Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1859-07-15
Views Of Mr.. Stephens, of Georgia.


Views Of Mr.. Stephens, Of Georgia.
The Augusta Constitutionalist contains
an account of a speech recently delivered
in that city by the Hon. A. H. Stephens,
Of Georgia. The report is evidently very
imperfect and loose, but yet enables us to
form some notion, though inadequate, of
the views Of the retired statesman on sever
al important topics. We make a few ex-
tracts:
sHe believed truth would triumph; all
the South wants is decision, union, pa
triotism. He believed in the power and
omnipotence Of truth, and would ask for no
thing wrong. The great principle to be
carried out is expansion right of the
people Of the South to 60 to the Territories
with their slave property, protected 1y the
Constitution, on a platform of equal rights.
The question was fully settled as prin-
ciple that Congress should make no dis
elimination in regard to sectional rights in
the Territories. but that the people Of each
Territory, aohen about to form Constitu-
tion CTS a State, should decide for themselves
whether they should come into the Union as
free or slave State.
The Missouri-comp doctrine, the
Texas doctrine, the territorial doctrine Of
Rufus King in 1917, have all been abandon
ed. In the admission of this principle, it
was not a triumph Of the South, bat a tri-
umph Of justice, truth, and right. The set
Aen,ent aoas fully up to the demands Of the
| South. She never asks but for what is
right. The principle is ssoa0 settled. that
Congress shall abstain from all legislation
on the subject Of slavery in the Territories,
whether as to the North or the South and
| the Territories are now open to all sections,
and have the privilege Of adopting slavery
or not, as the people may choose, achen
they come to form a constitution. These
measures, however, did not 60 as far as he
wished he would have Congress to give
protection to slave property in the public
domain as long as it remained in territorial
condition.
A majority at the South differed with
him-not more than twenty-five men in
Congress agreed with him but he finally
Welded to the doctrine -intervention
because it was not aggressive; and because
it secured for all practical purposes what
we wanted. If climate and soil do not
favor slavery, it will not 60 into the terri
tories.
Many had asked him what he thought Of
public sentiment on this question? He
would reply that the institution Of slavery
IS mow stronger than 1t aoas sirteen, gears
ago, aches, he entered Congress- Nothing
improved like it-and it is now .fred firm
and secure in its position"
The following suggestion we clip from the
Spectator, which we take pleasure in giving
all the publicity which our circulation af-
fords We hope the farmers of Augusta
villa act on the suggestion:
s'Let our citizens when they send their
-four, hay, whiskey, cattle, &C., to market,
require their Commission Merchants to send
them checks on the Richmond Banks in pay
ment. Then let our citizens hand these
checks to the Staunton Banks. This viii
make the Staunton Banks creditors of the
| Richmond Banks, and when the Vbrokers
come up with Staunton notes for redemp-
ton, our banks, instead Of paying out gold
and silver can redeem their notes with
checks on Richmond Banks. The balance
of trade is several hundred thousand dollars
in favor of Augusta against Richmond eve
ry year, and vet Richmond is always draw
ing specie from the Auguita Banks. flour
farmers and graziers, &c, will only adopt
our suggestion the process will be reversed.
We cannot only meet all demands on us by
checks on Richmond, but, if necessary, we
can draw large balances in specie from
Richmond. It is obvious that this would
greatly strengthen our banks and give &C.
tivity to business by enabling our banks t.
extend greater facilities to enterprising
men. Try the experiment. and we will soo1
witness the beneficial results. The visits O
the brokers will be stopped-the war on the
interior banks Will .cease-and the metro
politan bank will be taughta lesson Of cour
tesy to the country banks. We shall heaI
no more Of inability to accommodate til,
public with reasonable loans"