is idolized by universal grief, I shall write as one who loved him living aud who mourns him dead, and as I took back over the years through* which he has passed and in which I knew him so’wcll, I feel as one who has seen the sun move down the western sky, and after it has gone, stands gazing on the banks of clouds still luminous with its glory, and finds that It lives in the quivering afterglow, even after It has passed into the infinite! MR. HILL’S BiKTH AND BOYHOOD. Benjamin Ilarvey Hill was bom in Jasper county on September 1-1,1623. His father was John Hill, a sturdy, intelligent man of slender education.but strong views. He was, I believe, a North Carolinian. presumo he had lived in Jasper a long time, as lUlbb i^o, tho village at which lie lived, was iiidiim for him. He was a man of remarkable force aud will-power, and though he has been dead for over twenty years Is still alluded to In Troup as a man who never allowed himself to bo beaten. He married a Miss Parham, of Washington coun ty, a most estimable* lady. Young Hill took his earnest temperament aud gentleness from his mother, and to her careful and loviug training was indebted for the ba?is of what was best in his char acter. Sije was a deeply religious woman, charitable and reflective, an^ to the last day of his life he held her memory very dear. .Just before he died Mrs. Mitchell, a friend of his mother's, balled to see him. He talked with her about the old days, and then asked her if she had seen his last portrait of her. Ho insisted on hobbling with her to where it was hung. As he looked upat it, the tears come to his eyes, and he said: “I shall soon be with her again.’ There came to Troup county from Uillshoro four boys, each of whom mado fame and fortuhe after ward. These were R.A. T. Ridley, alterwardsa dis tinguished physician and leader, John F. Moreland a fine physician and man of wealth and character, William P. Beasley, a rich planter and a representa tive, a member of the secession convention and always a force In. affairs. These boys were devoted friends, and their attachment strengthening with constant comradeship, lasted until death. Of the four only Mr. Beasley is now liviug. Young Hill and Moreland settled at Long Cane—the others near LaGrange. When Moreland went to Corinth ia Heard county, to practice medicine. Hill went with him and lived in his bouse. Here he received his schooling at the hands of the Rev. Mr. Corbin, minister who had graduated at Princeton. Mr. Corbin said frequently that young Hill could mas- ter six tasks while an average boy was engaged with one, and it was his frequent prediction that his young scholar would bo “president of the United States.' Mr. Hill had five brothers and three sisters. The brothers were Madison, Wm. Pinckney, LaFayettc, John and Allen—he being next to the youngest. He received his name from his mother’s side of the family, being called after a brother-in-law of her’; Until ho left home for college he was called “Har vey,” by which name the older folks of LaGrange still love to call him. Mr. Hill’s father lived plainly bnt plentifully. He believed in bard work and kept his sons well between thfe plow handles. His eldest son Pinckney was an ex ceedingly brilliant youngster, (I have heard Senator Hill say he was the most gifted momberof the family.) and he took great pride in him. • Ho sent him to college, and not see ing immediate results after his graduation, was discouraged with higher education. One night the family sat about the humble board discussing what “portion” of the estate each child would get. Ben said he would take all of his Interest In an education. His father remarked that he didn’t be lieve he would send any more boys to college. Mis. Tucker, who was an aunt of Mrs. Hill, (Ben’s great aunt.) and lived near the family, with some means, offered to pay his way through college. Hismotber accepted the offer, aud helped “Aunt Tucker” in her scheme—and tho boy was off to the university. Of Mr. mil’s sisters none survived him. Of bis brothers only one is living. Pinckney Hill .died few .years ago at his home in Athens, having achieved distinction in the southwest. Dr. John S. Hill who lived at the old homestead In Long Cane, and who served with distinction in the house and senate of the legislature, died about two years sfnee. As a boy Mr. Hill was robust and healthy, but never very lively. He enjoyed hunting in a quiet way. ind I have heard him tell of the sport he had following a ’possum trail, or sitting amid the ensp leaves of an