Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1863-04-17
Testimony of Alexander II.
Stephens.
RAsrBkERY MOUNTAIN. (Pal !
March E, 1855. {
DEAR GtRRfsnS

| DEAR GARRrsnS
! The enclosed extract from a speech oi
| Alexander II. Stephens, in tie Convention
that t1ok Georgia out Of the onion. Jinul
nv. ls6l, have USED tie past year in lectur-
/ ing, and in private conversation l. sltHccs
/ all Democratic allies M kiinlppers aoi
and traitors in the nth. The great argl-
ment used by them in NV York. Pcansyl.
wanna. Indiana and Illinois II, that the North
/ hal invaded the right of the SJeth. Sseph-
ems brands them all rs liars. IL c44r.es
the civil war, with all its horrors. solely on
the South. He leaves the traitors ~: i
shadow Of an excGs,. II YOU deem II oi
/ value, and pertinent - the prcscnt h5lr.
, prin, il. that al may Sc hl, opinions. IL
declared on the door Of the Convention.
c.llei 10 vote Georgia olt of the Union. and
pnn-c it into tie IN ,ass.ble anl bitienles'
gulf Of accession, ana ehy AMI ruin,
/" That tins step once taken. could never
/ be recalled. aad all the blrfnl and wit cr-
ing Consequence. that must fllaw. (as thy
would sec,) viii rtst On tie Convention for
all coming time " hen we and our pis-
terity shall see our lovely South dos ,l4t,d
| by the dem IN oil war which this act uG years
will inevitably invite aad call forth when
OIE green Ittds " WAVING ui1Rt-N- etlGlI D.
trodden down by the murder ,us sIidicrv ami
fiery car Of was sweeping over oar lind and
desolatiOns Of war upon us who bl. thi.
Convention will be held responsible for t.
and who but him VINO shall have gwen hi,
vote for this unwise ami Ill timed measure,
| (as honestly think and b,lieye) shall b.
held to strict account for this suicidal act.
| by the present generation, and probably
cu.sed and execratei by posteriiy for al
coming time. tor the wide and de,Jlating
ruin that will inevitably follow this act yJu
auw propose 10 Ferp.trale?
| Pause, | entreat you, and consider for
moment. what reasons y5a cIn give that will
even satisfy yoursclsc. in calmer moments
what reasons you can give 70 your fellow
sufferers in the calamity that il VIII bring
/ upon us? What reason can You give = the
nations of the earth to justify it? They
will be the cain and deliberate judges in the
case and to what cause or one overt act can
You name or pint, On which u rest the plea
| of justification What right has the North
assalled? What inter.s of the South has
been invaded? What Justice has been dc
MED? and what cl, IN founded in Justice ami
| right has been withheld? Can either of YOU
to-day name one governmental act of wrong,
deliberately and purposeIy done by the gov
eminent OF Washington, of which the South
has right to complain? | challenge the
answer While. on the other hand. let me
show the facts, (and believe me, gentlemen.
| am not here the advocate of the North
but am here the friend, the firm friead and
lover of the South and her institutions, and
for this reason speak thus plainly and
| ivthfully for yours, mias, and every other
ma int -, Il. e.
6erness,) Of which | wish you to judge, and
| will only state facts which are clear and
undeniabe, and which now stand as records
authentic IN the history OF our country.
When we of thi South demanded the
slave trade, or the importation Of Africans
for the cultivation Of our lands, did they not
yield the right for twenty years? When
we asked a three-ffths representation in
Congress for our slaves, was it not granted .
W hen we asked and dema nded the return of
any fugitive from justice, or the recoysry Of
those persons owing labor or allegiance. was
it not incorporated in the Constitution? and
again ratified and strengthened in the Fugi.
tive Slave Law of 1850?
But do You reply that in many instances
they have violated this compact, and have
not been faithful to their engagements > AZ
individuals and local communities they nv
have done 50; but not by the sanction or
government for that has always been true
to Southern interests. Again. gentlemen
lcok at another fact when we have asked
that more territory should be added. that
we might spread the Institution of slavery
have they not yielded to our demand, in rly,
ing us Louisiana, Florida and Texas. out of
which four States have been carved. and am.
pie territory for four more to be aided in
due time ii you by this unwse and impoli.
tic act do not destroy this hope, and, her.
hape, BY 1t lose all and have your last slave
wrenehed from you by stern military rule
as South America and Mexico were or NV
the yindictiye decree OF universal enamel
to follow, i'''''