Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1859-07-16

And makes the lily meath The hills
So glorious to the eve
The trusting patriarch prays to bless
His labors with increase;
Such ways are ways Of pleasantness,
Andall such "paths are peace
VIEWS OF A RETIRED POLITICIAN.
The Augusta Constitutionalist contains an &C.
count of speech recently delivered in that city by
the Hon. A. II. Stephens of Georgia. The report
is evidently very imperfect and loose but yet en-
abes us to form some notion, though inadequate of
the views of the retired statesman on several impor
tant topics We make few extracts, hoping soon
to receive the grafton at length and in form worthy
Of the position he held in the councils of the nation
Mr. Stephens made the following interesting refer
ence to the history of
TEXAS ANNEXATION.
The secret history of the subject has never been
slave States to the Union. Without claiming any
honor for himself he stated that the resolutions that
passed the Senate were drawn up by himself and
Brown, of Tennessee, and that Mr.. Calhoun and Mr..
TYLER never saw them until they were in print In
1850, Mr.. Hale asked Daniel Webster, the great
constitutional expounder, whether he thought 1t was
constitutional to admit territory. with guarantee
of four slave States, into the Union? Mr. Webster
replied, 81 do" This was one of the most crafty
ing events OF MS III SIN years,
the disagreement and difficulties through which he
passed. be lived to see the ablest expounder admit
ting in the face Of the world that the act Of admis
sion was constitutional; and now men of all parties
and creeds agree that it was right
Mr. Stephens next took up the question of
THE POWER OF CONGRESS OVER THE TERRITORIES
He believed truth would triumph; all the South
wants is decision, union, patriotism He believed
in the power and omnpotence Of TRUTH and would
ask for nothing wrong. The great principle to be
carried out is expansion-the right Of the people of
the South to go to the Territories with their slave
property, protected by the Constitution on plat
form of equal rights.
The question was fully settled as principle that
Congress should make no discrimination in regard
to sectional rights in the Territories but that the
people Of each Territory schen about to form Con-
stitution as State, should decide for themselves
whether they should cone into the Union as free
or slave State.
The Mssouricompromise doctrine. the Texas doc
trine the territorial doctrine of Rufus Kngin 1917
have all been abandoned. In the admission of this
triumph of justice, truth, and right The settle
nent scas fully up to the demands Of the South
She never asks but for what is right The principle
is settled that Congress shall abstain from all
legislation the subject of slavery in the Terrific
ries, whether as to the North the South and the
Territories are now open to all sections and have
the privilege of adopting slavery not the peo-
pie may choose Dhen they come to form a Constitu-
tion These measures, however, did not 20 as far
lection to slave property in the public domain as
long as it remained in a territorial condition.
A majority at the South differed with him-not
more than twenty five men in Congress agreed with
him-but he finally yielded to the doctrine of non
sntereention because it not aggressive and be-
cause it secured for all practical purposes what we
wanted If climate and soil do not favor slavery it
will not 60 into the Territories.
HIS REASONS FOR RETIRING.
His reason for retiring was that all these ques-
tons arc ao,o settled Everything human is passing
away-there is nothing eternal but change. Our
bodies yield to this law; death is incident to all
most powerful of the present day, even our own
must pass away. We know not when it must obey
this law of change; he would not hasten its disso
luton but rather proong its existence and INDUCED
in the hope that far more glorious position even
than the present awaits us.
Mr.: Stephens repeated that he had endeavored ia
discharge his duties faithfully The settlement o,
the questions to which he had alluded was a praeti
eat good if we are but true to ourselves the settle
ment was affirmed by the judiciary as well as thu
Executive
Some portions of the report are very meagre; but
the following desultory references to the present
state Of public opinion in regard to slavery are wor
thy of note:
Many had asked him what he thought of public
sentiment on this question? He would that the in
statutton Of stacery Is now stronger than 1t .cas sic
teen years ago, sohen he entered Ccngress Nothin.
improved like it-and it is now .fred firm and secur
in its position.
THE RROBLEN OF THE NEGRO.
IL
problem Of our Government; our fathers didn't un
derstand it I grant that all the public men Of tn
South were once against it; but they didn't under
stand it 1t is for us to meet questions with tn
firmness which they did The problem is vet nm
solved Ours is not only the best but it is the onl
Government founded upon the PRINCIPLES of nature
Aristotle and other ancient philosophers had aile
in their theories Of government Graduation is see,
IN everything in nature the fowery world. from
the japohica down to the violet, in the veeetabl
kingdom, in the stars, and even in men. All on,
eminent comes from the Creator. Statesmen ne eve
looked to this principal of graduation, but our GOV
efnment is the only one founded on it; and our DO
lS, our institutions and African slavery are found
ca on II 1t is not for US to inquire into the pres
mysteries Of nature; and it is most foolish tn n
tempt to make things better than God made them
Applause.
in1 OoTi VI sTATEsAEN-THE SAFETY OF THE soUrI
Statesmen and private men should take thinos
God founded them, making the greatest amount :,
happiness out Of the elements which we possess
We ought to increase and expand our institution
If they do not increase the amount of happiness
.E6lack and white-then they ought to be aba,
doned He repudiated the doctrine Of the create,
number One hundred persons have no right
nave naPpneas At the expense and injury of ninet,
nine II slavery is not best for the African ~
dosnt increase his happiness it ought to be .bol;s
ed If it does then our institutions are fcun1.d
nature we are fulfilling our destiny, and . Ne sho,
s ss. apcn this higher law He Wouldn't npport
law Of nature And until the .sleonard ~, Isr
kis spots, or the Ethiop his skin" don't tei =.
said, that it is unlawful to hold slaves - 80
He had been asked, with these views. vb.. :.
become Of the countryi Fanat,csm might he .,...
ing. 1t the North but slavery i getting stre.o
and wiH continue to get stronger, whether IN