The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-08-02
Vice President Alexander II. stephens
at Augusta, Georgia.

ALEXANDER II. STEPHENS delivered a
speech at Augusta, Georgia, Oh the llth
inst. lis principal object was to induce the
people 10 take the Confederate bonds, the
payment to be made in cotton or cash, at
the option of the purchaser. We make a
few extracts showing the spirit of the
speech:
The amount estimated by the Secretary
Of the Treasury to meet the requirements to
support an army of this number was fifty
millions OF dOlIars-a large amount. This
amount must be raised How to do it is
the question. But since that adjournment
since that estimate--this war has assumed
wider and broader range 1t has taken
On larger and more gigantic proportions,
and instead of one hundred thousand men
We may have to send two hundred thousand
men to meet the enemy instead of fifty
millions OF dollars, we may have, and the
probability is that we shall have, to raise
more. The estimate, however, of the Sec
rotary Of the Treasury was fifty millions of
dollars, and whatever number OF men and
whatever amount OF money will be necessary
must be raised. We do not intend to be
subiugated. MIR. Lincoln has increased bis
cali from seventy five Thousand to four hum
dred thousand men. He has increased his
demand for money from the five millions
first asked for, 1.-THE amount | do not exact.
ly recOliect,) and asks his Congress, now in
session, for four hundred millions OF dollars.
Whether he will raise his men or his money
| know not. All | have to say about it is,
that If he raises his Jour hundred thousand
men, we must raise enough to meet him,
and if he raises his four hundred millions OF
money, we must raise enough to meet it. ..
Our means in men and money are ample
to sustain cur independence. We have, up.
on reasonable estimate, at least 100000
fighting men. Whether all these will
be required to drive back his armed myr.
midons, know not; but, if they are, every
man must 60 to the battlefield.
\ From the beginning of the
government the man cannot rise up and
charge the south with every violating, in
the slightest degree, their obligations. We
never asked Congress to do anything against
the interests Of the northern states; we never
complained of their Institutions, we never
wished to interfere with them at all. We
rested upon the great principles that each
state should govern itself that they should
govern themselves as they pleased and let
US govern ourselves as we please. This
was the position of the south, and we
made the same appeal to them for years
and only when this party came to maturity,
and when SO many states openly disregarded
the constitution, when they got the govern
ment in their hands, 1t was then the South
thought it necessary to look cut new safe
guards for security. 1t was then she resumed
her sovereign powers. 1t was then she be-
came satisfied that the people of the North
would not fulfill their portion OF the obliga-
ton, and even then we believed it would be !:
better for them and US to live on together,
each and all doing their duty. We said We
would even try it, and even then sent COM
mlssioners to them with the olive branch of
peace. Our overtures were disregarded,
and hence this war. But the point pre-
sent to you is, that we stand now where our
revolutionary fathers stood. All we ask is
to be permitted to govern ourselves as we
please; and for one, declare to you to day,
you may think of it as you please, the peo-
Pile of the south may decide it as they please,
but as for one would never surrender this
principle, though every valley from here to
the Potomac should run with southern blood,
and every hill top be bleached with south
ern bones.
X But upon this subject of the
war, will detain you few minutes, because
it is common inquiry with me, how long
think the war will ast-whether or not it
will be short one. know not | would
not if l could 1t is the mysterious future;
but there is one thing L can tell you with
confidence, and that is, it is gong to lat
until the enemy is whipped and driven. ON