Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1859-07-22
Speech of A. III. Stephens, of Ga.
From the Augusta lGal Cnnstitntionnlist

assembled in the City Hall Park to hear their reprcsen
tative in Congress address them his resignation of
the high Office which they have long conferred upon
him, and which he has 50 honoraby and so ably filled
Mr.. John Bones introduced Mr.. Stephens to the au-
dence who proceeded to address his late constituents in
substance, as follows
Mr. Stephens returned thanks for this popular display
on the part of his constituents.
After some remarks in relation to State policy which
we omit, Mr.. Stephens said
He gratifed that his conduct in the political fed
had been approved and he would briefly let his audience
know how the political questions which have acitatcd
the country stand.
He alluded to his connection with the anneXti0n of
IeXas-One OF the most momentOus questions and the
first which he had met with 1t was fiery ordeal
for he then stood in opposition to his friends but
sense of duty mpecd him to adopt the course he did
The secret history of the subject has been written
The annexation of Texas secured four slave States the
Union. Without claiming any honor for himself, be
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 Web
ster, the great constitutional expounder, whether he
thought it constitutional to admit Territory, with
guaranty of four slave States. into the Union. Mr.
Webster REPLIED ;" !" This was one of the most
gratifying events of his life. In six years, notwhsand
ing the disagreement and difficulties through which he
passed. he lived TO the abest expounder admitting
in the face Of the world that the act of admission was
constitutional and now men of all parties and crccdS
gree that it was right.
greater and fearful crisis arOsethat was the qucs
tiOn of the power of Congress over the territories
whether slave States should be admitted, whcth
cr the South should never expand enlarge; whether
our Institutions should be starved cut whether the
South should submit 10 degradation He would not
give the history OF those times, but simply say, in re-
gard to the path he took, it is past what he did is
done, bu whether right wrong, the record Is made
up The South was successful; she asked nothing
wrong from the North, and got only what right
He perfectly willing to remain in the Union, but
simply said, Stay the hand of oppression. AS much as
he loved and admired the Union if the South to be
lemmed ard hcdgcd in he was for rcsstance sooner
than to submit practical or theoretical questions of
; wrong, he was for resistance.
lie believed truth would triumph all the South
wants is decision, union, patriotism. He believed in
the power and omn potence of TRUTH and wrud ask for
nothing wrong The great principle to be carried out
is expansionhc right of the people OF the South to go
to the territories with their slave property, protected by
the constitution on platform of equal right
The question is fully settled as principle that Con
gress should make discrimination in regard to sec
tonal RIGHTS i'll the territories, but that The people of
each territory when about to form constitution
State should decide for themselves whether they should
come in the Union as Il free or slave State.
The Missouri compromise doctrine the Texas doctrine
the territorial doctrine of Rufus ing in 1917, have all
ben abandoned. In the admission OF this principle, it
was triumph of the South but trump OF justice
j truth and right The settlement fall up to tic dc
mands Of the South She never asks for but what is
abstain from all legislation on the subject Of slavery il
T. the territories, whether to the North the South
and the territories to all sections and have the privilege
IS Of adopting slavery not the people may choose
when they come to form Constitution. These mCa
sure however did not go far he wished he WOulC
have Congress to give protection to slave property IL
the public domain long it remained in tcrritorla
condition.
majority at the South differed with him--not more
than tWCntyi in Congress agreed with hlm-bu
he 1pN q q
cause it secured for all practical purposes what want
Cd If climate and soil do not favor slavery ii will not
go into the Territories
- Many thought all the discussion on The slavery qucs
tOn had nothing in it, slavery wouldn't 60 to Kansas
= = Nebraska &c; what harm would be done if the Wmo
c proviso was passed? 1t is true it abstract
principle which had been gained but some OF the great
e est questions the governments OF the world have beer
abstract He would advise strong resistance to alb
- sract as to the practical questions. Nations which
submit to abstract questions of wrong will not long
maintain their independence. Let man, then, say
that all their discussion about slavery in the Territories
was for personal motives and that all the details amount
al ed to nothing.
Fates Of empires have been settled by abstract qucS
ons. The Dred Scott decision was only in regard t.
one slave but it cotaned abstract question of grea
" Importance Mr.. Stephens cited several law where
the interests Immediately at stake were small but where
in great abstract principles contained and askcC
e where would have been the Dred Scott decision but O
ii the debate in Congress? Let no lace too light al
estimate upon theoretical questions lie cited cur
revolution, which, he said had been fought upon
preamble. The demands of the colonies for the reno
mova Of the tea and stamp duties granted by th
British government but the right OF taxation as
serted in the very act OF revocation and upon this th
Revolution was fought. Mr.. Stephens here paid pas
sing tribute to Ireland and her patriots and orators,
+ quoted the language of Edmund Burke in regard t. th
action OF the British government. On the princi
DC pie let be deceived, place too small csti
- mate on public in their discussions even when they
to abstract principle Ic would not advise the South, o.
any portion of the conicderacy, to remain members of
body in which they not equal in all the principe
Of justice.
His reason for retiring was that all these questions
s are settled. Everything human is passing away
u IL there is nothing eternal but change. Our bodies yicl
1c to this law death is incident to all and governments
Sc are liable 10 the law. The most powerful of th
Mt present day, own, must pass away We know
y not when it must obey this law of change he would
hasten its dissolution, but rather proOng its existence
and INDUCED in the hope that far glorious posi-
tiOn than the present one awaits us.
Mr.. Stephens repeated that he had cndcavorcd to dis
~ charge his duties faithfully The settlement of the qucs
ID tions to which he had alluded practical good
Il; we are but true to ourselves the settlement affirm
at cd by the judiciary well the executive and VIZ
can divide Texas into five slave States and get Chihau
- hau Sonora &c, if we have the slave population.
He had been asked, what the prospects for tht
E future what is to become of the antsayery sentiment
d. Of the North and whether slavery is as secure il
to was
As he said in 1850 he would repeat nowhere is
very little prospect OF the South getting any Territory
outside of Texas; in fact, little prospect at all
no unless we increase our African stock.
he The question bis hearers should examine in its length
te mad breadth but he would do nothing than pre-
no sent it but it plain as anything that unless The
"a, number of African stock be increased have not thC
q population, and might well abandon the with
h. our brethren of the North in the colonization of tho
Territories 1t was not for him to advise these
tod tIo, cbo,IC