Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1861-04-05
|IhR Uinditator.
aTAUNToN. VA.
FRIDAY, APRIL s, 1861.
5. M. YosT, Editor and Proprietor.

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! 6. M. YosT, Editor and Proprietor.
Speech of Vice President STE
pHlenS.
On the 21st ult., Hon. A. Fl. Stephens
Vice President of the Confederated States
of North America, delivered speech a
Savannah, Ga. He discussed the changes
in the Constitution Of the new government
as compared with the old. detailing the ad
<vantases Of the fc4Mer.v The tariff qhes-
ton was settled forever; also that Of sla
very, and internal improvements by the
Government, which had been the sources Of
the contentious ard dissensions that had
torn the old Government to pieces. After
discussing the natural condition ofthe negro.
he went on to remark:
We hear much Of the civilization and
Christianization of the barbarous tribes OF
Africa. In my judgment those ends will
never be attained, but by first teaching
them the lesson taught to Adam, that .in
the sweat Of thy brow shalt thou eat bread
(applause) -and teaching them to work
and feed and clotbe themselves. But to
pass on. Some have propounded the iucui-
ry, whether it is practicable for us to go on
with the Confederacy without further Access
sions? Have we the means and ability
to maintain nationality among the Powers
Of the earth On this point | would barely
say, that as anxiously as we all have been,
and are, fer the border States With instita.
tions similar with ours tojoin US, still we
are abundantly able to maintain our posi-
ton. even if they should ultimately make
up their minds not TO cast their destiny with
ours. That they ultimately will join US
be compelled to do it's my confident be-
lief; but We can get on very we'll without
them. even if they should not. We have
all the essential elements OF a high national
'career. The idea has been given out at the
North. and even in the border States, that
We are too small aud too weak to maintain
separate nationality This is great mis-
take. In extent of territory we embrace
574 coo square miles aud upwards This
is upwards Of 200, GOO square miles more
than was included within the limits Of the
original thirteen States. It is an area of
country more than double the territory Of
France or the Austrian Empire. France.
in round numbers, has about 2l2, 900 square
miles Austria, in round numbers, has
248, 900 square miles Ours is greater
than both combined It is greater than all
France. Spain, Portugal aud Great Britain,
including England, Ireland aud Scotland,
together. La population we have upwards
Of i've millions, acfording to the census of
1860; this includes white and black. The
entire population, including white and
black, Of the original thirteen States, was
less than four million in 1890, and still less
in rs, when the Independence Of our faith :
ers was achieved. II they. with less pop
ulation, dared maintain their Independence
against the greatest Power en- earth. shall
we have any apprehension Of maintaining
ours new In point CT material wealth and
resources we are greatly in ad vaice of them
The taxable property Of Che Confederate
States. cannot,be less than $22,00o,ooo, 900
This, think, venture bnt little in say
ing may be considered as five times more
than the colonies possessed at the time they
achieved their independence. Georgia alone
possessed last year, according to the report
of our Comptroller General, $672 coo, coo
of taxable property. The debts of the sew
en- Confederate States sum up in the ag
gregate less than SlS, 900, goo, while the
existing debts of the other Of the late Uni
ted States sum up in the aggregate to the
enormous amount of $l74, 900, 600. This
is without taking into the account the heavy
city debts, corporation debts and railroad
debts. which press and will continue to
press heavy incubus upon the resources
Of those States. These debts, added to 9TH
ers, make sum total not much under $500
100000 With such an area Of territory,
with such en- amount Of population, with a
climate and soil unsurpassed by any or the
face of the earth, with such resources al
ready at our command, with productions
which control the commerce Of the world
who can entertain any apprehensions as to
our success, whether others join us or not
1t is true, I believe, state but the COIN
mon sentiment, when declare my earnest
desire that the border State s should join
us. The differences Of opinion that exist
ed amongst US anterior to secession, related
more to the policy in securing that result
by co operation than from any difference
upon the ultimate security we all looked to
in common. These differences of opinion
were more in reference to policy than prin-
ciple, and as Mr.. Jefferson said in his inau
gural, in 1901 after the heated contest pre-
cedag his election, there might be differ
enees in ooinion, without differences on pril-
ciple, and that all, to some extent, had been
federalists and republicans; SO it may now
be said OF us, that whatever differences Of
opinion as to the best policy in having a
cooperation with our border sister slave
States, if the worst come to the worst, that
as we were all co operationists, we are now
all for independence, whether they come or
not. Continued applause.) In this con-
uection, take occasion to state, that was
not without grave and serious apprehension
that if the worst came to the worst, and cut
ting loose from the old government would
be the only remedy for our safety and Sc
curitv, it would be attended with much
more serious ills than it has been as yet
Thus far we have seen none Of those incl
dents which usually attend revolutions -
No such material as such convulsions throw
up has been seen Wisdom, prudence and
patriotism have marked every step of our
progress thus far. y . y
Organized upon principles Of perfect justice
oh nd