The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-03-25
Another Speech of Vice President Stephen

Vice President Stephens addressed the citi
zens of Savannah, Ga, on Wednesday night
The Republican, in a sketch of his speec b,
says:
He contrasted the strength of the Confeder-
ate States with that of the Colonies at the
time OF their struggle for Independence, and
showed that we had more territory, more
wealth, and more men than our fathers had
when they asserted and maintained their in =
dependence. Our perfect system of govern
ment would attract the border slave States,
and we would soon have more States, but
even If they choose to stay where they are in
the old Union, we still had territory enough
for an empire-more than twice as much as
some OF the most powerful nations in Europe,
with a soil and climate aad productions supe-
rior to any in the world. With good govern
ment and brave, virtuous and intelligen t
people, we had nothing to fear. With less
public debt than the Northern States, we
have greater resources, and were better able
TO sustain an independent Government
If we We're true to ourselves, brilliant fu-
ture was before us-our Confederacy was des-
tined to become the nucleus of a great con-
trolling power on this con ntineut. Our policy
was peace with all nations-with our la te
confederates ard the rest of the world. The
olive branch was the emblem of peace In
lieu of it we presen ted the cotton plant lie
had been frequently asked whether our reyo-
In ton could be consummated without war
He had thought at one time that war was in
eyitabe But, he would say, that of late the
prospect was less threatening. The North
had nothing to gain by war, and the adoption
of & war, instead of a peace policy, on their
part, could only be accounted for on the hypo-
thesis that ''those whom the Gods would de-
stroy they first make mad To talk of coer-
cion was simply absur6-it was an impossi-
bilty. He thought when the Northern States
come to count the cost of the attempt-for it
could only be an attempt-they would like
| the man who was practicing to fight duel by
shooting with musket at the size of q
man marked out on barn door, and who
when he found he had put some fourteen
shot in the mark, came to the conclusion
that the weapon was too destructive,
and that he would not fight He
thought the North when it came to con-
template the conseq uences would wisely con-
clude that coercion would be too destructive
There was no necessity for war. The old
Union was r contract between the States, and
il was principle of law that civil contracts
can be annulled by mutual consent of the par
ties. Therefore all the present United States
Congress had to do was simply to consent tina
the contract with the seeded States be an
nulled and settle matters amicably. But
while the prospect of collision was not so un-
favorable as it had been, it was we'll for US tC
be prepared with stout hearts and strong arm
to meet any emergency Until our revolu ton
is consummated and our new Government
firmly established, il is proper that we should
be well prepared. 1t was for this that in ar
ranging the tariff higher du lies had been as.
sessed than would ordinarily be necessary fcI
the support of the Government. We wanted
arnaments and men, and to pro yide the mean
higher duties had been laid. In time of peace
an average OF ten per cent. on our imports
would give US fifteen millions of dollars, am
pie for ali purposes of government. The fu
ture was before us whether it was to be
peace or war, depended on others He wonld
| only say let US be pTepared-let us keep oul
| armor bright and our powder dry.