Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1863-07-02

&c tna4 The Sultan OF Turkey, APP
plause.
Three hearty cheers We're given for c.
l.. Vallandigham.
The cause of the war, it will be noticed,
was charged directly upon the North, and
especially upon the tanaticism of New
England, and this charge seems definitely
lald as corner stone of the copperhead
building IN this, one of the New England
States. To demonstrate charmingly their
consistency and sincerity on this point, the
convention placed at the head of their
State ticket former g free soil ~ agitator
of the State.
In answer to this yillainous charge,
heretofore put forth by northern rene
gades,-this charge that southern traitors
are poor innocents that the North is the
cause of the rebellion inaugurated by
southern slaveocrats for the destruction of
the Union and of democratic government.
we some Tune ago published extracts from
the speech of no less a parsonage than the
Vice-P President of the rebal confaderaey
Alex, H, Stephens, made in the Georgia
convention early in 1861, when that con-
! Ventlon had under consideration the oues-
ton of secession. In view of its opposite:
ness, we reproduce the testimony of this
noted southerner and present rebel who
can hardly be accused of prejudice in fa-
vor of tbe North. Other testimony might
be accumulated. For, however strange
it may seem, the southern rebels are often
more just to the North in this matter than
are their northern sympathizers. But
this, coming from the source it does.
ought to suffice. Mr.. Stephens said:
'e step secession, once taken, can
nes + be recalled, and all the baleftl and
whitening consequences that must follow
| (as they would see will rest on the Con-
ventlon for all coming time. When we
and our posterlty shall see our lovely South
desoated by the demon of war which this
act of yours will inevitably invite and call
forth, when our green fields of waving har-
vest shall be trodden down by the mur-
derous soldiery, the fiery car of war sweep
ing over our land our temples OF justice
laid IN ashes all the horrors of desolation
of war upon us !; who but this convention
will be held responsible for it e? and who
but him who shall have given his vote for
this unwise and ill-timed measure (as [
| honestly believe) shall be held to strict
account for this suicidal act, by the pres
ent generation, and probably cursed and
execrated by posterity for all coming time,
for the wide and desolating ruin that will
inevitably follow this act you now propose
to perpetrate.
Pause, | eGreat you, and consider for
moment what reason you can give that
will satisfy yourselves in calmer moments
what reasons you can give to your fellow
sufferers in the calamity that it will bring
upon us? What reasons can you give to
the nations of the earth to Justify it ? They
will be the calm and deliberate Judges in
the case! and to what case of one overt
act can you name or point, on which TO
rest the plea of Justification ? What right
has the North assailed What interest
of the South has been invaded ? What
justice has been denied and what claim
founded in justice and right has been with
held Can either of you to-day name one
Governmental act of wrong, deliberately
and purposly done by the Government at
Washington, of which the South has a
right to complain? | challenge the an
swer.
Now, for you to attempt to overthrow
such Government as this, under which
we have lived for more than three-ouarters
of a century-in which we have gained
our wealth, our standing as nation, our
domestic safety-while the elements of
peril are around US, with peace and tran
guilty accompanied with unbounded prop
erty and rights unassailed--is the hight of
madness, folly, and wickedness, to which
| can neither lend my sanction nor nv
vote.