The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-12-07
A Great Speech from q Union-Lovjng
man at tho South.

ne speech OF hon. ALsAs II. OTEfdENS,
delivered before the Georgia Legislature
at MilledgeviIle, on the 18th inst, has been
published. 1t is calm, forcible, and logi
cal review of the present condition of the
country; and we believe will do more to
modify the excitement at the South, thar
the speeches of any other half dozen men in
the Union. Mr.. STEPHENS grapples the
main point, at the commencement of his
speech. "Frankly, candidly, and earnestly
he says the election of LINCOLN is no cause
| for disunion. He adds: @
To make point of resistance to the Govern.
ment, to withdraw from it because man has
been constitutionally elected, puts us IN the
stitution. Many of US have sworn to support
it. Can we, therefore, for the mere election of
man to the Presidency, and that too in accord.
ance with the prescribed forms of the consti.
tuition, make point of resistance to the Gov
eminent without becoming the breakers OF that
sacred instrument ourselves withdraw ourselves
from it? Would we not be in the wrong
Whatever fate is to befall the country, let 1t
never be laid to the charge of the people of the
South, and especially to the people Of. Georgia,
that we were untrue to our national engage
ments. Let the fault and the wrong rest upon
others. If all our hopes are to be blasted, if
the Republic is to go down, let US be found to
the last moment S anding on the deck with the
constitution of the United States waving over
our heads.
THE CHECKS UPON LINCOLN.
l do not anticipate that Mr.. Lincoln will do
anything to leopard our safety or security,
whatever may be his spirit to do it; for he is
bound by the constitutional checks which are
thrown around him, which at this time renders
him powerless to do any great misceief. This
shows the wisdom of our system. The Pres-
dent of the United States is no Emperor, no Die
tator-he is clothed with no absolute power.
He can do nothing unless he is backed by
power in Congress. The House of Representa-
tives is largely in the majority against him.
In the Senate he will also be pOwerless. Mr..
Lincoln cannot appoint an officer without the
consent of the Senate-he cannot form Cab-
net without the same consent. He will be in
the condition of George ILL.,, (the embodiment
of Toryism,) who had to ask the Wings to ap'
point his Ministers, and was compelled to re-
ceive Cabinet utterly opposed to his views;
and so Mr.. Lincoln will be compelled to ask of
the Senate to choose for him Cabinet, if the
Democracy of that body choose to put him on
such terms. He WILDE compelled to do this
or let the Government stop, If the National
Democratic mentor that is their name at the
NOTtu-tuc COuScTtdlNC mEu VI VIC Scudtc3
should so determine. Then. how can Mr..
Lincoln obtain a Cabinet which would aid him
or allow him to violate the Constitution?
COMPLAINTS OF THE SOUTH AGAINST THE FED
ERAL GOVERNMENT.
Mr.. STEPHENS then takes up the various
causes of complaint, by the South, against
the Federal government. He shows that
the system of fishing bounties, paid by the
government to New England sailors, was
initiated by Southern Presidents to furnish
sailors for our navy; but this reason for
their continuance no longer exists. The
tariff he next refers to, and points to the
fact that ree-trade policy is in the ascend
ant, and that every man in the Senate and
House from Massachusetts, and North Car
DINA voted for the present tariff; and, he
says:
If reason and argument, with experience,
produced such changes in the sentiments OF
Massachusetts from 1882 to 1857, on the subject
of the Taaiff, may not like changes be effected
there by the same means-reasOn and argu
ment, and appeals to patriotism on the present
vexed question; and who can say that by 1875
or 1890 Massachusetts, may not vote with South
Carolina and Georgia upon all those questions
peace and existence. believe in the power
and efficiency of truth. in the omnipotence of
truth, and its ultimate triumph when properly
welded. (Applause.)
The navigation laws, which prevent
foreign competition in the carrying trade
of the South, Mr.. STEPHENS believes should
be repealed but no northern or southern
President has ever yet proposed this re-
peal. They have had the effect to place
America in the position once occupied by
England, as mistress of the seas, and " who
is not proud of such result?" be asks.
He then goes on to say
Now suppose it be admitted that all of these
are evils in the system, do they OVerbalance
and outweigh the advantages and great good
which this same Government affords in thou
sand nnumerable ways that cannot be est-
mated? Have we not at the South, as well as
at the North, grown great, prosperous and
happy, under its operation? Has any part of
the world ever shown such rapid progress in
the development of wealth, and all the mate.
rial resources OF national power and greatness
as the Southern States have under the General
The influence of the Government
on US is like that of the atmosphere around US.
| Its benefits are 80 silent and unseen that they
are seldom thought of or appreciated.
We seldom think of the single element of
oxygen in the air we breathe, and yet, let this
simple, unseen and unfelt agent be Withdrawn,
this life giving element be taken away from
| this all-pervading fluid around US, and what
| instant and appalling changes would take place
| in all organic creation
1t may be that We are all that we are in
"spite of the General Government but it
may be that without it we should have been
far different from what we are now. 1t is true
| there is no equal part of the earth with natural
resources superior perhaps to ours. That
| portion of this country known as the Southern
| States, stretching from the Chesapeake to the
Rio Grande, is fully equal to the picture drawn
| by the honorable and eloquent Senator last
night, in all natural capacities. But how many
ages and centuries passed before these capac.
ties were developed to reach this advanced
stage of civilz alton? There these same hills,
rich in ore, same rivers, same valleys and
plains, are as they have been since they came
| from the hand of the CREATOR neducated and
uncyilized man rOamed over them for how
long no history informs us. 1t was only under
our institutions that they could be developed.
Their development is the result of the enter
prise of our people under operations of the
| Government and institutions under which we
have lived. Even our people without these
never would have done it. The organization
of society has much to do with the develop.
| mept of the natural resources of any country