Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-03-29
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AE AM0Ma ~ ANaEfN
STEPHENS.
VICE PRESIDENT OF TEE ooNPrpFp a-e States
Delivered at The Tsqsesi Of ne cffissns Of Ss-
rdaAak, af tle -fiheaenm, Tharsaa. sr,rfo,
March q, 1861.
From ghs savsuuah ReruhIe1nl
At hslf-past seven o'cloek. on Tbrr.svr
evening" the largest sudience ever assembled Al
the Atheneuu, were in the house, waiting most
impaiientlT Tor the appearance Of the orator Of
The evening Hon. A. H. Stephens, Vice presi-
dent ef the Confederate States OF America.
The eominittses with invited guests, were seat
ed On The seat, when, a. the appointed hour,
the Hen. G. c. Jones, mayor, and The speaker
entered, ana were greeted By the immense a.
semolage with deafeniRg rounds Of applause.
The mayor then, in few pertinent remarks,
introduced Air. Stephens, stating that, at the
request OF number OF he members OF The
committee, and citizens OF Savannah. and the
state, now here, be had consented to address
Them upon the present state OF public affairs.
Mr, Stephens then arose and spoke as fol-
lows;
Mr.. MGgor aKd Geatlemen Of The Commitiss
aHd fsliol1-cfiiscas
For this reception, you will please accept
ny most profound aud sincere thanks. TIE
compliment is doubtless intended az much, or
more, perhaps, On honor Of The occasion and
ny public position in connection with the
great eFeats now cr0wding upon ur than to ne
personally and individuallF Il IS, however,
none the less appreciated BY me on that ae-
count. We are in the midst of one Of The
greatest epochs IN our history. The last ninety
days viii mark one of the most memorable
erss in the history OK modern civilization.
There was general cali from the outside
q The building FOR the speaker to 60 out; that
there were mere outside thsn In.
TIE mayer rose, and requested silence at
the doors, that Mr. Stephens health would not
permit him to speak in the open air Mr..
Stephens said be would leave il 10 the audi
eree, whether he should proceed indoors or
out. There wes general cry indoors, as the
ladies, q ssrge number Of WHOM were present,
could Dot hear outside.
Mr.. Stephens said the Accommodation Of The
ladies would determine the question, aNd be
would proceed whore he was. At ttis point,
the uprosr and elsmor outside was greater
still for the speaker 20 90 out on the steps.
Ihis was quieted by Col. LaWton. Col Free
man, Ju6gs jackson, and Mr. J. ". Owens,
gong out and stating the facts Of The case to
the dense mass of men, women and children
who were outside, and entertaining them in
shori, brief speeches.
Mr.. Stephens al this while quietly sitting
down until the fur0re subsided
Mr.. Stephens arose and said.
When perfect quiet is restored, I shall pro
oesd; caanot speak as lsng as tkere is snv
noEs OF confusion I shall take nv time: 7
feel as though / could spend the night with
yOu, il necessary. Loud applause very
much regret that every one who desires can
not hear what ! have to say, not that I have
any display % make, OF anything very enter
tanning 70 present, but such views ss have TO
give, I wish all, not only ia this city, but in
this STATE, and throughout our Confederated
Republic, could hear, who have desire &c
hear them.
I was remarking that we are passing
throug one Of the greatest revolutions in the
annals of the world; seven States have, within
the last three months, thrown of IN old gov
ernment, and formed new. This revolution
has been siHally marked, up to this time, BY
the fact Of having been accomplished with
out the Of slagle drop Of biOsd- Ap-
plause SIhis new Constitution, or form Of
government, constitutes the subject to which
your attention will be partly invited.
IN reference 70 Il, / make this first general
remark i amply secures all our ancient
rights, franchises and privileges. All the great
principles Of magma charta are retained in il.
No citizen is deprived OF life, liberty, OF prop
ertv. but by the judgment OF his peers undeT
the laws Of the lard. The great principle Of
religious liberty. which was the honor and
pride Of the old Constitution, is stiii maintain
Cd and secured. All the essentialities CT the
old Constitution which have eHdesred it 20
the hearts Of the American people, have been
preserved and psrpetuated. IApplause. D
Some changes kaFe been made-of these, l
shall speak presently. Some OF these I should
have preferred not 10 have been made, but
these, perhaps, meet the corllal appreciation Of
a msiority OF this audience, II not an over
wheiming msjority % the people OF the Con-
federacy. OF them, therefore, viii not speak.
But other important changes do meet ny cor
dial approbstioH. They fern great improve
a. q. H-t~
tie whole new Constitution, have DO hesi-
fancy in giving as M Judgment, that il is de-
eidsdly better than the Old lAppisoss. Al
low ne briefly 70 ailude to some Of these in
movements: The question Of building up
class interests, or fostering one branch Of in
dustry TO the prejudice of another, under the
exercise of the revenue power, which gave us
60 much trouble under the old Constitution, is
put at rest forever under the new. We allow
the imposition Of no duty, With view Of Civ
ing advantage to one class Of persons, in any
t-nde G. -6usiHess over those Of another. AZ,
under our system, stand upon the same broad
principles Of perfect equality. Honest labor
and enterprizs are left free and unrestricted in
vrhstever pursuit they may be engaged in.
This su5iec' came well nigh causing rupture
OF the old Union, under the lead Of the gallant
Palmetto State, which lies in cur border, i1
ms old thorn 0f ths tariff, which occasion.
