Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-11-24

Il has done for civilization as much as the hopes OF the
world hang upon il would never submit to aggression
upon my rights maintain it longer; and If they can
not be maintained in the Union standing the Georgia
Platform where have stood from the time Of its adop-
ton would be in favor Of disruptng every tie which
binds the States together will have equality for Geor
ga and for the citizens Of Georgia in this Union, or
will look for safeguards elsewhere. This Is my opin
ion The only question is they be secured IN
the Union That is what am counseling with you to-
night about. Can 1t be securedy In my Judgment II
NAV be- but may not be but let US do all we can SO
that in the future if the worst come, may never be
said we were negligent in doing our duty to the last
Nv countrymen, i am not Of those who believe this
Union has been up this time. True men, men
Of integrity entertain different views from me on this
subject do not question their right 10 do; would not
impugn their motives in so doing Nor will undertake
70 saw that this Government of fathers is perfect
There is nothing perfect in this world Of human orr
gin; nothing connected with human nature, from man
himself 10 any of his works You may select the wsest
and best men for your Judges and yet how many de-
iects are there in the administration OF justice! You
NAV select the wes and best men for your legislators
and vet how many defects apparent in your laws
And il is so in our Government But that this Govern
ment of our fathers with all its defects comes nearer
the objects OF all good Governments than any other on
the face Of the earth is my settled conviction Contrast
it now with any on the face Of the earth. England,
said Me-. Toombs)
Mr.. stephens England, my friend says. Well, that
is the next best grant but think We have improved
upon England Statesmen tried their apprentice hand on
the Government Of England and then ours was made
Ours sprung from that avoiding many of its defects
king most of the good and leaving out many Of its
rors and from the whole constructing and building up
this model Repubc-the best which the history OF the
world gives any account Of Compare my friends this
Government with that of SPAIN Mexico the South Ame-
rcan Republics, Germany Ireland Are there any sons
of that doWn-rodden nation here tonightg Prussia, or
il YOU travel further East 10 Turkey or China Where
will you 90, following the sun in its circuit round our
fbath fho
critics of its people, and secures to them the blessings We
enjoy. Applause.
think that one of the evils that beset US is suriet
of liberty exuberance of the priceless blessings for
which we are uugraeiu We listened to my honorable
friend who addressed you last night (Mr. Toombs he
recounted the evils OF this Government The first
the fishing bounties paid mostly to the sailors OF New
England Our friend stated that oryeght years of our
! Government under the administration Of Southern
Presidents Well these fishing bounes began under the
rule of Southern President believe. No of them
during the whole forty eight years set his admins
traton against the principle policy OF them IL Is not
for say whether il was wise policy in the begin
ming il probably not and have nothing 10 say in
lis defence. But the reason given for it was TO cncour
age our young to 90 TO sea aud learn TO manage
! ships. We had at the time but small navy. 1t was
thought best TO encourage class OF our people 10 be-
come acquainted with sea-aring life; to become sailors;
20 naval ships IL requires practice 10 walk the
deck of ship, pull the ropes to turl the sails to so
alot to climb the mas; and it thought by offering
this bounty nursery might be formed in which young
men would become perfected in these arts and it appi
ed section of the country as well as TO any other
The result of this that in the war OF 1872, our
sailors, many OF whom came from this nursery, were
equal to any that England brought against At any
rate no small part of the gories of that gained
by the veteran Of America and the object OF these
bounes foster that branch OF the national defence
NY opinion is that whatever may have been the reason
at first this bounty ought be discontinued-the
| Il first A
did pass the Senate the last Congress in, to which
my honorable friend contributed greatly, but was not
reached in the House of Representatives. trust that
be will vet that he may with honor continue his
rection with the Government and that his elOquence
yaed in the Senate may hereafter, as heretofore, be
displayed 10 having this bounty, obnoxious to him,
pealed and wiped or from the statute book.
