Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1859-07-20
VIEWS OF A RETIRED POLITICIAN.


count Of speech recently delivered in that city by
the Hon. A. H. Stephens, of Georgia. The report
is evidently very imperfect and loose, but yet en-
ables US to form some notion, though inadequate, OF
the views of the retired statesman on several mpor-
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
written The annexation of Texas secured four
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
constitutional to admit territory, with guarantee
of four slave States into the Union? Mr.. Webster
replied, IL do!' This was one of the most crafty
ing events of his life In six years, notwithstanding
the disagreement and difficulties through which he
passed. he lived to see the abest expounder admit
ting in the face of the world that the act of adms
sion was constitutional; and now men Of all parties
and creeds agree that it was right
Mr.. Stephens next took nip the question of
THE POWER OF CONGRESS OVER THE TERRITORIES.
He believed truth would triumph; all the South
wants is decision, union, patriotism lie believed
in the power and omnipotence of truth, and would
ask for nothing wrong. The great principle to be
carried out is expanson-the right of the people of
the South to go to the Territories with their slave
property, protected by the Constitution, 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 chen ajoat to form Con-
stitution as State, should decide for themselves
whether they should cone into the Union as free
or slave State.
The Mssouri-compromise doctrine, the Texas doc
trne the territorial doctrine of Rufus King in 1917,
have all been abandoned In the admission of this
principle, it was not triumph of the South, but
triumph Of justice, truth, and right The settls-
ment aras fully up to The demaadS OF the SoHth.-
She asks but for what is right The principle
is nOu 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 as the peo-
pie may choose nheB they come 10 form ConstitN-
ton. These measures, however, did not 20 as far
as he wished; he would have Congress to give pro-
lection to slave property in the public domain
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 yielded TO the doctrine of non
Intervention, because it not aggrcssire and be-
cause it secured t1r all practical purposes what we
wanted Ii climate and soil do not favor slavery it
will not go into the Territories.
HIS REASONS FOR RETIRING.
His reason for retiring was, that all these ques-
tons are settled. Everything human is passing
away-there is nothing eternal but change. Our
bodies yield to this law death is incident to all;
and governments are liable to the same law. The
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 prolong 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 to
discharge his duties faithfully. The settlement of
the questions to which he had alluded was procti-
cal good if we are but true to ourselves the settle
ment was affirmed by the judiciary as well as the
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
stituton Of slacery is stronger than it scas sir-
teen gears ago, acaen he entered Congress- Nothing
improved like it-and it is now .red firm and secure
in its position.
THE PROBLEM OF THE NEGRO.
Negro slavery is but in its nfancy-it is Nero
problem Of our Government; our fathers didn't un.
derstand it. grant that all the public men of the
South were once against it; but they didn't under
stand it. 1t is for us to meet questions with the
firmness which they did The problem is vet un.
solved Ours is not only the best but it is the only
Government founded upon the principles of nature.
Aristotle and other ancient philosophers had failed
n fhar of
In everything in nature--in the fowery world from
the laponica down to the violet, in the vegetable
Kingdom in the stars, and even in men, All gov
eminent comes from the Creator. Statesmen never
looked to this principal of graduation, but our gov
eminent is the only one founded on it; and our pol
ICY, our institutions and African slavery are found
ed on it. 1t is not for us to inquire into the great
mysteries of nature; and it is most foolish to at
tempt to make things better than God made them
(Applause.
THE DUTY OF sTATEsMEN-THE SAFETY OF THE SOUTH
Statesmen and private men should take things al
God founded them, making the greatest amount O
happiness out of the elements which we possess
we ought to increase and expand our institutions
II they do not increase the amount of happiness Il
ah-back and white-then they ought to be aban
doned. He repudiated the doctrine of the creates
number One hundred persons have no right Il
nave happiness at the expense and injury of ninety
nine Ii slavery is not best for the African an
dosnt increase his happiness it ought to be abolish
ed. II 1t does, then our institutions are founded il
nature-we are fulfilling our destiny, and we shout
stand upon this higher law. He wouldn't support
Constitution that was inconsistent with this highe
law OF nature. And until the leopard can chang
his spots, or the Ethiop his skim" don't tell me.
said, that 1t is unlawful to hold slaves
he had been asked, with these views, what is
become of the country? Fanatcism might be sprea,
ing at the North, but slnUery is getting strongs
Gna o"t continue to get stronger, whether in IL
Union or out of it.
the worst must come, let it come-he was n
afraid Of the consequences; in or out of the TJn;o
starery vii gro'c strong as time goes on.
when se entered Congress. the Missouri Co,