autumn forest, snll-huntlng for squir rels. After he had been through the stifle and dust of politics he seemed to have idealized the happy farm life of his youth, when he lived in the green woods, and hnnted along the babbling streams, br buildcd up honest ambitions on the sunny side of ’ a com pile—and nothing gave him more pleasure than to talk of that halcyon time. I doubt little that virions of the old farm house and the red hills, and the sweet scene* of his boyhood came to him hi j, e lay upon a martyr’s couch, aud his homestead, climbing those red hill3 and working or playing among the scenes then fading from his sight, he eould see an honest, gentle and affection ate boy—a healthful young life, unmoved by a an gle vice, disturbed by no mean emotions—a truant from no duty, full of manliness and vigor—reach lug out steadily, but without violence, to a great destiny. In response to an ambition that inspired but did not disquiet him—growing into manhood, peacefully and happily, amid friends who loved him and neighbors who trusted him. Such was the boyhood of our dead senator. Happy is the man who, when the ashes of life are smouldering in his heart, aud his lips are parched with the fever of death, can fill his soul with the virions of such a boyhood—as clear as the breezes that fanned his young check, as fresh and sweet as the breath of tho forests in which he rambled, as limpid as the spring in which he slaked his thirst. years old. This record Is without parallel, the nearest approach pubably being Henry Ward Beecher who as lecturer, preacher and writer is said to hare made Sl.000,000 up to his 61th year. Equal to what Mr. Hill made in one profession up to his 3Qth year. When we consider that Mr. Hill spent ten of those years at best principally in politics while Mr. Beecher gave all of his to professional work, the dif ference Is the more striking. It seems incredible that Mr. Hill should have spent all of this princely Income—and yet he dies a poor man. The explanation is easy. He never made a good investment in his life, and never cared to. His first investment in LaGrange was 3350 in a patent washing machine, which he lost. He never Invested in property that gave him an iucome. He spent lavishly, bought lavish ly, made easily and gave freely. He never denied his family, or any member of it, the slightest whim or caprice. His home in , La Grange was a princely one. It was built on the Haralson-estate.on which Mrs. J.B.Gordon wosborn. When he bought It the old Haralson house had been destroyed and the grounds, em bracing 100 acres, were ia bad condition. About the only thing of value remaining was a massive wall around the front of the place, ou which oue negro mason belonging to Mr. Haralson had worked for years. Mr. Hill built a splendid resi dence, furnished it handsomely and made granite walks and avenues about the grounds. He had ail artificial lake and bathing house, and a bronze or iron gate for the carriage way that alone is said to have costSl.SOO. This gate is fronted by a! square of solid gtauite auda wide pavement of granite for carriages aud pedestrians leads up to the house. He must have spent" 840,000 on this place. Here he lived for years, dispensing a lavish but quiet hospitality. He left Li Grange and went to Athens to educate his children. He purchased there the residence of foha T.Grant,pay ing for it S20.000. This he furnished handsomely, and as always entertained freely. . Upon leaving Athens he came to Atlanta, and ^bought the residence of Mr. E<1. Platt for $20,000, expending perhaps 310.000 in fitting it up and enlarging it. He also bought an elegant home here for his dau 'liter, Mrs. Edgar Thompson. It is a notable fact that his La Graugc home sold the other day for less than 85,000, and his Athens home for $6,000. The most unlucky investment ever made by Mr. Hill, however, was in cotton plantations just niter the war. He bought four immense plantations— Mud Creek, Hickory Level, Beech Grove and tho Tumlln place—averaging about 4,000 acres each He paid enormous prices for these, and made pre parations to run them on the most extensive scale. of citizens, front the highest to the lowest. The u/ c ebbed away In a strange land. If so, they sympathy for hint seemed to be universal. 