New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-05-09
sTEpuENs,s LAST SPEECH.

Mr.. A. H. Stephens, when he lately sought TO
prevent Georgia from joining the secessionists,
attributing that movement TO the disappointed
ambition of certain Southern politicians talked
sense. Now, that Mr.. A. II. Stephens endesyors
to sustain the Secessonis cause, be talks nonsense
and stultfes himself. We pub,h on another
page late speech Of this capital convert on the
shortest notice 10 disuniop, which is redolent Of
silly statements worthy Of Rhett, PickenP, or
any other proiessed artist in Palmetto rhodo-
mOntade.
Mr. Stephens frat paragraph, about Virginia,
is ine1act. Western Virginia will, aided and
comforted by the North, have something to say
about her secession. The second phrase, touch.
ing North Carolina, is ridiculous, for the Meek
lenburg Declaration-that yeXed question Of III.
erary precedence-was in favor Of liberty and
Independence, and was coincident in temper
with the manifesto of " the Representatives Of
{" the extensive district of Darien ia the Colony
4" of Georgia." with which Mr. Stephens
ought also 20 be familiar, but which, We
NAV remind him. denounced Slavery az
"debasing part of our fellow-creatures be-
GLOW men, and eoruPting tie rirtps and NOR
"ais Of the rest" and as "laying the basis of
=" the liberty" coutended for upon q wrong
" foundation, which accordingly the people
should destroy. After dispoSiDg of Tennessee
and Kentucky, Missouri aEa Arkansas, as il they
wero the tail Of South Carolina, Mr.. Stephens
takes up Maryland, and says that "gallant little
Maryland--right under the guns of Lincoln
and the threats of Blair TO make it Free
" State if the blood of the last white man mas to
" be shed 10 accomplishing it--has resolved to
" man to stand by the South" AS for this, we
will refer Mr. Stephens 10 Reyerdy Johnson for
lis answer.
Under any other Government than this the
Traitor Commissioners to Washington would have
been hanged; but, nevertheless, the luminous
Stephens discovers in their treatment by the Fed.
eral Administration, 4" the basest motives that
" can actuate q human heart" Mr.. Stephens
need not imagine that either peace PROPOSE
" tons " or war propositions will be made by
tho United States. The Government has simply
to retake property from robbers, reestabsh its
authority, aud yndicate the Union. The deter
buildings, forts, and Navy.Yards before they
should fall into the hands OF the Traitors, Mr.
Stephens also makes the occasion for some dismal
twaddle, and cants on its insincerity in insisting
on its restoration in good condition to rightful
authority.
Mr. Stephens finds that God is on his side, aud
hat while the South fights for the usual wives
md. children home .and-atar business, the North
u fights for money" We presume, accordingly,
hat Southern wives and children, homo and
lltars are in Custom Houses, minis, and forts
or they are what the Government designs to re.
axe. Not Southern parlor, kitchen, mother,
,hld, church, or bloodhound, does the Govern |
nent thirst to annihilate, Mr.. Stephens to the |
contrary notwithstanding.
The quotation by Mr.. Stephens-whch has been
lsed beiore-that "whom the gods would destroy
8 they first make mad" can be matched multi
in any insane hospital, where the
,atients think all crazy but themselves. We IND,
lowever In the peroration Of the Stephens speech,
nethod in madness, for he reminds the audience
hat the soldier must live and be supported-a
ruth the North which fights for money" has
arrived at already. His aesthetic howl over the
.ses to which the Capitol and some other public
buildings in Washington are put in order 70 ac-
the troops, is honorable to his taste
or tho tine arts. He is evidently Of the opinion