The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1863-08-26
From the Richmond Dispatch, July %
speech of fVice-Fresident stephens

Vice-President Stephens, who is on his way
to the South, stopped at Charlotte, N. c., Fri
day ght, was serenaded by large concourse
of citizens. In reply he made them speech
| about an hour in length. He commenced by
alluding to the invasion of Maryland and Penn
! sylvania by General Lees army and that ii
had whipped the enemy on their own soil and
obtained vast supplies for our own men, and
was now ready again to meet the enemy on
new field, Whatever might be the movements
and objects of Gen. Lee, he had confidence in
his ability to accomplish what he undertook
for in ability and intellect he was head and
shoulder above any man.in the Yankee army.
! He commended G eneral Lee for keeping his
own secrets, and told the people not to be dis.
eouraged 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 surrender
of Vicksburg, and said that it was not an oc-
currence to cause encouragement or gloom
that the loss of Vicksburg was not as severe a
blow as the loss of Fort Pillow, Island Nc.
Ten, or New Orleans. The confederacy has
survived the loss of those points, and would
survive the loss of Vicksburg, Port Hudson,
ard other places. Suppose said he that we
were to lose Mobile, Charleston, and Rich
mond it would not affect the heart of the con-
federacy. We could and would survive such
losses, and finally secure our inaepe ende-cc.-
He was not at all discouraged at the prospect;
he never had the "blues" himself, and had no
respect or sympathy for "croakers." The en-
emy has already appropriated twenty
hundred millions of dollars and one million of
men for our subjugation, and, after two years
war, has utterly failed, and if the war contin-
ued two years longer they would fail to &C
complsh our subjugation. So far they had
not broken the shell of the confederacy. In
the Revolutionary war the B. itish at one time
had possession of North Carolina, and other
States they took Philadelphia and dispersed
Congress, and for long time held complete
sway in the colonies-yet they did not con-
quer our forcfathers. In the war OF 1872 the
British captured the capitol of the nation,
Washington City, and burnt it, yet they did
not conquer us and if we are true to our
selves now, true to our birth rights, the Yam
kee nation will fail to subju gate us. Subju-
CATION would be utter ruin aud eternal death
to southern people and all they hold most
dear. lie exhoItedsthe people to give the
government a cordial support, to frown down
all croakers and erumblers, and to remain uni
ted and fight to the bitter end for liberty and
independence. As for reconstruction, said
Mr.. Stephens, such thing was impossible
such an idea must not be moderated for an in
stant Reconstruction would not end the war,
in which we are =Rew engaged. The on;y
terms on which we obtain permanent
peace is final and complete separation from
the North Rather than submit to anything
short of that let us all resolve to die like men
worthy of freedom. In regard to foreign in
tervention, Mr.. Stephens advised his hearers
to build no hopes on that yet awhile.s He
did not believs that the leading foreign pow
ers 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 inter-
fere and put an end to the:war. Foreign ma
tions see that the result Of the war will be to
established despotism at the North, and are
therefore waiting to allow it to continue
while longer.
The whole tone of Mr.. Stephens speech
was very encouraging, and showed not the
slightest sign. of dependency. He cenclu-
ded by expressing entire confidence in the
ability of the confederaey to maintain our cause
and achieve independence. --~