1 brought no bitter memories. For IIring In that old MR. HILL'S COLLEGE LIFE. When Ben Hill entered the state university in 1S11 lie was an immature, plainly-dressed country boy with none of tho persmal beauty that so dis tinguished him afterward. Most of the students of (hat day wr•-■ ■ from the sir illi- *<>wns or - "1 Vtfc duels, the city boys seeking Princeton or Harvard. Many of them come to college in farm wagons, bringing their beds and bedding with them. Even among such hoys as these, young Hill was remarked for Ills shy, earnest and awkward manner. In a letter wrl .ten by Wm. Lundy and printed In the life of Linton Stephens, the writer describes three promising hoys that ho saw at Athens while on a visit there—Linton Stephens, Ben Hill and GusOrr. They were all dressed in jeans, Hill’s suit being of gray, with an unusually long coat and scanty pants, Orr’s of blue, and Stephens of brown. “He was," Colonel P. W. Alexander said to me once, "a tow- headed boy that had grown up without filling into proportion. He had none of the light and blithe some habit that is usual to boys.but was thoughtful and quiet. Even then he carried his head bent to one side, and when walking-appeared to be com pletely absorbed in thought He visited very little, calling only on the family into which he nfterward married, Dr. Moore’s family and one or two others.” In the same conversation which I recall in sub stance, Colonel Alexander said: “He did not impress us readily with the idea of being a boy of extraordinary ability. I think even when he graduated his class mates did not consider him their most promising mau—ihough the faculty undoubtedly did. I remember the first time I appreciated properly his wonderful gifts as an orator was when he made his graduating speech. I delivered the Latin salutatory—he followed with the valedictory. Mr. Preston, of South Carolina, and fudge Berrien, of our own state, two of the most accomplished orators the south ever produced, were ou the stage—and by the way followed the Latin text of the salutatory appreciatively. Hill’s vale dictory was a superb piece of eloquence from begin ning to end and held the audience entranced, as he approached the close he faced the faculty and his peroration was a tribute to Dr. Church, the tb rilling tones cf which ring in my ears yet. It was magnificent, and when he finished there was en thusiastic applause, which Mr. Preston and Judge Berrien led. That speech stamped the young ora tor as a man of wonderful powers, and had the newspapers then given the same attention to de tails they now do, It would have at once made him famous over the state.” Even after hearing his valedictory speech. Hill’s class-mates were many of them not prepared to see him' become great so quickly. Colonel Alexander told me that for some time he thought the glowing reports of Hill, of Troup, were meant for E. Y. Hill, and was aston ished to find that they were meant for Ben Hill. He first learned it as follows: Hon. Walter T. Colquitt was announced to speak at LaGrange. For some -reason or other E. Y. Hill and none of the older whigs, could reply to him. At length one of them said • Let’s put up our little ‘bud’ to meet him." They did so, and the youngster held his own. Colonel Alexander then learned for the first time that it was his class-mate who had become re nowned. Mr Hill was not considered a first honor man lc his class- It was conceded on all sides that Gus- tavus J. Orr, an olderand riper scholar than the rest, would hold the first place unchallenged. Before graduation, however, Mr. Orr was sent away from college. There had been a difficulty between some of the boys la which Professor MeCoy was struck in the mouth. While young Orr was not engaged in the fracas, he knew the boys who were. When brought before the faculty he refused to inform upon his friends. The faculty gave him his choice of telling or leaving college. He very properly left college It was then conceded that the struggle lor the “honor” lay between P. W. Alexander, of Elbert, and Dick W*lker, of Monroe. Just here It seems to have occurred to Ben Hill to go In for the honor himself. He did so, giving himself entirely up to his studies. It was a terrible fight, but he whipped it, carrying off the undivided fust honor. The second was divided between Alexander and Walker, So unexpected was the triumph of Hill in going to the first place by this “spurt" that the boys held a Trtfeting and voted that Alexander—perhaps the best scholar la the class, hut devoted to literature and society—deserved it and onght to have it. H Mr. Hill did not at first show for his worth with lil* ilamatr* he very soon demonstrated to his y aaociatM that he had unusual power. He pnc his best work into the college debates and was en Jiusiastic on all society