Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1863-07-24
speech OF Alex. S Stevens against Sc
cesSion.

CeeSlon.
The following extract. Is from a speech
made by Alex ;. stephens Of Georgia. in
the Hall Of Representative in Georgia.
Nov. Il. Is6l.l
A" losk uPoa this country. With our IN
stItutions. a. the Eden Of the world. the par
adisc ofthe universe. IL NAV be that out 81
q We may become grcaier and more pros
porous. bat l am candid and sinccro. IN tel
ling you that fear il W. rasbly eyincc pas
sion. and without sufficient cause shall take
that step. that instead of becoming greater
or more peaceful. prosperous. and happy
instead Of becoming gods. We Will become
demons. and al NO distant day commence
cutting one another's throats This l. nv
Apprehension. Let u. therefore. wha.cYer
NC DO. meet these d fIicultics. great a. i....y
are. like wise and sensible men. ami con
sider ihem in the light Of all the con.cqucn-
ces which NAV attend our action. I.et us
see first clearly where the path II daiv
Leads. ard then NC may not fear 10 walk
therein
lie then proceeded 20 meet and refute
the popular Argument in favor q secession
IN these direct and plain words.
90 be first question that presents itself
D.. Shall the people Of the South seccde
from the Union IN consequence OF the elrc-
ton Of Mr.. Lincoln % the Presideuey the
United States? Ny countryrnen. I tell YOU
frankly. candidly and earnestly. that / DO
not think that they ought. In my juds-
ment. The election Of no nan. constitution
ally chosen % that high oifice. j, sufEcicn,
cause FOR any state 70 separate from the
Union. il ought % stand by and aid still
IN maintaining tie Constitution of the conn
try. To make a point Of resistance 20 the
Government. 90 withdraw from a. because
a man has been const.-utionaliy elected.
puts us IN the wrong. We are pledged -
maintain The constitution. Many ~ us have
sworn 20 support 10. Can sc therefore. for
the mere elyction oi a man to the Prr.iden-
cy-aud that too in aocorlancc with the
prescribed forms 81 che Con~titutiou-maLe
point q resistance 10 the Government
without becoming the breaker oftbat sa-
cred instrument ourselves. by withdrawn.
ourselves from IT, Would We not De M
ih- wrong Whatever fate b. 10 befall tIi.
country. lct it never De- laid q the cLarse
Of the people Of t.e South. and especially
% the people oi Georgia. that we we're un-
true to our national engagements. Let tLc
fault and the wrong rest upon otb,rs NJ
All our hopes are Co b- blasted. @ thc H.
public D. 90 60 down. lct us o. foand to ti,
last moment standing on th- deck. with the
Cou.ttlt,on oi tie Du.tcd states wagiu-
over oar heads. Let tic anatios of the
North break the Constitution. 10 .rch g..
their fell purpose. Let the responsibility
be- rplu them. ! shall speak presently more
~ their acts; but let not the south. lct us
not De the ones o. commit the aggression.
We went into the election with ibis people
The result was different from What We Wish
cd but the election has been constitution
ally hed. Were &c OBJ make a point of re-
sistance to the Government and .o oat of
the Union on thar aceount. the record would
be- made up hereafter against u..~
CouVrm,~ Jokr Las lmmcr. Brig
adler General p DIED at Coriafh. and
the burial vas esrcrH,enl,i ly General
Eo-caerans. uh9 sound. oa Dis arrival. no
fag provided to cover ODE coffin. al g. rl.-
tanary in military iafcrmonfs. a ra y
dressed aide. Cap,a.a s.. role at t.e.
Generals .ilc. and Obs satellite vls disc
patched Or the required au.rie Away
scut tle Captain ata fari1as rate. to thc
.umiacat danger oi lis ouu peek ani that
of aay h.kie.s ai-it so anisHrnstc as t0
De- ia bls path. ~o.n after OBJ. departure.
some orc. f1lessc.n- iie need. arrived With
"a ias and the ceremony proceeded Just
after ffe rr5r,...a a iaI started. 'he aile
came tLanIsrins np. ani making granl
f.urisa 81 saIate. a. Capt S. oaig
car. said
'. General the Gag is come
Ibe staff vas in tiucr bot loud glf .
fav neally oarri,d them 81. when Oii
Eo.y.~ quickly ani hoetiousiy replied
"Cap,ain. tlc procession IS went"
Tbe Captain. perhaps. " coalint see it. f.
but ho q" uiitsd.- and ever s.uoc. tAc men
ton o. aag pats him On netties.