Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-06-20

On the Causes. Aims, Wants and Means Of the GOu-
erRnelt Of the Confederate States
From the Atlanta Southern COnfederacy
| Having learned that Vice-President Stephens was
to address the people of Wilkes county on Saturday
last on ths Produce Loan and wishing TO hear the
plans and purposes of the Government more fully
this subject and lay the same before readers
| we attended the meeting and made report of the
speech. The Court House. in which the address
| was delivered, was filed to Overfowing-the as
sembly being graced by the presence of many
ladies.
Mr.. Stephens arose amidst loud applause, and
| said
Mr. CHAIRMAN LADIES AND GENTLEMEN appear
before you to-day mainly on business. The subject
is of little Importance 1t is of great magnitude.
1t concerns US all much any upon which
/ ever addressed you before. Our country is at
| war-the most important we were ever engaged in
before-not excepting that of the revolution which
resulted in the achievement of our independence.
To provide means to carry on the war, and sustain
our country in this exigeney is the object of my
appearance here to-day. On its success everything
| that concerns us in life depends.
Time need not be taken up in rehearsing at length
the causes of the warts origin or history Allow
me to premise, however, briefly few things in re-
lation to this contest In the first place it most
unnatural and irrational the part of our for
mer Northern eonfedei aes Its success their part
would end in an entire overthrow of the principles
| u.
Those States at the North now engaged in this
against US, occupy the position towards that the
| British Government did towards the colonies in the
Revolutionary struggle. They are endeavoring to
govern us against our consent.
| England claimed the right to tax and govern Us
on the same principle. This right our fathers
denied. On the fourth of July 177e each one Of
the colonies through their legal representative
each State for itself-declared their independence,
and proclaimed the great truth that all governments
st,ae- IS Tho
| governed This declaration was not made ma
tion but by the representatives, of each one of the
| sovereign and independent States. When the war
closed, England acknowledged the independence of
each one of the States separately, of Massa-
| chusetts of New York, of Virginia, of Georgia.
and all the other States individually. On this
same principle the Confederate States now
| stand. In this most unnatural war, Massa-
chusetts, that represented by the patriot John
Hancock in l776 now occupies towards is the same
relation that England did to US in the revolution.
Ii is war against the whole principles upon which
the revolution was fought. Whatever may be the
dangers of the future let every of revolution
airy sires remember that the same principles are
now involved. We never sought to Interfere with
their internal affairs.
! After the acknowledgment of the independence
of each of the States separately and severally by
Great Britain, Union between all of them was
formed in that compact known as the Constitution
of the United States. This related to terri
torial or foreign affairs, and extra State affairs.
The regulation of all matters of domestic and in
| ternal policy within the States respectively, was
expressly reserved to the States or TO the people.
State sovereignty was never parted with in that
Constitution or compact of Union. Sovereign pow
ers to a limited extent were delegated, but sover-
eighty itself still reserved to the people of the
States respectively. We claim the same sover-
eighty that our fathers did-the same inalenable
right TO self government which they asserted and
which the States of the North Joined them in pledg
ing their lives their fortunes. and sacred honor in
maintaining. This right denied; hence this
conflict
When the people of the Southern States locked to
the future after the elections last fall thought
it best to wait little, and see what the result
would be-to see whether the party then successful
in the election of their President would attempt 10
carry out their avowed ipolicy. Others thought it
best to meet the enemy at the threshold. The gal
liant State of South Carolina took the lead. IL was
her right TO reassume the exercise of all her
eign powers if she chose to do So and one had a
| right 10 question it This right secured in the
principles established when her, and our, and the
Independence of all the States was achieved. Other
States soon followed. We did not resort to arms.
Our separation effected, not through the cart
ridge box but through the ballotbox. The people
decided thisqueston for themselves Such a moral
spectacle never was witnessed. An Overwhelming
majority of the people of seven Southern States de-
cided that it was best to resume their sovereignty.
Teouestion their right to do So involves the whole
founded. This great fundamental principle which
underlies American Constitutional Liberty was de-
MED BY Mr. Lincoln even before he was formally
seated in his present position
We sent Commissioners to settle all matters be-
tween us and our old confederates upon the prnci-
pies of justice and good faith. We wished to have
| no strife-we wished peace. We never wished to
interfere with them their institutions. IT they
thought theirs better than ours. we were wiling
that they should enjoy them We were only de-
termned that they should not interfere with ours,
or rule over us. We believe our institutions are
best for us. They are in accordance not only with
nature but the teachings Of Holy Writ, and are
most wisely instituted for the benefit of both white
and black. The statistics and history of the world
show it, But all efforts to maintain peaceabe
and amicabe relations were vain.
1t never was our object to make aggressioBs on
any State not inclined to come with US We think
Missouri Kentucky, Maryland and Delaware ought
to come with ds. We think it is best for them; but
it is a question for them to decide
1t Is our interest to be at peace with the North
1t is not to our interest that they should overtime
the institutions of their fathers. Wars are nJuri-
ous to all people. We and they feel 1t, and Will con-
tipue to feel 1t more long it lasts Hence this
war is unnatural and suicidal on the part of the
North They say we begun it; that we first fired
on Fort Sumter. We did fire on Sumter, but It was
not until after we had asked them to vacate Ito
Gated as it was. on our own soil-over which the
resumed sovereignty of one of our confederates
| extended and after we had been notified that REIN
forcements would be forcibly sent to 1t, and after
| these relnforcements were on the way, and almost
| at the Mace The war was virtually begun-nOt y
the first gun that was fired, but by the announce
went that Moultrie and all the other forts III our
possession should be captured, seized and held by
Mr. Linco:ns Government. This was the beginning
of the war. This its declaration, ana IRON TINS
| has sprung all that has or may ensue The taxing
of Sumter was but the meeting of this proclamation
| as it ought to have been met. The next step was
Mr. Lincoln proclamation of the 18th of April
calling out IS 600 of the militia, without the shadow
of legal or constitutional authority with view 70
our coercion and subjugation-a purpose which
could have been conceived in nothing short of the
most stupendous folly, well as the most suieida
| recklessness The object never be attained
while the consequences will be ruinous to those
who undertake it.
1t should be our purpose to detract from the mer
it's the character prosperity, or power of the PEG
pie of the North, or any other people on earth; bu
1t may be Justly said, that the most of the wealth
| of which thew boast, has been acquired from thell
| connections with the South. Their wealth is not IL
the productions of their soil. IL consist mostly Il
their commerce, their shipping, their trade, then
manufactures, their spindles, their looms, thel
foundries, their FORCES, their inventions, and then
thousand and one contrlYsnces for supplying I'M
| wants and the markets of the South. They sold L
the South annually not less than $3.50 900 600 WORT
of manufactures of various kinds besides the enor
nous profits accruing to their ship owners from be
ing our carriers; while they exported to all tn
world besides not exceeding S4O000OO0. What vii
, become of them The party now in power Their
} have always said the South was accursed. Theii
machinery is fitted only to manufacture supple
. suited 10 our wants. They knew our wants AM
were prepared to supply them, and were act pre-
pared to supply those of any other people. Mos
of what they made for will suit no other people
This war on their part is forcible Illustration
the old adage Of 'cutting off his nose TO spit
his face Hence the remark that it Is q war aitC
gether irrational and altogether suicidal on tnei
part When however, reason is blinded and pa:
sion bears sway, there is no telling where Peopi
will be led to.
But there is another remark about this war INC
concerns us and all friends Of constitutional hpe
tv eyerywhere, Upon our success in it depends col