New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-02-20
FROM GEORGIA.
DAVIS AND STEPHENS.


SAVANNAH, Feb. ~, lo6l.
Az generally anticipated and desired, the choice
Of the Southern Convention for PRESIDENT mas
fallen upon Jefferson Davis, while Alexander H.
stenbens has been induced to accept OF the vice.
Presidency. 1t is understood that Dir. stephens
declined the honor Of the Chief Magistracy. III
40 doing as well as in accepting the lesser place,
he has exhibited think, his usual shrewd ana
far.sighted policy. He 10 the idol oil the people,
but an object of ill-concealed envy and suspicion
TO the rinsleaders Of Secession And well he
may be. No man Of his experience in public al
fairs. and of his disposition to look upon DOM
sides of question aud to consider consequences,
has at any time been hearty supporter OF Sc
cession. Such men have been dragged into the
movement by the unexpected events which have
marked it's progress. 1t is now plain that seees-
sion loo sosn President Of the United States for
the last four years. The Federal Government
having thoroughly dsarmed Itself, and placed
itself without dignity aud without power Of re-
sstance at the mercy OF deliberate treason, 1t
was not to be expected that the moderate men
of the South would expose their own section to
the horrors of civil war, by making an ine6ect-
ual resistance. The moral and defensive support
of an existing General Government was sought
By them in vain. II vanished Like an imbecile
shadow. No wonder contempt spread far aud
wide through the South, till men did not blush
10 write of the Government which Washington
insuguratcd, that mo man was so poor as to do
Il reverence" The development Of events must
have been great modification as well as sur
prise 20 men like Mr.. Stephens, who did not
hesitate TO declare, both before and after cleo
ton, bis adherence to the existing Government.
But while this state Of things made II useless
of the Union, it made II polite for the Extremists
TO concilate the conservatives. in order to extend
the Secession wave, if possible, till it covered the
entire South, as well as to give an appearance OF
entire unanimty in every seeding State. ltwas
no doubt wise, then, for the conservative men to
go with the rest; for in so doing they could mod
crate their action, whereas in the hands Of the
Extremists alone, violent measures would have
been the order Of the day, at whatever cost of
life or treasure. Had moderate men at the South |
adopted this policy with reference to the Repub-
can party at on earlier day, all the present dis.
.urbance and loss would have been saved. 1t |
would have disabled that party from injuriDg the |
South, il, as its enemies claimed, it desired to |
10 so; and it would as enectually have put q |
top to that insane prejudice, and enlightened |
hat selfimposed and stubborn ignorance, which |
,ptators have used as their means Of disruptiug |
he Union.
The anssiiSS..;; which MAS exhibited in the Con.
,ention to draw from Mr.. Stephens an expression |
u his concurrence with the Secession programme |
an indication Of the suspicion with which his
sincerity in the cause is regarded, as well as the
,agerness with which the precipitators have to
,fectually clinch this great conservative nail in
heir craft as soon as possible. But "Little
Alcck" was not to be caught with the chat OF
lattery. Modestly referring to the superior
craftsmanship" of his chief for expo'ition Of the
ylOries of Secession he quietly remarked that no
nan could well decline any post Of difficulty OR
LANCER 10 which his countrymen saw ut 20 call
hin, and that this was sufficient explanation OF
hc motives of bis acceptance Of pe high honor
conferred upon him.
The effects of his election are such as might
DO expected. To bis friends IL is source OF
satisfaction; to Extremists 10 is not altogether
'athactory. II don't like Stephens" sfSs one.
. He is not genuine secessionist. And 1t
seems hard that those men who have Sorked so
,ard and 60 long to bring this thing bout should
rot have the benefit of it," But /then," says
.nother, it was done to concis r. his party"
rho course which the Border Stat Is now promise
o take, however, viii diminish very greatly the
avor with which the E1tre, lists regard this
haring of the spoils with Z oeir " cooperation"
reuds. Already there loon up before them the
respect Of reeo"str1esi' H. They know too
veil, by experience, the Advantage Of having the
Government 10 their Ow n hands when revolutions