New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-03-27


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TIE NEW GOVERNMENT EXPLAINED BY
ITS VICE-PRESIDEkT.
SPEECH OF TIRE HON. ALEX. II. STEPHENS
At savannah March u 1861.
On Thursday evening, the largest audience ever as
sembled at the Athepeum in the house, waiting
M ct mpaeny for the appearance Of the orator OF the
evening tie Hon. A. H. Stephens, Vice-President of
the Confederate States of America. The Committee,
with invited guests, seated on the stage when,
at the appointed honr, the Hon. G. c. Jones, Mayor,
aud the speaker entered and were greeted by the I'M
mense assembage with deafenng rounds Of applause.
The Mayor then, in few pertinent remarks intro
duced Mr.. Stephens stating that at the request OF
number of the members Of the Convention ard citizens
of Savannah and the State here he had consented
to address them upon the present state Of public Affairs
Mr.. Stephens rose, and spoke as follows:
Mr. MAYOR AND GEY1LgsHs or ThE CoNsITTEE,
AND FELLow-CiTIzEss: For this reception, you i'll
please accept my most profound and sincere thanks..
The compliment lie doubtless intended az much, OF more
perhaps honor Of the occasion, and my public poet
ton in connection with the great events DOW erowdDg
upon US than 70 personally and individually. Ii IL,
however, the less appreciated on that account
We in the midst Of one Of the greatest epochs IN
most memorable in the history Of modern ciyiza
ton.
| There wac Il general csu nom the outside Of the
building for the speaker TO 90 out; that there were
| more outside than in.
The May or rose and requested silence at the Doors
said Mr.. Stephens's health would not permit him TO
| speak in tie open air. Mr.. Stephens said he would
leave it TO the audience whether be should proceed in
doors or out There was general cry indoors the
ladies' large number Of whom were present, could
| not hear outside.
| Mr.. Stephens said that TIE accommodation Of the
ladies would determine the question: and be would pro-
coed where he At this point the uproar and
clamor outside w greater still for the speaker TO 70
out OH the steps, Ths was quoted by COL Iawton
Col. Foreman, Judge Jackson and Mr.. }. w. Owens
going out and stating the facts of the the dense
mass Of men, women, and children who were outside'
and entertaining them in short, brief speeches
Mr.. Stephens ali this time quietly sitting down until
the Juror subsidized.
Mr.. Stephens rose and said-When perfect qniet ia
restored shall proceed. / cannot speak long as
there is any noise confusion. shall take my time.
feel az though could spend the night with you if
necessary. Loud appliance / very much regret
that every one who desires cannot hear what have
TO say, not that have any display 10 make, any,
thing very entertaining TO present; but such views as
nave 10 KYo Wish an not only IN tls city, but III
this State and throughout COnfede rated Republic,
| could hear, who have desire 10 hear them.
MATCHMAKING that we were passing through
of the greatest revelations in the annals Of the world.
Seven States have within the last three months thrown
off an old Government and formed uew. THIS rego-
luton las been signaly marked up TO tiis time by the
fact Of It's having been accomplished without the loss
Of single drop =, blood. Applause. This Con-
stitutioD form Of government, constitutes the SUBJ
eCt 10 which your attention viii be partly invited
In reference to il, make tbs first general remark:
II amply secures all our ancient rights ranehises aud
PRIVILEGES. All the great principles Of magma charta
are retained in il. No citizen If depIvedPof ile lib
erty or property, but by the Judgment of bis peer,
uncer the laws of the land The great principle Of
igious liberty which was tie honor and pride Of the
old Constitution Ia still maintained and secured All
the essentials Of the old Constitution which have en-
deared il TO the Lears OF the American PEOPLE, have
been preserved and perpetuated. Applause. Some
81 Gnges have been made-Of these shall speak pres
emily. Some Oi there should have preferred not 10
have been made, but these perhaps meet the cordial
app rotation OF majority o! lila addence, n lot an
overwhelming majority al ire people 81 the COIcdef-
aey Of them, therefore, viii not speak. Bli other
important changes DO meet by Gord'I aPl DOati ~
LEV form grea improvement on The old Contribution
So, taking tie whole new Constitution, have no hes-
fancy IN giving It as my judgment tnat II rs De decy
better than the old tApplause. Allow me briefly 10
abide 70 some Of these Improvements The que tion
Of building up class interests, fostering branch
OF industry 10 the prejudice Of another under The ex-
ercise ot the revenue power, which gave us 80 much
ever under the new. We allow the imposition Of no
duty with view ot giving advantages to class OF
pers in any trade bLsnoss thoe Of smother.
All, under system, esnd upon the broad Prin
cilles Of perieu equality. Honest labor and eerpite
as left fiee and Unrestricted III whatever poIsu they
may be engaged in This subect came well nigL caus-
lug rapture # the old Union. under tie lead Of the
gahant Palmetto State, which Les on our border in
1c53
This old thorn Of the tariff which oecasioned the
cause OF 30 nu,h irritation in the old body polite h
removed forever from the new. Appnuee,l Again |
q subject Of internal improve menf under Ire power
OF COngress to regulate commerce. il put AZ real under
our system The power claimed by construction under !
the old Constitution was al least doubtful otAa-it
lefted solely upon construction. We of the Son Nh. !
generally apart from cOnside cations of constitutional
priD Oiples opposed Its exercise upon grounds of ey.
pedency and justice. Notwithstanding this oppofitiop
millions Of money in the common Treasury lad bccn
drawn for such purposes. Our opposition sprung from
no hostility 10 commerce, or AL Necessary aids for facI.
tating it.. With us il was SIM ly a question upon
ch0Ea the burden should fall. In Georgia, for in
lance we had done much for the of internal
improvements as any other portion Of the country &C.
ording TO population and means. We have stretched
ut lines Of railroads from the seabOard 10 the
aims dug down the hills and filled up the valleys at
ost Of not lees than $25O000IQ All this was done to
pen up outlet for produces OF the INTERIOR and
bose to tho west 0f ust reach ths psTss u tle