New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-09-03
Speech Of Hon. A. III. Stephens.

AUGUSTA Ga. Saturday, Sept. i, 1867
An immense audience of ladies aud gentlemen as
sembtd at the City Hall Park to-day 10 hear the Hon.
A II. Stephens speak.
Mr.. Stephens faid be appeared reluctantly before
the people, and only did so because be could not re-
fuse the invitation of his cid col sltlens The sQns
of the times porieDd evil. Everything seems tending
10 national disruption and general anarchy. Whether
this tendency to be arrested depended on the virtue
intelligence and patriotism Of the people OF al parts OF
the country in tie present great cIirls. lie was Tor
Douglas and johnson, the regular nominees Whether
Douglas received twohirds Of the electoral vote or
not according to The usages OF the party he received
the two. hifds vote OF the Convention. ne tive
thirds rule was adopted upon parliamentary under
standing such dc are provided By the constu-
ton to pas a law over the veto OF the
President. Any other construction is impraotcahle
Whether Douglas got ~ votes as asserted on one
side or l5i rs alleged the other, be Douglasl re-
ceyed more than two-thirds vote after the sscede:s
left He lStepheDs supported the ticket because the
candidates on it supported the ehonored platform OF
nOpineIventon, the only pracpe which can preserve
the Union. The objections urged against Douglas by
the StcedeIs were that he refused TO say that 1t was
the duty of Congress u do what they would not do
themselves. Douglas refused TO say that ii wac ihs
duty of Congress pass laws to protect Slavery IN the
Territories hence they oppose him and refuse to vote
for such law themselves. Mr.. Stephens defended
Douglas against the charge that he would not yield to
the decision Of the Supreme Court and said that Doug
Scott case, but also insisted that the point
how far a Territorial Legislature might cOns-
tutionally regulate Slavery had not been decided
No case involving this principle had been be-
fore the Court. The position of Douglas is that of
perfect equality between the citizens Of all the
erty. MIR. Douglas believed that Territorial Legisla-
ture might by syetem of laws, vi. tually exclude
Slavery. he (SIephens differed with MIR: Douglas on
this point but it matter of 10 vital or essential
Importance becau if the majority Of the people OF
Territory oppose Slavery it would not 60 there lie
saw DO Injury TO the South resulting from IT,. lie be-
heved Slavery will 90 to the extent Of the capacity for
it, and that no law of Congress Territorial Lesis
lsture extend it beyond this. He d@et upon the
Union and the importance Of preserving it. Ii was the
best Government of the world or that had ever been
established. Fit fails shall never its Ike again.
He called on the patriots of all sections unite to
it. The Union had enemies at the North and Sonth,
but be lStephens) was not Of them. lie knew MIR.
Breekiprldges ability and patriotism, and he would
have sustained him bad he been nominated by the De-
mocIaic Conventions out his present position divides
the party and increases the chances Of the Republican
candidate He did moi regard Dir. Breckenridge as a
disunioDist but his running endangeIs the Union not
~itbstandiIg, and he has chance Of election be-
fore the people,