The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1860-09-26
Gbe '4attage StrtineI. I'D
wednesday, ssptepber ae, 1850.
speech of Hon. Alexander HI. Ste
phens,; of Georgia, at Augusta.

speech which the Hon, A. H. Stephens, OF
Georgia, lately delivered at Augusta, in that
State. 1t is a glorious production, and is
worthy of the fame of the finest intellect in
the Sooth. We have only room for the, fol-
lowir Z eloquent extract relntive to Mr.
Doug (tds: f'' ~ =.
..JAud in the vindication Of these great
/ fundamental truths. re- elptine-4o- .negroi.iTs
l6qualfeg and bis natutSl subordinate position,
tlRhich lie .atWe foundation of our social ia
6tic, no ernsus in the North or South, or in
the world, hos displayed more boldness and
Irpower than this same much abused and
grossly misrepresented Stephen A. Douglas.
No man has ever uttered these, or any
other truths, in this country, with more per
il or hazard to himself. Whether in the
Senate or on the hustiDgs, whether at the
Soutr 4or the North-whether before party
friends or Abolition mobs, he has never
shrunk from. their utterOnce from tear, favor
or affection. When duty required him to
speak, he mas never been silent. See him
breasting the anathemas of the three thou
sand New England clergy men, hurled against
him for the defense OF your rights under the
Constitution. See him at Chicago, imperl-
ing even lie itself, in vindication OF the
same cause-your rights under the Consti'
tution-and say If it comes with a good
grace, from Southern man, to denounce
him as an enemy 10 us or ours. Was there
ever bIacker iDgrotitude, since Ad ms first
great fall, thon such demonstrations against
such man! Were Ito remain silent while
hear them, and see him SO urjustly slain
, by those who know not what they do,
should feel myself to be as guilty OF limo
cent blood as those who stood by and helc
Stephen's clothes while he was stoned tc
desth. ......
Whatever may be his opinions on popular
sovereignty, or squatter sovereignty, or the
right OF seltgovernment on the part of al
organized communities-call it what yot
will-they are the sumo now that they have
always been, the same that they were IL
. 1856, when he was the favorile of the Geor
e ea Democracy for the Presidency
thought OF his doctrine then just as do now
II Others have changed their opinions since
he has not. 1t is one of the qualities abou
him that increases my admiration, that he i
no time server; he does not change witt
the popular current he bends TO no storms
he m maintains his fidelity and integrity t
i, principle through woe as we'll as throug
" veal. The most manly exhibition of mora
! courage and perye this sounlE = ever iinssl
4 ed was his contest in Illinois IN lo5o.-
Z, With The Abolition hosts in front, and
6, the forces of the Administration SO unnatl
rally ard unjustly brought in the rear,
) foueht the battle single handed aud uloE'
! achieving a victory unparalleled in the hi
: tory Of politics in this country. Why shouI
d not such man receive our support M
T. only Democratic, but Wing and American
A. a united Southern as we'll as national SUI
: port! Are his principles not natlona
equal and just to all! OF his associate
p the ticket | need not speak here. Hersch
| V. Johnson needs no Endorsement from an
man in Georgia. No son of hers was ev
= more sensitiveIy alive to all your great Of
10 most vito interests. He has been tried
y the Senate and the Executive chair, in Il
% bio hest q md most responsible Offices, provif
n himself to be equal to any and every oce
le sion. ,--..
Fellow. citizens, there il much more
y wish to say-much. upon the prolec'lt
e platform of those who call themselves Il
III true Democracy, but my strength has tai'
he i am completely exhausted. can on
ho add Look at the questions in all tn
"o hearings TO your past records, to your pr
u ent and future security. aud as potfio'S
70 your duty-trusting the rest with Goa'
If [Here Mr.. s., being unable longer
he stand, took his seat. The audience rema
=" inc quiet, calls were made for CummiI
'r Wright and others but no one OF the g.
tlemen called for appearing, Mr. George
Lamar arose on the steps, and ennoun'
5al that Mr.. s. would be able to proceed II
few minutes. After some enlivening
- from the brass band, Ms. s. arose, with gr
or. physical weakness, and proceeded j
=" do not feel, fellow citizens, as IT, in
y tice to myself, | ought to attempt t9
'rm more tonight but there is no cause
IN. which would more willingly die than
IN. the cause of, my ceIutry and | would
- as soon fall here, ut this time, in the ad
- cacy Of those principles upon which its
'os- glory has been achieved, its present p
aga periiy and its future hopes depend, as
,,es where else, or on any other occasion.
told YOU at the outset that the signs OF
:" E,imes portend evil. / gave you this as
~ deliberate Judgement the future must m
you its own disclosures. But you need no.
sin. surprised to see these States, now sopes
ma full, ,contented, prospefous, and happy
~ broiled in civil war. in less than 1--WE
the months, There. are occasions too grave
ts excitement, or any appeal to the passlt
wa Relieve me, mean all Isay-the most
,;fe rifc fornados-thoser which demolish Gil
III. DESTROY whole fleets, and sweep eyaryt
tAsI before them come most unexpectediy
u do the most NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. among n
4ts The human passions are the same e'
'ent where They arc dangerous elements
ept public men, politicians and party leader
ver9. deal with. q y 81 -
'Sl' The condition of the country threatens
Ter most violent conflict OF sectional teel
ngs antipathysand animosity at no distant
wsy Should an outbreak occur, where is the
drift er that can. control itsztAqoan may os y
- i in motion by tone who.can not stopett--a
a5 NAV be kindIed by hands that can not qut
49, it--those who begin revolutions seldom
nv cham ag 4 : y haN ~ - ftH
a. What affirm is. that the position OF
be- South, for twenty years and more-s
yer- the celebrated Atherton resolutions
). se been denial of the jurisdiction Of Cong
,aEta over the subject Of slavery in the States
az Territories. It was upon this denial Q
~ TO risdiction that the South resisted the II
Z At tionlof Abolition petitions. This pos
,lre.ll Is directly reversed at Char and
a. anI more. Ii We 60 to Congress With req
! POSITION, Of demand,t to pass a lawto
|tect slavery 10 the Territories, why mag
\ Ac on tie same principle, so far 40 iurisdi
! and ofthe question is concerned. che snsi :
who ~ Then Of The North 60 before the same
81 wltti their request, petition or demand