matters. In those-days thu debates were prolonged throughout the entire day and often carried over. The leaders on either side studied every phase of the qnestion under dis cu-sion, and Profeasor Orr told me a year ago that on many leading topics his opinions formed when a lebatei; in college had remained unchanged. , _ .. .. .P, , .... in .. i. _ Cotton was then selling at thirty cents, the impres ts the’ Demosthenean, "when young Hill entered . ,, ,, . . T , , it. here were Sam Hall, Gustavus J. Orr, A. C.Gar- rf °“ ^ “ uW " 0t b ® m "f sr Hun - . Jr ” :• di. d early’. Hope Hull. Jaines J^^nTwimam hlS \ prt0C3 'verebankrupted. V- Haris, three practiced debaters who. though 1 Mr ' HlU l0St ln ‘ hU VentUr ° "«**"*** gn iuates,lived In Athens and participated in their sot iety discussions. These men were all strong and sti dious, and offered powerful competition to the yo ng country boy who, from his first debate, m; le for the foremost rank. He never missed an opportunity to speak and always spoke forcibly lit soon became the strongest debater'in his society an - was noted for the close study of his question $200,000. The property depreciated, as alt other plantations did, until they were worth hardly one- tenth of what he had paid for them. He has only ond of the four left and ltls mortgaged for perhaps its full value. Mr. Hill gave a great deal of money to charity. I doubt if any appeal was ever turned away from im. When in the embarrassment occasioned is planting operations, he frequently gave h: K a . ' ersariai1 of , llis soe ety ’ ing cash to give them. He was charitable and gen« sgainst G. J-Orr,-who leaving college before ln publlo and privat0 . He Kave . without quesi .ecttqu gavo-him a walk-over. ■ - y, \ , . — | to all who asked. , He indorsed paper freely and The speech thal he then made-or if not then, lost heavily by his indiscretion. In one cate he ..erfaiuly at his junior commencement-indicates pald over securlt y debts for one man. emperamen and tendency. His theme was I From, all these causes, combined with a nature •ot ? ile. Love and Madness of Torquato Tasso.” thoroughly unfitted for business and as princely In Biqrnrd Henry Wilde, lately-returned from Europe, its investments as in its endowments. Mr. IIlll found had written a book on Tasso and revived Interest in himgelfat the end of a career In which over one this unhappy poet Mr. Hills speech was chaste, million has come to him as net earning?, a poos- “j y antl *J ut lmnlnphg throughout mau . ne has given each of his children a piece of wit hhis natural fire and eloquence. Hill’s most property, either a home or a plantation, and to ultimate friend during his college course was SOD io of them much more. He has an insurance Chandler Holt, who went into the Mexican war I policy for $10,000, and little else to leave his family, and died soon after his return to this country. Prof. His wife has the Peachtree street house, which at Orr once said to me of Mr. Hill: her death goes to his daughter, Mrs. Ridley. He • He was a pure and exalted boy through my leaves four children. Mrs. Edgar Thompson,.'the college acquaintance.with him. There was not the I eiaest, owns her home. Mr. B. H. Hill, Jr. t has a slightest shadow of immorality on his character. I snU g property, and a more than independent in- He was loyal, quiet, studious, and acquired in that I come. Mr. C. D. Hill, his second son, has a good period of application much of the fluency and in- I property, and his wife Ls rich. Dr. Ridley, who formation that afterwards enaoled him to do with I married his youngest daughter, has a lucrative and less study. I knew that ho would be a great man. I growing practice, aud is one of the finest physicians When I first saw him after college, he showed me j 0 f the city. a gold watch that he said was his first fee.' He was J This may not be a brilliant record in the eyes of then just beginning to be famous. Through all his I some men. There have been men who, on less op- life and through all criticism, I have thought of 1 portunity, hoarded thousands aud died rich. But him as the pure, earnest boy that I knew at Athens, this man was moulded differently and leaves his and I hare loved him and believed iuhim always.” family, better and sweeter legacy than millions could have been, the consciousness that he had MR. HILL’S BUSINESS LIFE. lived honorably and had done good—that his pleas- I once heard a lawyer of judgment assert that I uirehad beoji to make them happy aud to hold Mr. Hill made more money by the