Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1860-12-15
Th. sp,,sh er a. u. at,phsns.


Me-. Stephens delivered speech on Secession
IN the Georgia House of Representatives, on
the 4th Of Nov. 1860, from which we take the
following extract:
If the policy Of Mr.. Lincoln and his re-
publican associates shall be carried out, or
attempted 10 be carried out, no man In
Georgia will be more willing or ready than
myself, to defend our rights, interest and
honor at every hazard, and to the last ex
tremity. (ApplOuse)
What is this policy 2 IL is, in the first
place, to exclude us by an act Of Congress
from the Territories with our slave proper
ty He is for using the power Of the Gen
eral Government against the extension of
our institutions. Our rpositon on this point
is and ought to be, at all hazards, for per-
feet equality between all the States and the
citizens of all the States in the Territories,
under the Constitution of the United States.
If Congress should exercise its power a
! gainst this then l ON for standing where
! Georgia planted herself in 1850 These
were plain propositions which were then laid
! down in her celebrated Platform as suEi.
cent for the disruption of the Union if the
occasion should ever come on these Geor.
gia has declared that she will go out of the
! Union and for these she would be justified
by the nations of the earth for so doing.
l say the same l said it then say it
now, if Mr. Lincoln's policy should he car
ried out. l have told you that l do not
think his bare election sufficient canse: but
! if his policy should be carried out in viola
tion of any of the principles set forth in the
| Georgia Platform, that would be such an
act of aggression which ought to be met as
therein provided for. If his policy shall be
carried out in repeating or modifying the
! Fugitive Slave law, so as to weaken its
efficacy, Georgia has declared that she will,
in the instant resort, disrupt the ties Of the
! Union, and l say so too. | stand upon the
Georgia Platform, and upon every plank,
and say il those aggressons therein provid.
ed for take place. | say to you, and to the
people of Georgia, keep your powder dry
and let your sssailants then have lead if
need be. (Appause.) l would wait for
an act of aggression. This is my position.
The policy of the Republican party is GER
tainiy to exclude slavery from the Territories
by act of Congress, and Mr.. Lincoln is pledged,
by his acceptance of the Republican Nomina-
ton, to carry ont these views, so far as he has
it in his power to do so. Mr. Stephens is fully
aware OF these facts, and he might as we'll pro-
ceed to act now, in accordance with his treason
able intentions, as to await any further deveope-
ments upon the subject. There may be a Re-
| publican here and there scared out of his boots
at the crazy threats Of the South, but we ex.
pect to see upon the slave question bold and
determined front upon the part of the RepuL'
lican party, in support of their Constitutional
rights.
S. CARoLwA.-A letter published in the T'ri
6nne from correspondent at Charleston, show!
that even in South Carolina there is feeling O
opposition 10 the headlong course of the mer
who have arcady,brought the state to the verge
OF ruin. 1t is rot probable that S. Caroline
will be withheld from declaring her secession
from the Union, but il is probable that the fina
plunge will be delayed. Such is also said to bt
the tenor of advices received by Mr.. Buchanan
In return for his exceeding kindness to the revo
lutioniss, they are said to promise not to at
tack the forts in the harbor of Charleston, aud
not to refuse the payment of duties until thu
Inauguration Of President Lincoln.
Mr.. Bolts has written a strong letter agains
Secession which takes the ground now more o
less common, even in the south, that Virgins
will submit to the constitution of the U. States
rather than to South Carolina,
Our country has incresed in size more tha
three-fold since the close Of the revolutionar
war The United States have territorial ex
tent nearly ten times as large as that of Grea
Britain and France combined The America
Republic is one.sixth less in extent than th
area covered by the frty-nine empires, state
and republics Of Europe.
The presidential electors for the several state
chosen in n'Nouember, assembled each in thei
several state capitols on Wednesday, and forma
ly cast their votes for president. Their record
are dispatched to Washington by special mei
seDgers and there opened before Congress o
the 18th of February, and the grand result off
cially announced.
} Senator Latham Of California impressvel
) declared on Monday the fidelity to the Union {
that state. She will remain part OF the pow
} er which can and will build the Pacific Railroad
This manifestation of the Senator forms pre-
, ty conclusive reply to the prophecies of an ii
dependent Pacific Confederacy Of late so Gu
rent among those who are anxious for the tot
destruction of the present Federal Governmen
CALIFORNIA AND OREGON RETURNs.-Tt