ID so much irritation In the BODY polite, d.
removed forever from the new. IApplauss
Again, TIE subject Of internal Improvements,
Under the power Of Congress t. regulate con-
rDerce. il put at rest under our system The
newer claimed by construction under the old
Constitution was az least doubtfGl one-i
rested wholly upon Tie con ttructi0n. We Of
The soutb. generally apart from the eonsisera-
tfon cf constitutional principles, opposed iti
exercise upon grounds CT eEpsdieucy and jus
tee Notwithstanding tbie opposition NIL
lions Of money In the common treasury hac
been drawn fer such purposss- Our opPos:-
ton sprung from no hostility to commerce
orsU necessary aids FOR facilitating it. Witt
ms Il was simply q question upon whom tn'
burden should fsl. In Georgia, for instance
We "a done as much for The cause Of intsrHs
improvements a. any other portion OF th'
country, according 60 population and means
,ve have stretched ont lines Of railroads frou
The board 10 the mountains; dug down th'
hills and filed up the valleys at q cost Of no
leua than s25 coo 600. All this was done &
roen M an outlet for cur products Of the ints
rfsr and those 20 the west Of us, 70 reach tn
-,s-fs 81 he world No State was 10 create
need Of such facilities than Georgia, but W
had not asked that these works should be mad'
.-1-sDristions out Of the common treasury
The cost Of the grading, the sur 5lIil
and eouiuueuts Of our roads, was borne b
fbo-s pbo entered upon the enterprise Nay
80 not onIv the cost Of the iron, no smal
item In the aggregate cost, was borne N 10
gar,e rsv. but we were compelled 70 pay int'
~ eouucu treasury several millions OF DOL
lsrs for tie privilege Of importing me iron
afer The price vas paid for e abroad. VIVA
7ostice was there IN taxing us nOneys W W {.
cur ueopie paid into the common treasury oi
~. fr,1,rtstioa OF our iron and apply ms
81 - fks IMPROVEMENT of rivers ard harDor
3feaurheree
- s-us p-inciple ls, 10 subject commere
. .vs-v Ioealitv 10 whatever burdens may b
,seeursrv 10 facilitate i. II the CnAfiesto
harbor needs improvement let tle eonineIc :
oF Charleston bear the buraen- tne y Ii'l. ll..
- fhe Savannah river is 70 oe cleaned ou'
n, 49, ses.goine navigation which is oeneh.e
- abesr tbe burden. So with the NOUNS 9
~. aIsbsr,a and Mississippi rivers- just q
- --,snrss Of the interior, cur cotton, WlIea
--- ~ cher articles, have to bear the neces
80 rsres OF freight over our Teilfo@os 70 IS1o
~ ssae. Tais is again TIE bread fllnelPis
perfect equality and justice Apll.a ess,l n.
4. .-.rf,flr fsid forth and established m ou
new Constitution A.
Aposbsr feature to which ! aiiuae ls' - 20.
rF1rirfers and heads Of Depai' nsne ..- a.'e
- m. rirbt 10 participate % ne eeoa'
- .5.-.,-.siors upon the various su1l7cts
e51le-..-e-.fion ~ should have preferred lhs
- ',---i.ion should have gone fartners -
l1ls ~ - presidsut 10 select be eonsLitl
l-5- el-o = s,issrs from the senate and house
s15.o-..--tstives. That would have COM loi ~ p.
erffrsiv 70 the practice N ile Dls s ,I, -,
- .rhich, 10 my opinion is one q ~ ~ ~
- ,,-ovieions Of that body = y ~,
s.-t,l-s fhat asves that GoYefnmelt. = - =.
ts-t -ives IL stability Ia its iacili1l = -.
s,--5.li-istration. Onrss a. Il IS lt-a--sAzi
- ....-,-1mstion 70 the right PfinciBss.
- ~, ,sboIe Constitution, a seeretai
- - Treasury, Tor instance "a no o'l'o-,.
- - ,srs 81 his annual reports, OF ~
L.,5 ..bsr,e or plan Of fnanes~or othsf 'a.-
1. ~ - 10 opportunity q explaining, =
t,-si1g. enforcing or dsssnding &c PisNs
P,.--.. ~ oniy resort vas through tbe meli1
PSi.sy '---sn. ID lhe Bfltlsh Pariisment =
q ~ s.r,ngs in bis budge5 and stands beio
fiel--ss fiel---s,., rssDoueible for 2s every item y
t-i.ssfensi5le, be fails beIore ne attasss ~ ~
y - y. ought to. This viii now be tne -
- ti.ifsI extent unzsr our system. -. y
80. .f 5spartnents can speak tor m
pseos % -s-linirtrs don "a bshsf OF iis en-,
nc - .-ifbout rss0rting = the lndiiee. =
Poii15s .i';scfionable msdiun. 81 a neesp'r
tigl8 - greatIy hoped that UNDER oar :.
y y y -tsli never have what u Known
.s6 6c,~vsr5rssnt ~ organ. LRaPturogs aPpi1s1'
"a ,oiss sgsin arose from ne eleinS.-SSl ~ =
IA a,,s,i5s who wished % bear ~.
eto 80 for some moments intfifa faP.ee y. =.
plensi -. - snd called % TIE police e p
lue l~t - 49, .-1,.ret BIZ p p