practice of his ] nothing too dear that contributed to their comfort- profession, considering the years he was engaged in the practice, than any other lawyer in America. He cited the case of Judge Curtis, of the supreme court, who was held to have the most lucrative practice, and who made S40O.COO in ten years. Mr. Hill himself told me that he made over $20,030 a year for the first fifteen years of his practice. Judge Sam Harris says he has that with ungrudging hand to them and to the world he had given freely and had found joy in the giving! MR. HILL’S POLITICAL LIFE. In 1657, when Mr. Hill was 26 years old, he was sent to the lower house of the legislature. From that time ferward there has never been a day when authority for saying that Mr. Hill made S4SO.OOO at he was not a prominent factor,and usually an Issue, the law up to 1S60. As this allowed him fourteen n Georgia politics. To summarize by periods, he years of practice, the average was about $31,000 a I was from 1S50 to 1860 the champion of the union year. During that time he made a canvass for con- j cause ia Georgia—opposed to slavery agitation or gress, for governor, twice as elector, and served tyro j secessiou. From I860 to 1865 ht was the leader In terms in the legislature. Treasurer Dan Speer the confederate senate of the admlnlstation party, knew Mr. Hill intimately all his life. There was and the most determined opponent of reunion, no bank in LaGrange in the old days and Mr. Hill From 1865 to 1870—the most brilliant period per used to deposit his fees In the safe in Dr.Moreland's haps of his life—he was the fearless and uncompro- office, where Mr. Speer was. He says that his In- mising foe of the infamous reconstruction policy, come from fees as shown by his deposits was enor- ] and by his eloquence roused the people of the south mous, and that the ensh on hand was frequently in a frenzy of resistance to every measure proposed very large. Mr.Hill was in-every important case in I by despots or bretted by bayonets. From 1870 to western Georgia, and later In nearly every big case 1872 he was out of public life, having ad in the state. He named his own fees. He bought vised the peaceable acceptance of the situation after negroes and lands with his surplus aud always had I reconstruction had been forcibly accomplished, more than he could possibly use. He lost his ne- j From 1872 to 1874 he was the advocate of nation- groes and much other property by the war, and yet 1 *’ * i, * , **“" ,h “ to his audience by George IV. Adair. He created immense enthusiasm wherever he spoke, and soon • become the idol of his party. Judge Warner met his eloquence with impassive, inexorable logic, but the brilliant youngster reduced the majority of over 2,000 to 24, and to this day Colenel Adairswears that this slim major/ty was made by democratic miners who were smuggled across the Alabama line from Oklchobcegold mines. • It was in this campaign that Mr. Hill received the sobriquet of "Our Ben.” The circumstances were these, as I heard them from non. Gus Bacon: big American rally was held at Newnan. Dr. Miller, Ben Hill aud others spoke, and there was a great crowd. Mr. Tom Bacon, who was a clever artist and an enthusiastic “American,” drew a cartoon which was mounted on white linen and hung from a pole. It was the toast of the day. It represented a big Shanghai rooster in a deplora bly upset and clumsy state, while a trim Georgia game cock fluttered over him in triumph. Of course the Shanghai stood for Judge Warner with his foreign predilictious, while the native game cock represented HilL Underneath the picture were these lines, from which the shiboleth of “Our Ben” was taken : “When Shanghais meet our “native’’ bird They’re sure to get a licking: Old Hiram Shanghai tried “our Ben," And there he lies a kicking!” This campaigu made Mr. Hill’S name a household throughout the country, for he treated local ques tions curtly, aqd spoke with the breadth and com- . prehension ot a statesman. In lS56he canvassed the state as a Fillmore elector, rallying immense crowds everywhere, exciting the greatest enthusiasm, as he spoke like one inspired from his text for that de. cade, “the constitution inviolate, and the union as Its best defense.” N In 1857 he was nomfbated for govern or by the Americans, and entered upon one of the most notable campaigns of Georgia history. Mr. Hill entered this race with the odds fearfully against him. The whig party, strong in pure ma terial, and rich in high character, had few active workers. Among its