The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-03-19
The Points in the Consultation or the Con-
federate States.

ice-President Stephens was cnthusi iasti
eally received at Augusta, Ga, Friday, or
his way to Savannah. In speech acknow
Lodging the reception, he took occasion to ex
plain the benefits OF the Constitution of ths
Confederate States as contrasted with that OF
the Union from which they have withdrawn
In the first place, Congress is forbidden
from fostering one branch Of indust try at ths
expense of another. Thus, the merchant the
mechanic, the business man, and the laborer
are all placed upon the same footing in tha
respect-one in terest has more claim to the
protection of the Government than another
and, therefore, honest labor can now work its
own reward, by energy, Industry, and perse-
yerance. This he considered a w ise provision
II settled the quesfion of protection forever
In the second place, the question of inter
nal improvements was also settled Under
the oid Cons sutniion, the Improvements in
one State Were made often at the expense OF
another. Thus, for instance Georgia which
had acquired the title of Empire State on ac-
count OF her numerous impro vemants had to
pay several millions of dollars to the Genera
Government, by way OF duties, on the very ir On
which she used in those improvements: and
out of these duties money was taken to in,
prove Northern harbors and rivers. This was
Inanifestiy unjust and was entirely obyiated
Dy the new Constitute ton. Under this one
each section can make its own improvements.
and Is authorized TO levy Il tax upon those.
who are benefited by such improvements
narbor, she cam do so, and then levy & tax or
duty upon the commerce benefited by such
improvements If Mobile or New Orleans.
or any other port, desires to make improve
ments, they all have the same privilege, ana
Sence Georgia will not have to pay for i'm
proving Mobile harbor and vice uersa Ina
word, those who receive the benefits, will
have to pay fer them. This provision he con
sidered wise and Just.
In the third place-and this is a very i'm nor
tant improvement upon the old Cons titutioii-
the public money is protec ted. We have been
accustomed, in the old country, to hear the
Presidents charged with the extravaganza of
the public expenditures. Thus we had heard
of the extrayagances of John Quincy Adams,
of Andrew Jackson, OF Martin Van Buren,
and, finally, OF Jas. Buchanan n; but these ex-
traYagdnces were not really chargeable TO the
Presidents. Their estimates of the proha bla
expenditures had fallen short of the reality;
thus, IN some cases, the expenditures had in =
creased two or three millions over the esti-
mates; and, i'll the case OF Mr.. Buchanan, as
much as twenty millions. His estimates were
sixty millions, aud yet Congress had appro-
prlated eighty millions. 1t WAS gene rally the
fault of the Congress, and the result of log
rolling by the members. As, for instance, Oh
the last night OF a session, ii frequently hap
pened that in the hurry of finishing the bust
ness of the session, and passing the appropria-
ton bill, some member would succeed in fast
ening upon II an appropriation of Il million
here, and anothera a million somewhere else
irres sponsible body of men-men whose time of
service was completed, and who would per
haps, never return to Congress. But all this
is Obviated by the new Constitution The
Congress of the Confederate States can only
make such appropriations as the President
recommends; or, if they exceed these, it must
be done by vote of two thirds of both
Houses
Thus You see, my countrymen, that a very
important point is gained. You have the
public treasury well guarded, and you can
hold the President responsible at the ballot
box, If he rushes the Government into ex-
trayagant expenditures. 1t makes no differ
ence how much business merchant trans
hcts-no difference how much profit ariSes-if
there are too many hands in the till he is
bound to be ruined. As mercantile men, YOU
viii understand and appreciat te this iilustra-
1fOn And the illustration applies to the
Government Treasury as we'll But that |
think, is now properly guarded-and so we
have another improvement upon the old Con-
stitIition
In the fourth place-and this is the princi-
pal and most important point of alive have
settled, and, l trust, settled forever the great
question which was the prime cause of our
separation from the United States-I mean
the question of African slavery The Old
Constitution set out with a wrong idea on this
subject; it was based upon an erroneous
principle it was founded upon the idea that
African slavery is wrong, and it looked for
ward 10 the ultima te eXtinc tiOn Of that insti.
luton. But time has proved the error, and
we have corrected il i'll the new Cons titutiCn
'" nave based ours upon the principle OF the
lhequahty OF races, and the principle is
sprea ding-it is becoming appreciated and
better underst TODD and though there are many
even in the South who are still in the shell
upon this subject, yet the day is not far dis
tant when 1t Will be generally unders TODD and
appreclated-not only in the South, but every
where else. The world is rapidly progressing
IN is views on this subject, and in a very few
years we may witness great changes in re-
spect 10 this ms stitution.