Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-04-27
SPEECH OF VICE-PREsJDENT STE
PHENs AT RECnmOND.
We take the following from The Petersburg
Frprs,s Of the oath

We bdhb I'VE AOuoHiHB from Tue EeLeEbpaTE
Express Of the path
At Richmond on Monday night last. a great
crowd Of citizens congregated in front Of the
Exchange hotel, with the FIRST regiment band,
and serenaded the Honorable Alexander II.
Stephens, Vice President Of the Confede-
rate States OF America. The distinguished
g%entlemsR was introduced to the throng by
Mayor MAYO, and received with hearty cheers.
In response, saws the Dispatch, Mr.. Stephens
returned bic Acknowledgements for the warmth
Of the personal greeting, and his NEST pro-
found thanks for it as the representative Of
the Confederate States. He spoke Of the re-
ioicing the secession Of Virginia bad caused
among Der southern sisters. Her people would
feel justified il they could hear it as be had.
He would not speak Of the States who were
out, but those who we're in. North Carolina
was out, and did not know exactly how she got
cut. The fires that were blazing here be had
seen all along bis track from Montgomery to
Richmond. At Wilmington, North Carolina,
be bad counted, on one street, twenty flags Of
the Confederate States.
The news from Tennessee was equally
cheering-there the mountains were on fire.
Some Of the States still hesitated, but soon ali
would be in. Tennessee was 10 longer In the
late Union. She was cat by resolutions Of her
popular assemblies, in Memphis and other
cities. Kentucky would soon be out. Her
people were moving. Missouri-who could
doubt The stand she would take, when her gov.r
ernor, 10 reply to Lineoln's i~nsolent proelams-
ton, had said, 'fYou shall have no troops FOR
the furthersnce Of your illegal, unchrislian
and diabolieaI schemes?1 Missouri will soon
add another star to the southern galaxy.
Where Maryland s., yoa 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 Balti-
more was the cause Of the whole South. He
said The cause we were engaged in was that
which attached people to the old Constitution
OF the late United States-it was the cause of
civil, religions, and constitutional liberty
Many o. Us looked at that Constitution as the
anchor Of safety. In Georgia, the people bad
been attached to he previous Union, but the
Constitution w1ish governed It was framed BY
southern talent and understanding Assaults
had been made on it ever since it was esssb-
llshed-lately, a latitudinous construction had
been made BY the Nerth, while We Of The S0sih
to interpret It as it was-advocating
construction, Slate rights, the right OF
the neople to rule, etc. He smoke Of All the
Southern States as advocating this con
struction. To violate the principles Of the
Consultation ives to initiate revolution-and
The Northern States bad done this.
The Constitution framed at M~ontgoEery
discarded the obsolete ideas Of tire old Consti-
tuition, but bad preserved it's better portion,
with some notifications, suggested By the sx-
p~srience o. the past, and 1t bad been adopted
bv the Confederate States, who would stand to
Il. The old Constitution bad been made an
sngineo Of power 10 crush out liberty that Of
the Confederate States to preserve It. The old
Constitution was improved in our hands, and
those living under it had, ike the PbGnix,
risen from the ashes. The revolution lately
did not affect alone proper Y, but liberty.
He alluded to Lincoln's call for 5000 volun-
tears. and said be could fad No authority IN
the old Constitution Tor such a fsgrsnt abuse
Of power. His second proclamation bad stig-
az pirates al who sailed on letters Of
maruue this was also in violation Of the Con-
sfilnHoa, which alone gave Congress the power.
What had the friends Of liberty to hope for?
Beginning ID usurpation, where would be end?
You were, however, said be, no longer an
der the rule Of this tyrant. With strong arms
and stout hearts you have now resolved to
stand ia defense OF liberty. The Confederate
states had but asserted thsir rigbts. They
believe that their rulers derived taeir Just
powers from the consent Of the governed. No
had a right to deny the exls'snee Of the
right az secession. Our people did
not want 70 NEEDLE with the northern States
only wanted the latter 70 Jet them alone.
When did Virginia ever ask the assistance Of
General G~0vernment2
II there Is sin IN our institutions, We bear
the blame, aud will stand acquitted by natural
law, and the higher law Of the Creator. We