Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-05-01
EIooUENr SPEECH OF MR. STEPHENS.

ELOQUENT SPEECH OF MR. STEPHENS
Al Richmond on Monday nigh: last, : great crowd
of citizens conprepated in front Of the Exchange
Hotel with the First Regiment Band. and sersnsd-
ed the Hon. Alexander H. Stephens, Vice President
of the .Confederated States Of America The dis
tinguished gentlemen was introduced to the throug
by Mayor Mayo, and received with hearty cheers.
turned his acknowledgements for the warmth of the
personal greeting and his most profound thanks for
It as the representative of the Confederate States
He spoke Of the rejoicing the secession Of Virginia
had caused among her Southern sisters. Her peo-
pie would feel justified if they could hear it as he
had. He would not speak of the States who were
out but those who were in. North.Carolina was
out and did not know exactly how she got out
The fires that were blazing here he had seen all
Wilmington, n c., he had counted. on one street,
twenty flags of the Confederate States. b
The news from Tennessee was equally cheering
there the mountains were on fire. Some of the
States still hestated, but soon all would be in
Tennessee was no longer in the late Union. She
was out by resolutions of her popular assemblies
in Memphis and ether cities Kentucky would soon
be out. Her people were moving Missouri-who
could doubt the stand she would take when her
Governor, in reply to Lincolns insolent proclama-
ton, had said, "You shall have no troops for the
furtherance of your illegal unchristan and daboli
cal schemes!" Missouri will soon add another star
to the Southern galaxy. Where Maryland is, you
all know. The first Southern blood had been shed
on her SOIL and Virginia would never stand idly by
and see her citizens shot down. The cause Of Bal
timore was the cause of the whole South. He said
the cause We were engaged in was that which at
tached the people to the old Constitution Of the late
United States-it the cause of civil, religious
and constitutional liberty. Many of US looked at
that Constitution as the anchor Of safety. In Geor
gia the people had been attached to the previous
Union, but the Constitution which governed it was
framed by Southern talent and understanding As
saults had been made on it ever since It was estab
lshed-ately, a lattudinous construction had been
made by the North, while we of the South sought
to interpret it it was-advocating strict construc-
ton, State rights the right of the people to rule,
etc. He spoke of all the fifteen Southern States as
advocating this construction. To violate the prin-
ciples of the Constitution was to initiate revolution
and the Northern States had done this.
The Constitution framed at Montgomery discard
ed the obsolete ideas of the old Constitution, but
had preserved its better portion, with some modi-
cations, suggested by the experience of the past,
and it had been adopted by the Confederate States,
who would stand to it. The old Constitution had
been made an engine of power to crush out liberty;
that of the Confederate States to preserve IT. The
old Constitution was improved in our hands, and
from the ashes The revolution lately begun did
not affect alone property. but liberty. He alluded
to Lincoln's call for 600 volunteers and said he
could find no authority in the old Constitution for
such fragrant abuse Of power His second pro-
ciamation had stigmatzed as pirates all who sailed
in letters of marquc; this was also IN violation of
the Constitution, which alone gave Congress that
power What had the friends of liberty to hope
for? Beginning in usurpation, where would he
end? You WERE however, said he, no longer under
the rule of this tyrant. With strong arms and
stout hearts you have now resolved to stand in de-
fence of liberty. The Confederate States had but
asserted their rights. They believe that their rulers
derived their Just powers from the consent of the
governed. No one had right to deny the existence
of the sovereign right Of secession Our people
did not want to NEEDLE with the Northern States
only wanted the latter to let them alone. When
did Virginia ever ask the assistance of the General
Government?
If there is sin in our institutions, we bear the
blame-and will stand acquitted by by natural law,
and the higher law of the Creator We stand up.
on the law of God snd Nature. The Southern States
did not wish resort to arms after secession. Mr..
Stephens alluded to the negotiations between Maj.
Anderson and the authorities of the Confederate
States to demonstrate the proposition History, he
said, if rightly written. would acquit US of desire
to shed our brothers blood.
The law of necessity and Of right compelled US to
act as we did He had reason to believe that the
Creator smiled on it. The Federal flag was taken
down without the loss of single life He believed
that Providence would be with US and bless us to
the end We had had appealed to the God of Battles
for the business Of our cause. Madness and folly
ruled at Washington. Had it not been SO, several
of the States would have been in the Union for a
year to come. The Gods first made mad those they
would destroy. Maryland would join us, and may
be. ere long, the principles that Washington fought
for might be again administered in the city that
bore his name. Every son of the South, from the
Potomac to the Rio Grande should rally to the sup
port of Maryland If Lincoln quits Washington as
ANONYMOUSLY as he entered it, Gods will will have
been accomplished. The argument was now ex-
hausted. Be prepared; stand to your arms; defend
your wives and fresides. He alluded to the mo-
mentous consequences of the issue involved. Rather
than he conquered let every second man rally to
drive back the invader. The conflict may be terri.
bic, but the victory will be ours. Virginians, said
he., you fight for the preservation of your sacred
rights-the land of Patrick Henry-to keep from
dissertation the tomb Of Washington. the graves of
Madison, jefferson, and all you hold most dear.
FoRr MoNRoE-We are Informed that Capt Elzey
and DR.. Johns, both from Maryland, and stationed
at Old Point have sent in their designations rath-
er dismissals, as they are now called Both these
gentlemen have served in the army with distinction
for number of years. and last in the Mexican war.
DR.. Johns, we understand has been in the army for
"a years, and of course must feel some regret at
sundering suddenly what were formerly friendly re-
lations but the die has been cast and he has made
up his mind to stand its hazard
We also understand that the bridge at the fort
have been taken up and all communication between
the fort and the citizens thus cut Off There are
now 300 men rank and file in the fort and all the
officers are black republicans with tho exception o.
three who hail from Virginia.
A son Of DR.. Banks was ordered from the fort
where he occupied the position Of clerk in the suit
tiers store. because he would not sympathise with
the black republican remarks which were daily and
hourly uttered in his presence and the wife of Q
man who deserted on the same account was summa
rly elected from the fort without any provision
notice. but the citizens Of Old Point and Hampton
Immediately took up subscription to supply hel
wants and send herfur south to join her husband
T. q, -. a.,