Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1863-04-17
Testimony OF Alex. II. stephens.

. Our readers are, OF course, well aware
I that in the early stages Of the secession
movement, Mr.. A. II. Stephens of Geor
gia, the vice president Of the southern. con.
federacy, was an earnest and ardent Unor
man, but finally yielded to the wave Of Sc
cessicn which enveloped The South. The
last speech of Mr.. Stephens, in the Georges
convention which took that State out o.
the Union, is a most complete vindication Of
the North. II silences all democratic allies
of the traitors, whose great argument is
that the North had invaded the rights Of
the South. He brands them all as liars.
He charges the civil war with all its horrors
solely upon the South. He leaves the trail
tors not a shadow Of an excuse. This
speech was made in January, 1851, in which
he foretold with astonishing minuteness,
the terrible consequences, precisely as they
have since come to pass, even to the proc
lamation Of freedom to the slaves. This
speech has now become most important
document for public lecturing or use in pri-
vate conversation, and we therefore publish
II. Speaking on the passage of the ordi-
nance OF secession. he said:
"That this step once taken. con'd never
be recalled; and all the baleful and wither-
ing consequences that must follow. Gas they
would see.) will rest on the Convention for
all coming time. When we and orr pos.
teritv shall see our lovely South desolated
! by the demon of war which this act of
yours will inevitably invite and call forth ;
when your green fields of waving harvests
shall be ;rodlen down BY the murde, Gus
soldiery and fiery car of war sweeping
over our land orr temples OF Justice laid
If ashes; all The horrors and desolarions of
war upon us who hut this Convention will
be held responsible for it? aud who bu,
him who shall have given his -ote for this
unwise and illin ed measure, las honest
ly think and believe.) shall be held to strict
account for this suicidal act. by the present
generation. and probably cursed and ex-
ecratrd by posteritv for all coming time
for the wide and deso'ating ruin that will
inevitably follow this ae' you now propose
to perpetrate?
Pause, entreat yor. and consider for n
moment what reasons you can give that
will even satisfy yourselves in calmer mo
ments-what rrasonssvou can give to your
fel'ow-sutferers in the calamity that It will
bring upon us !? What reason can yon
give to the nations of the earth to ipstify
it They will b. the calm and deliberate
judges in the case! and % what cause or
one overt act can you name or point. on
Which TO rest the plea Of Justification ?
hat right has The North assaied Whar
interest of the Souh has been invaded !?
What justice has been denied? and what
claim founded in Justice and right has been
--'hhoe,u Gan erther OF yon TO div name
one governmental act of wrong. deliberate
ly and purposely done bv the government
OF Washington. of which the South has
a right TO complain? challenge The ans
wer! While. on the other hand lei me
show the facts, land believe me. gentlemen.
am not here the advocate of the North
but am here the friend, the firm friend
and lover of the South and her institutions.
and for this reason / peak thus plainly
and faithfully fer yours, mine, and every
other mans interest. the words of truth
and soberness.)of which wish you to Judge.
aud | will only state facts which are clear
and undpnable, and which now stands as
records authentic in The history of our coun-
try.
When we of the South demanded the
slave trade, or the importation of Africans
for the cultivation of our lands. did they |
not yield the right for twenty years !? When
we asked three-ffihs representation in
Congress for our slaves, was it not granted /?
w hen we asked and demanded the return
Of any fugitive from justice. or the recovery
of those persons owing labor or allegiance.
WAS it not Incorporated in the Constitution ?
and again ratified and strengthened in the
Fugitive Slave Law of 1850?
But do you reply that in many instances
they have violated this compact, and have
not been faithful TO their engagements ?
As individuals and local communities thew
may have done so; but not by The sanction
OF government; for that has always been
true to Southern interests. Again, gentle
men, look at another fact when we have
ked that more territory should be added,
hat we might spread the institution of
slavery, have they not yielded to our de-
hands in giving us Louisiana, Florida and
lrxas, out of which four states have been
'arved, and ample territory for four more {
% be added in due time, if you by this I'M
wise and impolilic act do not DESTROY this
hope, and perhaps. by its lose all, and have
your last slave wrenched from you by stern
Military rule, as South America and Mexico
we're; or by the tindicttre decree of a ~
a,rersot emancipation, sch,ch may ,easoaa- |
'ty be erpectedto .follo,o.
But, again. gentlemen, what have we TO