The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-08-07
Another Speech by Alexander HI.
Stephens,
HE FINDS NOTHING DIsCOURAGING IN THE
PRESENT CONDITION OF AFFAIRS. sl.,l

HE FINDS NOTHING DIsCOURAGING IN THE
PRESENT CONDITION OF AFFAIRS. ae
From the Richmond Dispatch July %.
Vice PRESIDENT stephens, who is on his
way to the South, stopped at Charlotte,
N. O., on Friday night, and was serenaded
by large concourse of citizens. In reply
he made them speech about an hour in
length. He commenced by abiding to the
invasion of Maryland and Pennsylvania by
General Lees army-said that it had
whipped the enemy on their own soil, and
had obtained vast supplies for our own
men, and was now again ready to meet the
enemy on a new field Whatever might
be the movements and objects of General
Lee, he had entire confidence in his ability
to accomplish what he undertook, for in
ability and intellect he was head and
shoulders above any man in the Yankee
army. He commended General Lee for
keeping his own secrets, and told the peo-
pie not to be discouraged because they did
not hear from Lee over his own signature.
He would come out all right in the end.
Mr.. Stephens next spoke of the surren-
der of Vicksburg, and said thet it was not
an occurrence to cause Encouragement or
gloom that the loss of Vicksburg was
not as severe blow as the loss Of Fort
Pillow, Island No. 10 or New Orleans.
The Confederacy had survived the loss of
these points, and would survive the loss of
Vicksburg, Port Hudson, and other pla-
ces. Suppose, said he, we were to lose
Mobile, Charleston and Richmond, it
would not affect the heart of the Confed-
eracy. We could and would survive such
losses, and finally secure our indepen-
dence. He was not at all discouraged at
the prospect; he never had the ''blues"
himself. and had no respect or sympathy
for ''croakers." The enemy has already
appropriated twenty-seven hundred mill
ions of dollars and one million of men for
our subjugation, and after two years. war
had utterly failed, and if the war contin-
ued for two years longer, they would fail
to accomplish our subjugation. So far
they had not broken the shell of the Con-
federacy. In the Revolutionary war the
British at one time had possession of
North Carolina, South Carolina, and other
States; they took Philadelphia, and dis
persed Congress, and for long time
held complete sway in the colonies
yet they did not conquer our forefathers
In the war of 1912 the British captured
the capital of the nation, Washington City,
and burnt it, yet they did not conquer us;
and if we are true to ourselves now, true
to our birth rights, the Yankee nation will
utterly fail to subjugate us. Subjugation
would be utter ruin and eternal death to
Southern people and all they hold most
dear. He exhorted the people to give the
Government a cordial support, to frown
down all croakers and grumblers, and to
remain united and fight to the bitter end
for their liberty and independence. +o
AS for reconstruction, said Mr.. Steph-
ems, such thing was impossible-such an
idea must not be tolerated for an instant.
Reconstruction would not end the war,
but would produce a more horrible war
than that in which we are now engaged
The only terms on which we can obtain
permanent peace is final and complete sep J.
aration from the North. Rather than to
submit to anything short of that, let usall
resolve to die like men worthy of freedom.
In regard to foreign Intervention, Mr..
Stephens advised his hearers to build no
hopes on that yet awhile. He did not be-
lieve that the leading foreign, powers ever
intended that the North and South should
be again united-they preferred that the
separation should be permanent but they
considered both sides too strong now, and
did not deem it good policy On their part
to interfere and put q stop to the war.
Foreign nations see that the result of the
war will be to establish despotism in the
North, and are therefore willing to allow
it to continue while longer. ia9aish q
4 The whole. tone of Mr.. Stephens speech
was very encouraging, and showed not the
slightest sign Of dependency. He con-
Guided by expressing entire confidence in
the ability of the Confederacy to maintain
our cause and, achieve independence e
ParsOn Brown1ow on Various Matters
The g rough and ready parson writes
from Nashville to the. Philadelphia Press
= 81