leaders- were Charles J. Jenkins. Andrew J. Miller, who died about that time, Asbury Hull, E. a. Nisbet, and such men, of lofty reputation and spotless integrity, but ill-fitted by taste or training for the rough jousts of politics. Opposed to these leaders aud their impetuous young standard bearer, was Howell Cobb, active and elo quent, Linton Stephens, a brainier man than his brother, Aleck Stephens and Bob Toombs, working with the zeal of converts in a cause they had lately joined the Colquitt?, father and son, the one a terror to the opposition aud the other a positive Inspiration in his fresh and manly beauty—John H. Lumpkin and the elder Underwood, sturdy leaders of the sturdy hosts or m Cherokee—the Lamars,. Gardner and Clarke, all . skilled and powerful politicians—Seward who had by bisstalwart methods already beaten the chivalric Bartow aud was the war-horseof the southwest—Joe Brown himself even then striking the chords of kin ship that bound him to the people—Martin J. Craw ford, James Jackson, Gartrell, Warner, H. V. John son, W. H. Stiles, H. R. Jackson, A. R. Wright, Trammell, Pottle and a host of leaders not less ac tive if less csnspicuoiis. Mr. nill was then 34 years of age. He threw him self into the contest with enthusiasm, and really in estige and reputation had the advantage of his petitor. He was backed by a tfgtermtned ’lowing. Dr. Miller, then a marvel of eloquence, d known as the Demosthenes of the mountains, anse Wright, Judge Trippe, r. W. Alexander, Cin- ci iniatus Peeples, Tom Hardeman, Jas. L. Johnson, G. G. Cabaniss, *Frank Bartow and Hilliard were among the most active of his supporters. The cam - paign opened brilliantly. Monster mass meetings were held in Atlanta and elsewhere. Mr. Hill sought to sweep everything before him by the poWer of his eloquence. He assaulted the Buchanan administration with a bitterness that drove the Cobbs and Lumpkins, smarting under their defeat in the convention, into active support of Brown The two candidates met only six times, separating then by mutual agreement Governor Brown told me that Mr. Hill was unequalled for enthusing his party friends and keeping their ranks unbroken. He would rouse them to the highest pitch by an in trepid and and audacious eloquence, that while it made nlm the idol of bis own people, embittered the opposition and solidified its ranks. In other words, that, while unequalled in his power of holding a minority steady, he had little tact for se ducing converts from the enemy. At the end of the campaign Mr. Hill found himself the idol of his party, the wonder of all Georgians, defeated by 10,000 votes, but the foremost man of his years in the country. In 1853 Mr. HlU, stiU the leader of his part}’, though Warren Aken bore its standard, consented to serve in the state senate. He accepted the nomi nation for the express purpose of averting secessiou and saving the union he had championed so elo quently. He canvassed the state as a Bell elector, and just befure the election made a final appeal for peace In a letter urging that the three anti-republi can tickets be ’ fused. This was de clined. Lincoln was elected and ' then came the last struggle to save the union Into this Mr. HU1 threw himself, with thorough devotion, eloquence and fearlessness. It Is a miracle' tc the student of the history of that day, that any human power could have withstood the storm of passion in which the secession of Georgia was con ceived and consummated, and so nearly defeated it ait last. Mr. Toombs had telegraphed from Wash- was worth about $200,000 when he left LaGrange in 1860. Since that time Mr. HU1 has never given his whole time to the practice, but he has made an enormous amount of money. He made in 1863 one al reconciliation, leading the Greely movement in Georgia to the eud. From 1874 to the day of his death he represented Georgia In, the house or senate—being distinguished forhis superb defease of southern honor or southern institutions whenever they were assailed, and by a feejn a case in East Tennessee of $100,000 inconfed- burning and quenchless lojjp of the constitution erate money equal to about $60,000 in gold. In 1865 and the union. he had a fee of S120.000 in the famous Metcalf case. I can lea™ very little of Mr. Hill’s service in the hut only collected about 860,000. The balance he I legislature in 1851. He was then* considerably failed to sue tojudgment. Mr. Metcalf dying he uuder thirty years of age. but must have already faded to get his balance .when other judgments made considerable character as he was elected as a against the estate were paid.