Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1860-12-01
speech of the Hon. Alexander II
Stephens, of Georgia.

:. VI 'ue beSisitture OF georgia
oy Mr. stephens, on the subject of Secession
on the l4th inst -
me institutions of people, political ant
moral, are the matrix in which the germ n
.uer organic structure quickens into life
taxes root and developes n form, nature and
character Our Institutions constitute The
oasis the matrix. from which spring all on,
characteristics Of development and greatness
LOOK at Greece. There is the same fertile
son, the same blue sky, the same inets and
haroors, the same Egean, the same O,ympus
mere IS the same land where Homer sung,
"nere Pericles spoke; it is 10 nature the
same old Greece--bat it is living Greece no
more. Applause
descendants OF the same people inhabit
tne country yet what is the reaeoD of this
mlghty difference 10 the midst of present
degradation we see the glorious fragments
OF ancient works Of art-temples with orna.
ments and inscriptions that excite wonder
una admiration-the remains of once high
order OF civilization which have outlived the
language they spoke-upon them all lchabod
Is "rl'ten-ther glory has departed. Why
Is this SO? | answer, their institutions have
been destroyed. These were but the fruits
OF their forms OF Government, the matrx
from which their grand development sprung,
end when once the Institutions of peopIe
have been destroyed, there is no earthly
power that can bring back the Prometbean
spark to kIndle :hem here again, any more
than IN that ancient land Of eloquence, poetry
aud song Applause.
lbe same may be- said OF Italy Where is
Rome once the mistress of the world p
There ore the same seven hills now, the same
SOL, tue same natural resources; nature is
h.a enf hpt nh
ness meets the eye of the traveller through.
out the length aud breadth of that most
dowu.trodden laud Why have not the peo.
pie OF that lleaven.favored cline the spirit
that animated their fathers Why this sad
difference
1t is the destruction OF her institutions that
has caused 1t; and. my countrymen, if we
shall in an evil hour rashy pull down aud
destroy those institutions which the patriotic
band Of our fathers abored so long and so
hard to build up, and which have done SO
much for us and the world, who can venture
the prediction that similar results will not
Cnsue? Let US avoid it if we eau. trust
the spirit is amongst us that will enable US
10 do it. Let US not rashly try the expert
ment, Tor 1t it fails as it did in Greece aud
Italy and in the South American Republics,
and in every other place, wherever liberty is
ouce destroyed it may never be restored to
US again. Applause.
There ore defects in our Government .
errors in administration and shortcomings OF
many kinds but in spite of these defects and
errors, Georgia has grown to be great /
State. Let us pause. here a moment. ln .
1850 there was II great crisis, but not so
fearful AS this, for OF all have ever passed |
through, this is the most perlous, and re-
Quires to be met with the greatest calmness /
aud elaboration.
| look upon this country with our insttu. |
tons as the Eden OF the world the paradise
of the universe. 1t may be that out Of it we
may become greater and more prosperous
bnt I am candid and sincere in telling you
that fear if we rashly evince passion and
without sufficient cause shall take that step |
that instead of becoming greater or more
peaceful, prosperous and happy-nstead Of
becoming gods, we will become demons, aud
at DO distant day commence cutting one
anOther's throats. This is my apprehension
let us. therefore, whatever we do, meet these
diff :ultes, great as they are, like wise and
sensible men, and consider them in the light
of nl the consequences which may attend
cur action. Let us see first clearly where
II path of duty leads, aud then we may not
/, ar to tread therein.
Let US, therefore, not act so hastily in this
matter. Let your Committee on the State
uf the Republic make out a bill. Of grieyan.
ces let it be sent by the Governor to those
failhless States, and il reason aud argument
sbull be tried in vain-all shall fail to induce
[ hem to return to their constitutional obliga.
tions, | would be for retaliatory measures,
such as the Governor has suggested to you
This mode Of resistance in the UaiOn is in
our power. 1t might be eliectual, and if, in
t he last resort, we would be- justified in the
eyes Of nations, not only in separating from
tncm, but by using force.
Some one said the argument was already
{ exhausted
MIR. STEPHENS continued-Some friend says
that the argument is already exhausted. No,
my friend, it is not. You have never called
he attention OF the Legislatures OF those
States to this subject, that | am aware Of
y othing has ever been done before this year
The attention of our own people has been
called to this subject lately. 4
Now. then, my recommendation to you
would be this. Ia view of all these questions !
nf difficulty, let a convention of the people of /
Georgia be called, to which they may be all /
referred. Let the sovereignty OF the people .
speak Some think that the election Of Mr.. .
/ .incoln is cause sufficient to dissolve the ,
.niou. Some think those other grievances |
ar. sufficient 10 dissolve the same, and that .
The Legislature has the power thus to act, .
and ought thrs to act. have no hesitaDcy .
IN saving that the Legislature is not the
proper body TO sever our Federal relations, II .
lhat necessity should arise. An honorable ,
and distinguished gentleman, the other night,
MIR II. r r. Cob6,) advised you to take
'his course-not to walt TO hear from the
ross roads and groceries. say 10 you, you
nave no power so TO act
Won must refer this question to the people
nd Won must wait TO hear from the meu at
he Crossroads aud even the groceries; for
he people in this country, whether at the
,ross.roads or the groceries, whether 10 cot
aces or palaces, are all equal, and they are
he sovereigns in this coantry. Sovereignty
. not in the Legislature. We, the people
IRE the soyereigns. | am one oil them and
,nye right to be heard, aud so has any other
itizen Of lie State. You Legislators, speak
I respectfully, are but our servapts. You
,rs the servants of the people, and not their
masters. Power resides with the people 10
bis country.
The great difference between GU: country
md all others, such as France and England
md Ireland, is that here there is popular
overoipnty. while their sovereignty Is exer'
ised by Kings and favored classes. ibis
,rinc;nls of popular sovereignty, however
nuch derided lately, is the foundation oi our
n,titutons. Constitutions ore but the chan'