Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1863-01-06
GBt gtaalnSatp.
Pointed and rratHfsl Remarks.

Stephens Mr., Stephens clearly shows not only the
unconstitutonStS q the CONSUMPTION Law, but the
fact that its passage was not really necessary to the
defence Of the country 1fa North Carolinain were
to utter such language, the Richmond Enquirer
WoaM brand him as a traitor, and, call upon the
mob to vtear him in pieces"
Mr.. Stephens said:
II beg to refresh the memories of gentlemen as
to the history of another government and ask them
If that government deserves contempt? allude to
Q government which has passed away-not the old
United States government but that other govern
ment which persisted in giving birth to The United
States goverpment-the government of the old Con-
federation Sir, that was glorious old government.
Whatever its defects and its faults were it is enti-
tied to the gratitude not only of every American,
but OF every lover of liberty the wide world over
1t was the government that achieved liberties
1t was the government whose Commander-in- Chief
was Washington. It was the government that sue
cessfully resisted the most powerful government
upon the face of the earth. 1t was the government
from whose hands we have received all the blessings
we have enjoyed, and for which we are fighting to-
day. 1t was government whose memories are
dear to our hearts. Who will rise up and say that
government deserves the contempt of mankind
and yet Sir, that government had no compulsory
power over the States. That government had not
the very power, the want of which gentlemen now
affirm subjects any government to the contempt of
mankind. Their power over the States was advise
~ only, and not compulsory They could get no
troops from the States but such as the States would
send them; and yet that government was adequate
to the achievement of liberty and to its achievement
against the greatest power that existed upon the
EARTH Can our people close their eyes to the grand
lesson which is to be gathered from the history of
that government? We are warned by gentlemen
and by some of our public journals against the dan
ger from the State governments. Sir, l have no
such apprehension. Let gentlemen who are alarm
ed from an excess Of State rights take comfort from
the history Of the old Confederation. There is no
danger from that quarter. Capitalization consolida-
ton, central usurpaton is the rock upon which VIC
have split and it is the rock which We have to dread
in the future. We judge the future by the past;
and Judging our future by the American past pro.
claim that the danger which we have to apprehend
is not from the States but from central usurpaton
which has already resulted in the destruction of the
old United States government and in our secession,
and IN our reputation of it on account of that usur
patton.
Governor Troup has been quoted as authority for
this statement that our government would be de-
serving OF contempt if it lacked the power of con-
scriPtion. Governor Troup was comparatively
young man when he uttered that sentiment Itwas
years afterwards that he, as Governor of Georgia
became distinguished as the champion of States
rights. you quote his words, sir as authority on
your side, l point you to his subsequent deed as
authority on my side. If you quote his language
which was uttered in heated party contest, and |
under the indignation which he felt against the New
England States for their blue light Federalism | |
point you to what he did as GeOrgias champion
when her rights were aSSailed by the Federal gov.
eminent When Governor Troup uttered that sent
iment he was under strong bias, arising out of
particular emergency and out of desire to compel
the New England States to perform what he thought
was their duty He did, in that heated contest ex-
press the idea that sovereign States might be CO.
erceo In my Judgment it was great error and it
was an error afterwards repented Of and nobly
atoned for.
ana TINS leads me to remark upon another view
IN which the CONSUMPTION presents itself to mvmind
The essence of conscription is the right to take
away the lighting men Of the States against the will
Oi oo'h the citizens and the States 1t is the right
make what you will of it. to coerce sovereign States
1t Is the right which Mr.. Lincoln IS now claiminp
over us and which we are resisting with our blood
ma which, trust, We shall never cease to resist
Iun :ne Precension Is abandoned do say it sir,
not with the intention to offend ANYBODY and [ do
not 6eileVe therefore, that shall offend ANYBODY:
Out declare conScription it presents itself TO
ny mlhd Is IN its essence and its constitution the
very embodiment of Lincolnism, which our gallant
rm'eS are today resisting. 1t is power in the
central head to coerce sovereign States
a lew words now as to the history of conscrip-
ION, and have done Its Justification has hon
'laced upon the plea of necessity Sir II is fee.
nc Pie@ Ihere never was any necessity for it and
mere Is none now. This plea of necessity is gen.
raIy Pretext and, under happy Constitution +
- Always untrue. Our Constitution was made |
ol HsI as wei as Tor peace and the powers con-
~ upon the different departments of the
'olneueIale government are adequate to all the ! .
eceSsitles OF war, without any enlargement of
Nc" "y uouO'iul construction, or by usurpation |
ne particular necessity which has been ALLEGED for
prescription was necessity to seize and hold in
ssrFlce the tWelVe-mODths men whose term WAS !
cout 70 expire But, sir, this is a pretext Il is
eel ny AnowiedSe that as long ago last fall,
sreni months before the expiration of the term of
ne twelVe-months' men, General Toombs Oh
:vuoer OF the confederate Congress) introduced
vi 70 rePienish the army and supply the places of
nose tWelVe-months' men who would be going ont
~ oil was IN conformity with the old recognized
institutional mode of acquisitions upon the States
ncers, where the Constitution places, if =. and
ave neard 1t said by those who heard Elm on that
11slon mat In support of that bill. he made the
eA.eSb speech oil bis life. But it was lost and II
q because the President said he did not want !
oops at that time. The subject of replenisbinp !
70 army was then allowed TO sleep until the eve Of
= eApl!suon Oh the twelvemonths' men, and then q
Inscription was sprung upon the country, and =
lshed through Congress under the cry of necessity
ON, sir, say, IN the first place, if there was anv
'cessity for tat the time when it was adopted that
'cessity was created for the occasion Their atten
On had been called, in remarkable manner tn
q rePienishing Of the army in a constitutional way,
ID they had refused to make provision for it de. =
'sratstg, Intentionally, refused The appointment
the officers was the milk in the cocoanut
But SIR go further and say that, with all their a
tempts to create necessity for conscription thew
not create it; and that at the very time it was Of
sSed there was not the slightest necessity for it o
le tWelFe-months' mep, whose time was about To o,
Plre, could have been retained in the service R
DER the old constitutional mode of making requi- "
ions upon the States, Just as well as by conscrin. u
N and defy any man to deny it. 1t will not n,
denied in this debate. This, sir, is another one di
the points in my argument which predict will Ip
De touched Congress, in making its reouisi r
ms upon the States had only to shape the reoui to