The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1863-08-06

the best and freest Government, the most
equal In its rights, the most just in its
decisions, the most lenientin in its measures,
and the most inspiring in its principles to
elevate the race of men, that the sun of
Heaven'ever shone upon.
Now, for you to attempt to overthrow
such Government as this, under which
we have lived for more than three quar-
ters of century-in which we have
gained our wealth, our standing as ma
ton, our domestic safety while the ele
ments Of peril are around us, with peace
and tranquility, accompanied with un-
boun led prosperity and rights unassailed
is the height of madness, folly and
wickedness, to which l can neither lend
my sanction or my vote.
The above, saysthe Pittsburg Chronicle,
is correct copy of the celebrated speech
of Hon. A. III. STEPHENS, of Georgia,
made in his own State before the war
began. Our readers will remember that
speech. 1t was gladly published all over
the loyal States as an earnest, eloquent,
and logical argument against the crime
and madness of secession, which had
possessed and infatuated the Southern
heart. 1t was the calm voice of reason
speaking out of the wild whirl-wind OF
blind passion then sweeping over the
Cotton States. The above curt, but
emphatic speech, made by the ablest
statesman in the South, and now Vice
President Of the Confederacy, will ever
stand as protest and unanswerable
argument against the crime and the folly
OF the present wicked rebellion. When
traitors and demagogues endeavor to de-
lude the honest mass of the people into
the belief that the war was none of the
South's getting. When timid or sympa-
thizing reasoners whisper "peace, peace,
when there is no peace" it would be we'll
for all to carry in their memories the fore
going deliberate remark of wise and pru
dent statesman, who afterwards was bribed
to stihe his conscience; prostitute his pa
triotism, and acquiesce in mos. hellish
plot by the gift of high place. Did any
thing happen after the delivery of this
speech, which made secession and the civil
war which STEPHENS predicted would be
its inevitable consequence, less crime 2
Not at ALL Our Government was kind,
clement, forgiving and forbearing, even
to weakness. When the rebels were
breathing forth vengeance, organizing
armies, occupying United States forts,
lynching and expelling Northern citizens,
and stealing Government property of all
kinds, Government was still mild, patient,
forgetful, and never lost faith in the belief
that the Southern storm was too fitful and
violent to last long, and that our "erring
sisters" would awake to see their folly and
wickedness.
Twas the bombardment of Fort Sumter
and the demoniac laugh at it's capture
which rang round the table at Montgom-
cry, where sat the q architects of ruin,"
that first awakened the loyal North to
realization of what was really intended by
the rebellion then inaugurated. When
any person grows tender and forgiving to
the rebels, let him ponder over what fol-
lowed that overt act Of the rebel junta-
How North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee,
and other States, were juggled out of the
Union in spite of heavy popular majorities
against secession how every artful means
were taken by the managers of the rebel
lion to infame and mislead public opinion
what tremendous pressure was brought
to bear by the wire pullers to get Virginia
with them the secret expedit ions which
were sent to Harper's Ferry and Norfolk,
after mob -intimidated legislators were
sworn to secrecy, and then think of all
which has followed, and which was pre-
dicted from the first, and be less than
just if you can.
The more this gigantic rebellion is
studied, from its very first inception,
through all its horrid details, down to its
present satisfactory condition, the more is
every loyal man startled and shocked at
the stupendous fraud, hate, malice and
devilish ingenuity with which it is filed,
and the more should he be determined
that it must be so completely crushed that
nothing like IL shall eyer-either North