The next evil that my friend complained DIVA the Tar
IT, Well let Us look at that for a momeat About the
time commenced noticing public matters this question
was aeitaug the country almost fearuy the slave
question is. In 1892 when was in college, s. q.
was ready nufy secede from the Union on this ac
count Aud what have we seen? The Tariff no longer
distracts the public councils Reason has triumphed-
The present Tariff was voted for Massachusetts, and South
Carolina. The lion and the lamb lay down together
every man ia the Senate aud House from Massachusetts
and South Carolina voted for did my honorable friend
himself And f It be true, TO use the figure Of
speech Of my honorable friend that every in the
North that works in iron and brass and wood has his
muscle strengthened by the protection Of the Govern
ment tina. stimulant was given by his vote, and be-
leve every other Southern man. So we ought not to
complain Of that.
Nc Toombs. That tariff assessed the duties
MS. Yes, and Massachusetts, with unanimity voted
with the South lessen them and they made just
low Southern asked them to be, and that is the
rates they are now at II and argument with
perience produced such changes in the sentiments OF
Massachusetts, from 1882 70 1887 the subject OF the
Tariff may not like changes DO effected there by the
same means reason and Argument aud appeals to patr
osm the present vexed question, and who can say
that bv 1878 or 1890, Massachusetts NAV not vote with
Sjuta Carolina aud Georgia upon all those questions that
now distract the country and threaten its peace and
tence believe In the power and efficiency OF truth,
in the omnipoence of truth and its ultimate triumph
when properly welded. applause
Another matter of grievance alluded to by my homo
rable friend was the navigation laws. This policy
also commenced under the administration Of one OF those
Southern Presidents who ruled so well, aud has been
continued through all Of them since. The gentemaus
views of the policy OF these laws aud my own do not
disagree. We occupied the same ground in relation TO
them in Congress Il is no: my purpose TO defend them
Blu it il proper to state some matters connected
With their origin.
One Of the objects was to build up commercial Ame
rican Marine by giving American bottoms the exclusive
carving trade between our own ports. This is great
arm OF national power. This object accomplished
We have amount Of shipping not only coast-wise
bu, to foreign countries which puts in the front ranks
OF the nations OF the world. Engaui eau longer be
STYLED the mistress Of the What American ia not
proud Of the result Whether those laws should be
tnued is another question. But thing ia certain
President Northern or Southern, has yet
mended their repeal Aud my friends efforts TO get
them repealed met with but little favor North
South
These, then were the main grievances grounds Of
complaint against The general system OF our government
and its workings. mean the administration OF the Fed
era Government As the Acts Of several Of the States
shall speak presently but there these the main
ones used against the common head Now suppose 1t be
admitted that all OF these evils in the system do they
over-balnce and outweigh the advantages and great
good which this government affords in thousand
iauumerabe ways that caunct be estimated! Have
not at the South well the North grown great, pros
porous and happy under its operaonY Has any part
OF the world ever shown such rapid progress in the de-
velOpment OF weah and all the material resources Of
national power and greatness, the Southern States
have under the General Government, Notwithstanding all
it5 de,cts9
Mr. TOomb5--In spite Of it.
Mr. Stephens-My Hon friend says We have, in spite
Of the General Government Without it. suppose lie
thinks might have done well perhaps better than
W. baye done in spite OF it. That may be- and i. may
be- but the great fact is that have grown great
and powerful uuder the Government exists. There
ia no conjecture or speculation about that it stands
bold, high and prominent like your Stone Mountain 10
which the gentleman alluded in Illustrating facts in
his Iecord-ths great fact Of unryaed prosperity
in the Union is sdmitted-whether all this ia in
spite of the Observation-Disclosures we Of the South
would have been better Off without the Government IT,
10 say the least predetermined Ga the side
only put the fact against speculation and conjecture
the other But a question Of speculation differ
With my distinguished friend.
What we would have lost in border wars without the
Union, or what we have gained simply by the peace it
has secured no estimate can be made Of Our foreign
trade which is the foundation Of all prosperity has
tho of tha