- being barred by limi- union man and accepted the election simply to give tation. Hisf.-ein the Western and Atlantic lease I his influence d confirming the compromise of 1S50 case was a share in th£ lease and lease bondsthatp&id him about S125.000. He received 1 share of the lease as his originally. He bought with Mr. Nutting 1 other share, each taking half. He took one more share from Mr. Kimblll as a fee, pay- He was unquestionably a brilliant member as he was offered a re-election undone year later was tendered the nomination for congress. He de clined both of these, desiring to confine himself to his practice. In 1855. however, he determined to ing off a urn nil mortgage on it. This gave him 2>d ran for congress in opposition to slavery agitation shares. On these he drew $100,000 of income bonds, addin favor of the union. The know-notalng ex- they being issued at the rate of $10,000 to each share, citement was then atits height, and the whigs Shortlv afterwards he sold the shares for $50,000 to were generally given over to It. Mr. Hill Mr. Walters. He. thereforedrew$150,000fromlease was opposed to certain forms of the Beeiet shares. The expenses on the Kimball shares and order and had never joined a lodge. His party as- tne one he bought with Nutting, amounted to I sociatei. however, were committed to it, and he re about $25,000, leaving him net $125,000. | lied mainly upon the “know-nothings” lorsupport. ington of the failure of the Crittenden committee, His fee in the Kimball house cas> was an interest in the hotel, which he sold, after deriving considerable rent, for $25.0X1. George Adair and Mrs. Kimball buying it. He drew o.ie fee of 312,500 from the lease company and another of $10,000 that I know ot A case In New York paid him $10,000, and he had many $>,000 fees. II is cer tainly safe to say that he has made 31,000,000 by his He printed his platform and announced himself a candidate. Judge Hiram Warner was put upas the . democratic candidate. The district had usually given abont 2,000 demo cratic majority. In opening this can vass Sir. Hill made his real entry into the politics of the country. He was then 32 years old, of splendid appearance and matchless in his oratory. His first tongue and brain as feea by the time he was fifty I speech was made ln Atlanta, and he was Introduced and had added: “1 tell you, upon the faith of a true man, all further looking to the north for se curity or your rights should be abandoned V How ell Cobb had said: “The hour of Georgia’s inde pendence in the union, ought to be the hour of her Independence out of the union.” His brother. Tom Cobb, never surpassed ln Nurnlng and impas sioned uralory, deeply religious and fervid, had thrown himself into the seoession crusade with such absorbing earnestness, that he had revived the memory of “Peter, the Hermit.” Minute-men had been organized, in every c^ity of the state; the volunteer companies of the state had met In convention, and declared that Georgia could not in honor remain longer in the union; Car olina had seceded, and war had actually begyn; other states had followed her, and their ambassadors thronged our halls, pleading with Georgians to make common cause with them against a c.mtnon enemy. Governor Brown, an ardent secessionist, had already seized the federal forts and arsenals at Augusta and Savannah— Sumter had been fired on—the extrem ists of the north answered hack the extrem ists of the south and thus fed the excitement—the people we aioused, indignant and frenzied, and accident no less than inexorable design seem to favor the disunionists. In the midst of all this fury and madness—unawed and undismayed Mr. Hill stood the Incarnation of sev enty years of national peace and glory- under the unlon>nd the constitution—the spirit of Banker Hill and Yorktown, pleading for the per petuity of the republic bom of that revolution to which his people had furnished the voice in Pat rick Henry, the pen In Jefferson and the sword in Washington. In the senate, on the hustings.in the convention—everywhere and under all circumstances he was for the union and the constitution—speaking like one Inspired, and planted impregnably on the platform of Stephens, who, combining the rage and the reason of that momentous time into one sentence,had said: “The point of resistance should be the point of aggres sion!” . The secession convention was'the ablest body that ever ssrernhlrd In Georgia. 'The passion, the im- INDISTINCT PRINT