Delaware State journal and statesman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1855-1870, 1863-05-08
The Truth told by a Traitor.
TESTIMONY OF
ALEXANDER IL. STEPHENS.

Hho IS responsible for lie Cipa ITor2-A Conn
Pitte Eradication u tie NORTH by The Tice Pge-
affnt Of the Coe'eieracV Of Eidaeppers.
The following extract is from a speech Of Alex-
auder H. Stephens, in the Convention that
took Georgia out of the Union, January, 1861.
1t silences all Democratic allies Of kidnappers and
traitors in the North. Tho great argument used
by them in New York, Pennsylvania, Iudiana and
Illinois is, that the North had invaded the rights
OF the South Stephens brands them all MS liars.
lie charges the civil var. with all its horrors,
solely on the South. He leaves the traitors not
shadow Of an excuse. NJ declares on the floor
of the Convention, called to vote Georgia out
Of the Union, and plunge it into the impossible
anu b"ttomess gulf Of secession anarchy and
ruin that the curses Of the civilized world and
poslerity to the lOtest generation would fall upon
the miscreant authors Of the supendous folly
and wiekedness Of secession. lie says:
"Ihat this step once taken, could never bc
recalled and all, the baleful and whitening CON
sequences must follow, las they could see,l will
rest on the Convention for all coming TINA
| When wo and our nosterity shall see our lovely
South desOlated by the demon Of war which this
oct Of yours vii inevitably invite aud call forth
when our greeA fields OF waving haryests shnll
lie trodden down by the murierous soldierly and
merry car OF war sweeping over our land our
temples OF justice laid in ashes; all the horrors
aud desoatiOns of war upon US; who hut this
| Convection will be held responsible for it? and
whe hut him WIN shall have given his vote for
this unwite and i'll timed measure las honestly
think aud betieve,) shall be held to strict account
FOR this suicidal act by the present generation,
mud n slnhltf 81.
Tor "ll coming time, for the wide and desolatiug
ruin that will inevitably follow this act you now
ptopuse to perpetrAte?"
lie next pleads with nil tue force of eloouence
md l'athos with these destroyers of The nations
hopes 10 pause before they put the knife to the
'h'o"t of the Republic and destroy forever the
most sacred rights Of man and tue dearest inter-
esls OF America. And while thus speaking be
rte counts some Of the special injuries the much
amused South has been forced to submit to, and
which have Driven her to rebel against the hand
that fustered and favored herr
\ "Pause, l entrent you, and consider for n mn
mcnI what reasons you can give that will even
sntlsiy yourselves in oalmer moments - Whnt
REASONS you eau give TO your fellow sufferers il
\ the calamity that it will bring upon US? VIVA
reasons you can give to the nations OF the eattI
to justify III They will be the calm and deliber
ate Judges IN the case! and to what cause or on.
overt act can you name or point on which TO rea
F the plea of justifcationy What right bas m,
North assailedy What interest Of the South ha,
4 been invadedy What justice has been dened
K and what claim founded in Justice and right ba,
been withheldH Can either of you TODAY nam,
4 one governmental act Uf wrong deliberatelv and
) purposely done by the government of Washing
n rhn kaH Hoo.
X challenge the answer! While on the otbei
hand, let me show the facts land believe me
+ gentlemen, am not here tie advocate of tn,
! I north but am here the friend, the firm frien,
! anu lover Of the South and her institutions nm,
ior this reason speak thus plainly aud faithful,
> isr your, NINE, and every other mans interest
, zee words OF truth and sOberness of which
wish you to judge, and will only state fact
I winch are clear and undenihbe, and which nov
stand as records authentic in the history of an
< country.
I "When We Of the South demanded the ,lav
trade, or TIE importation of Africans for the enIti
walton of our lands, did they not yield the rich
y for twenty years! When we asked three GiIb
n representation in Congress for our slaves was
=. not granted When we asked and demand j,
the return of any fugitive from justice, or The
II recovery Of those persons owing labor or allegi
e anee, was il not incorporated in the Constitu
N ton and again ratified and strengthened in tn
u Fugitive Slave Law Of 1850?
"Do you reply that in many instances they hay
i violated this compact, and have not been faithful
q TO their engagements? As individuals aud locg
:, communities they may have done go but n OF b.
Il the sanction OF the government; for that has al
Q ways been true to Southern interests Again
q gentlemen, look at another fact; when we hay,
asked that more territory should be added, tba
L we might spread the institution of slavery. bay,
e they not yielded to our demands in giving u.