Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1863-07-22
a Sketch for the Times.
a TRUE PROPHET BUT FALSE NAN
The Results of Rebellion Foretold.

ALEXANDER II. STEPHENS was an earnest and
/ stannch opPoser 81 secession doctrines. He
could not fail TO see the inevitable conse-
+ quences of the measure, though by strange
/ hallucination he afterwards covered his eyes.
! Joined the infatuated company of conspirators
+ against government which he had Just ex-
onerated from all reproach, and lraped into
the very abyss of which he had inplored them
! to beware. Here in his speech dcliv red in
/ the Convention called to determine if Georgia
should secede, Mr.. Stephens said
| 'sThat this step once taken, could never be
recalled and all the baIeful and witherinr
consequences that must follow, (as they would
see,) will resi- on the Convention for all COM
ing time. " hen We and our posterity shall
see our lovely South desoIated by the demon
OF var which this act of yours will inevitably
invite and call forth when our green fields
of waving harvesis shall be trodden down bv
the murdcrous soldiery and fiery car Of war
sweeping over our land our temples of ius
tice laid in ashes; all the horrors and desola
tions of war upon rs; who bnt this Convep
tion will be held responsible for it and who
but he who shall have given his vote for this
unwise and ill-timed measure. (as honestly
think and belIeve,) shall be held to strict ac
count for this suicidal act, by the present gen
Grafton. and probably cur, ed and execrated
by posterity for all coming time, for the wide
and desolating ruin that will inevitably fol
low this act you now propose to perpetrate
Pause, entreat you, and consider for a mo-
ment what reasons you can give that will even
satisfy yourselves in calmer momepfs-what
reasons you can give to your fellow-sufierers
n the calamity that II will bring upon us
hat reasons can you give to the nations of
the earth TO Justify it They will he the calm
and deliberate judges in the case; and 70
what cause or one overt act can you name or
point, on which TO rest the plea of justifca-
fion7 What right has the North assaiIed |
What interest OF the South has been invaded |
" hat 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
done by the government of Wash
ington, of which the South has right to COM
plain / challenge the answer While, on
believe me, gentlemen, / am not here the ad
voca,e ofthe North; but am here the friend,
the firm friend and lover OF the South and her
institutions. and for this reason | speak thus
plainly and faithfully for yours, mine, and ev
cry other mans interest, the words of truth
ana soberness.) OF which wish you to judge
and will only state facts which are clear and
4 bi@- nd Iyh iPh d.
in the history of our country.
When we of the South demsnded the slave
trade, or the importation of Africans for the
cultivation of our Irnds, did they not yield
he right for twenty years7 When asked
, three fiftbs representation il Congress for
bur slaves, was it not granted When we
asked and demanded the return of any fugi-
i've from justice, or the recovery of those per.
sons owing labor or alleg lance, was it not in
;orporated in the Constitution, and again rat
fled and strengthened in the Fugitive Slave
Law of 1852
But do you reply that in many instances
hey have violated this compact. and have not
,een faithful to their engagements AS in
lividuals and local communities they may
lave done so but cot by the sanction of the
for that has always been true to
Southern interests Again, gent lemen, look
Il another act when we have asked that more
erritory should be added, that We might
presd the institution of slavery, have they
lot yielded to our demands in giving us Lou
siana Florida and Texas, out of which four
states have been carved, and ample territory
or four more to be added in due time, if you
j. this unwise and impoiitic act do not de-
troy this hope, and, perhaps, by II lose ALL
nd have your last slave wrenched from you
" stern military rule, as South America and
fexico were; or by the vindictive decree of
universal emancipation, which may reasona-
ly be expected to follow
But. again, gentlemen what have we to gain
v this proposed change of our relation to the
eneral governments We have always had
be control of it, and yet. if we remain in
|. and are as united as we have been. We
ave had msority Of the Presidents chosen