Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1862-12-19
from the South.
The Speech of Vice-President A. ii.
STEPHENS---The War.


Vice President Stephens made speech
at Charlottesville, Georgia, some weeks
since, which we find reported In the Au-
gusta Chronicle The present war, he
said, is emphaticaly +" the peoples war. I"
1t is the ciiortof one pecplsato blot an
other from existence, andsit becomes
every man in the South to exercise every
capacity in aiding the army which is pre-
venting his becoming worse than serf.
He said, frankly, that the Government,
while doing all it can, cannot compass as
thorough relief for the army as the efforts
of communities and individuals.
In his appeal for contributions, heal
luded to those whose pursuits, positions
or opportunities had enabled them to
make money in these times. Opportp-
mites to realize unusual profits upon la
Dor or capital, in particular pursuits or
trades, were incidents of all wars, and
this one was no exception. These were
the evils of war, They afford great temp
tations to frail human nature. These
temptations by every one should be re-
sisted as the approaches of the foul fend
Dickens had said the fumes of gold
were more deadly to the moral sensibilties
than the fumes of charcoal to the physi-
cal 1t was true none should think of
making money or growing rich out Of
our common necessities; but every one
should feel and realize the fact that our
common all is embarked in the common
cause; that everything is at stake, and
every one should do bis duty, and his
whole duty, whether at home or in the
field. Those at home, in whatever posi-
ton, have as important and as essential
though not so hard and dangerous
duties to perform as those in the field. -
All should cooperate tremendously and
periodically to the great end, and while
they (the people of that community had
none among them known as spectators
or extortioners, yet there were some
whose pursuits enabled them, or afforded
them, opportunities to realize larger pro-
fits on their capital and labor than in
times Of peace. TO such he made spe-
cial appeal to contribute literally and
generously, as he believed they would
Let no one, whether body corporate OF
not, think of making profits out of arti-
cles needed by the men in the field. The
idea was abhorrent
On the general subject of our present
conflict, involving, as it does, our indi-
vidual as we'll as national existence, be
said ali wars were calamities-A great
est that can befall people, except. per-
haps, direct vistatioxs from Providence,
such as famines, plaques and pestience
The greater the war, the greater the ca
lamity. This war is great calamity to
us. We all feel it. 1t is the greatest
war, and waged on the largest scale, Of
any since the birth of Christ. The his
tory Of the world-not excepting the cru
sadie furnishes no parallel to it in the
/ present era.
The responsibility and guilt Of it must
be fearful somewhere. As great calami-
ties as wars are, they are, however, some
times necessary. Often forced by the
highest dictates of patriotism like :" Of
ficers" we are told of-thcy sometimes
needs come They are, however, never
right or justifable on both sides. They
may be wrong on both sides, but can
never be right on both. Unjust wars,
by the unanimous consent Of civilized
men, are held, as they should be, in con-
demndtion and reprobation. People,
therefore, as well as their rulers to whom
. such high trusts are confidcd, should look
well to it and see that they are right be-
fore appealing to this last and most ter
rife arbtrament Of arms.
Some thoughts on this subject, Mr.
Stephens said, might not be out Of place,
even there. These he dwclt upon at
some length, showing the justice of our
cause and the wanton aggression Of the
enemy He traced the history Of the
controversy Between the Southern ard
Northern States, the principles and ma
ture Of our Government, the independ-
euce and sovereignty of the States, and
the right Of each to control its own des-
TIMES and act for itself in the last resort,
as each State might think best for itself
1t was wholly immaterial, he said, in
considering the question Of right and
Justice, now to look any further than the
solemn act Of the States Of the South,
after mature deliberation, each acting for
itself in its sovereign capacity Each
State had the right thus to act, and when
each for Itself had thus acted no power
on earth had the right justly to gainsay
it.
Tao old Union was formed by The
States, each acting for itself in its SOW
ereign character and capacity, with tie
object and purpose Of advancing their in.
terests respectively thereby Each State
was the sole judge, in the last resort,
whether the future interests, safety and
well-being Of her people required her to
resume those sovereign powers, the exer-
else of which had been delegated to other
hands under the old compact Of Union.
These principles have ever been held not
only true, but sacred, with the friends Of