New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-11-23
SPEECH OF THE hon, n STEPHENS.

He rose and sal A..
, fellow .rrnrss: Iappear before Won tonight ut
the req Il of members If the Ley stature and others
70 Of matters Of the deepe' interest tina, ear
Tofsi' ~ concern all Of an cart My character. There
~ otfne-no question or subject connected WIN
u lfe-that concerns fro people 20 intimately %
,tat Of the Government W,der which they live: we
are now indeed. surroup ded by evils. Never SINCE
entered upon the public stage has the country been 10
envrored with differ tiles and dangers that Threatened
the public peace apd ,he very existence Of society s
now do not Now appear before you nj my own own"
stance. 1t is net to CRAFTY desire OF my own that !
ON here. Had I consulted my own ease and pleasure,
] shotld not be before you; but, believing that u
the duty 81 every good citizen TO give his connses anu
views Whenever tie country is in danger, AZ TO the
best policy TO he pursued, an here For these rea
eonf snd hese only, do bespeak calm, patient ana
attentive hearing.
Nv object is not stir MP STRIFE, but tosl W no
TO appeG to your passions, but 70 your reason "o3u
Governments can never De bnii up OF SUSTAINED W VIC
imrulfe of passion. with to address myself to your
good sense 70 your good judgment, and If, after hear
ing YOU disagree, let agree TO Disagree, and part a.
we met, friends. We all have the same object, the
same interest. That people should disagree IN KePu9
natural. That should disagree upon all matters
connected with human investigation, whether relating
10 science or human conduct, Is natural. Hence, ~
free Governments PARTIES will arise. But free people
should express Il cir different opinions with Gberaty
ard charity, with acrimony toward those OF their
fellows, when honestly and sincerely gwen. lhese
are nv feelings tonight.
let us therefore reason together. 1t il not my pur-
pofs to say aught TO wound the feelings of any ind
vidusl WHO may be present; and II IN the ardeney
with which shall express my Opinions, shhli siy
ANYTHING which may be deemed too strong let II he
set down to the zeal with which advocate my own
convictions There IL with NE no intention 10 rritte
or offend.
TIE first question that presents sef is shall the
people of the South seCede from the Union IN conse-
auenCe Of the election Of Mr. Lincoln to the Presidency
q IL TOD Gfota Nv nfrxm ~ ! ma
frankly coHdidig and earnestly, that do not think
hatfLCy oHgh. In my Judgment the election OF no
men, ccnstitutionally chosen to that high Office is
sufficient for any State TO separate from the
Urion. 1t ought TO stand by and aid still in main
tanning tie Constitution OF the country. To make a
point of resistance 10 the Govenment-to withdraw
from it because man has been Constltutionally
eleCted-puts us in the wrong. We are pledged TO
maintain the Constitution Many Of ne hove sworn 10
support it, Can we, therefore, for the mere election
to the PTefdency and that, too, in accordance with
the prescribed forms of the Constitution make point
of resistance to the Government without becoming the
breakers Of that sacred instrument ourselves, withdraw
ountl, es from II
Would we not be in the wroDgl Whatever fate IL
TO bfall this country lei II be ad 10 the charge
Of the people Of the South and especially to the people
of CeoI eia that untrue 10 our national en-
gagemente. Let the fault and the wrong rest upon
ohers If all our hopes TO BE- blasted if the Re-
public il to go down. let us be found the last moment
standing Ire deck with the Constitution of the United
fanatics of the North break the Constitution, if snch is
their fell purpose. Let the responsibility be upon them
Eall speak presently more Of their acts but let not
the South let be the To commit the aggres-
sion We went into tie election with this people.
The result wac different from what wished but the
election has been CONSTITUTIONAL, held. Were we t0make
point Of resistance 10 the Gov rnment and 90 out OF
the Union that account, tie record would be made
up hereafter against ne.
But it is said that Mr.. Lincolns policy and principles
are against the Constitution, and that he carries
them out il will be destructive Of our rights Let Ms
not anticpate q threatened evil. II he violates the
Constitution then Will time to act. DO not
let break il because, forsOoh he may II he does
that il the time for to strike. [Applause.l think
II would be njndicious and unwise to do this sooner.
do anticipate that Mr. Lincoln VIII do anything
to ieoIardze our safey security whatever may be
his spit 10 do il for he is bound By the constitutional
checks which are thrown around him, which at this
time renders him powerless 10 do him any great mis-
chief. This shows the wisdom Of our system. The
President of the United States If Emperor, Die
tator-he il clothed with absolute power He
do nothing unless be is backed by power In Congress
The House of Representatives Is largely IN the MAORI
ty sgaiust him.
In the Senate be will al4o be powerless. There will
be siOrity of four against him. This, after the
less Of Bger, Fitch and others, by TIE unfortunate
dissenkions of the National Democratic Party in their
States. DIR. Lincoln cannot appoint officer without
the consent Of the Senate-be cannot form Cabinet
without the consent. He Will he In the condition
of George III. the embodiment of TOryism who had
compelled to receive Cabinet uttey opposed 10 his
views; and Mr.. Lincoln will be compelled to ask Of
the Senate TO choose for him Cabinet if the Democ-
racy of that body choose to put him on such terms
He will be compelled to do this or let the Government
stop if the National Democratic mentor that ia their
name at the NoIth-the conservative men in the Sem
ate, should determine Then, how can Mr.. Lincoln
obtain Cabinet VI ieh would aid him, or allow him
TO violate the Constitution
Why then, say, should we disrupt the ties OF this
Union when his bands ted when he can do moth
ing against us7 have heard il mocted that man
in the State Of Georgia, who is true to her interests
could hold Office under Mr.. Lincoln. But, ask, who
appoints 10 Office Not the President alone; the Seq
ate has 10 concur. No man be appointed without
the consent of the Senate. Should any then
fuse TO hold Office that was given TO him by q Demo
cratic Senatel Mr.. TOonbs interrupted, and said if
the Senate was Democratic II for Dir. Breckin-
ridge Well, then, continued Mr. s., apprehend no
could be justly considered untrue to the interests
of Georgia, incur any disgrace, If the interests OF
Georgia required it, to hold an Office under which
Breckinridge Senate had given him, even though Mr.
Lincoln should be President Prolonged applause,
mingled with interruptions.
trust my countrymen you will be still and silent
i Am addressing your good Henee L am giving yon nv
views in a calm and dispassionaie manner, and if any
Of you differ with me, you can any other occasion
give your views ar l AM doing now, and let and
true patriotism decide between us In my Judgment,
l say, under such circumstances there would be no
possible disgrace for Southern man TO hold Office.
No man will be suffered to be appointed have no
doubt who is not true TO the Constitution if Southern
Senators are true 10 their trusts cannot permit
myself to doubt that they will be.
Ny honorable friend who addressed Won last night
tMr. Toombs), and to whom l listened with the pro-
foundest attention. asks if we would submit to Black
Republican rule7 FAY 20 you and to him IA "A (ieor-
gian, never would submit 10 any Black Republican
0ggrostOn upon our constitutional nghts. l will
never consent myself as much as admire this Union
for the gore Of the past the blessings Of the pres
ent as much as has done for the people of all these
States much il has done for civilization az much
as the hopes of the world hang upon IT, would never
submit TO aggression upon my rights 10 maintain it