Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1861-09-24

~ e,4>.u<l1
Ina, fAeuRSs Il doe not Ices 70 tssss .ae IKE myself
- ,s1.rd the election Of Mr.. Stephens n
90, run,,c calamity, than to Mr.. Stephens him
.sn 20 presen. in . more temperate, and hope
more rational form, the grounds Of their oejec-
ton. l. 10 Q somewhat delicate task Just nov,
uhen such efforts are supposed 70 be stimulated BY no
hRhe, motive than the qualification Of personal spite, or
ske Advancement Of some intrigue, and it Is PERHAPS
proper tia, should dsclAm any intention Of casting
he slightest npuiatiou upon Mr. Stephens honor either
a, man or as q statesman So far corrupt ntrgues
With the lobby at Washington concerned will be at
once eolceded by all who know him, there vas no man
whose reputation vas more entirely above suspicion
tasn uss Mr. Stephens That Mr. Stephens devoted bis
great abilities TO the support Of the Union with An Hdor
that no, unfrequsnty caused him to lose sight oil tns
Constitution, cannot DO denied but this, While much
TO be regretted ought not to constitute an insupeaoie
OBJECTION pr So 70 bis elevation 70 a ocs Tor which
hs aens his attsinmsnts and his experience euinsn'-
" him. Mr. Stephens has given in his adhesion to the
ss4se-rshts cause and l. for one, am not disposed to
question his sincerity and if it be true thai the Nc'
PeSdency was made the condition Of bis support, can
e ia Iba only the natural desire the meas OF
modifying if not controlling, the good OF the country
am3yemens which he disru.ed and which be simply ac-
cp.ed a. n,cessity. For Mr.. Stephens in accepting
secession a. an accomplished fact did not attempt to con-
esn bis regret at the necessity which compelled him 10
tsks sides against his beloved Union. In short NJ
Ss7heus vas and is sighting rather 70 destroy Sortherh
p-cpoude.auce IN TIE Union. than the ideas on which
that preoonderanes rested and BY which has been
Won Our objection to Mr.. Stephens then t. not that,
l. TINES past be failed to comprehend the idea We are
endeavorng to establish but that k does not eonprshsnd
II ro and 10 therefore one Of the very last to be
see "a =, its prophet-for II scarcely needs argument
70 show that no man can successfully preach doc
trne h. dos not understand. We need, for the pre-
seat emsrssrsy, a,n VINO have grown grey in
ths faith, Who are saturated with ito spirit, and
redoleus Of ito aroma. Mr. Stephens has not the
sIshsst pre,ensiOn to be considered such man. Wit
nsw is reconstruction speech at sASannsh-a speech
delivered shile the consecratpg oil yet dripping
from the o6 a mantle be had Just put on, and Vii
wen abroad a. an authoritative exposition OF the policy
OF lie new government The mischief which that
90 ech accomplished cannot bs estimated; vel, Is
bet sample Of What NAV expect as the result OF
elevAting such men as Mr.. Stephens TO high Office. l
mgas Sd luce other evidence OF Mr. Stephens un-
u,ss for the cf;s be holds bu: forbear to consume
more of yocr space. That one speech is enough
Bi. the Ell vAOn Of Mr. Stephens 20 ofi,e "a not the
Only logical absurdiy" have committed We began
the revolution by hinder and IL Is not surprising that
We have euadered ell the way through. We commsrcsd
by 6SA.ing the Presidential campaign Of 1860 on the
terri o question breaking up the DsmocrAc party TO
do l., and then selected sAndatd-bearer man
(dr B.eckinr.dge) Who utterly unsound upon that
uustion The system OF DISQUALIFICATION, thus iusugu
rt,d has been pursusd With consistent perseverance,
aud invariably With the lamentabe results. South
Carolina the 6rs State secede, elected as her chief
magistrate the man who publicly called NJ. Calhoun
traitor When the members Of the Provisional Congress
MT at Montgomery they elected Howell Cobb to pre-
sls oyer their deliberations They followed that up by
slsvatnS Mr. Stephens to the vcs-Presdeney, and fin
ishsd BY saledonins the appointment Of cabinet
wlcu with one exception, was composed exclusively OF
Union men-I mean Union men As contradistlnguishtd
fom States Rights men. Il it wonder, hr. Filter,
tia. We are drifting gradually into Unionsm' Is il
strange that thinking should begin to dstrcst
g1ve-nment which has shown esgerness to grasp
power than ability to ve'dit and which has, 90 y,
copied bu too faithfully tie faults Of iu predecessor
Blu: have already exceeded the limits bad propose
for this letter. and for another What have
90 say on this head
Very truly Yours,