The Portland daily press., 1863-11-30
Northern DisIoyaIty rebuked by Southern
Rebel.

hCDChs
ALEXANDER II. STEPHENS is man whose name
is familiar to the American people Formerly,
as southern leader of the Wing party, he was
second only to Henry Clay-when that party
was in hezenith of its glory Mr.. Stephens, on
the disruption of the Wing party, became a
leader of tine Democratic hosts, and his power
was never denied, and his patriotism was ever
conceded till his final false step in the direction
of rebellion. lie was a member of the Georgia
Convention that passed the ordinance of seces-
sion; he opposed that movement in a powerful
speech which we give below for the second time
in our columns, but subsequently fell in with
the current of treason and accepted the Vice
Presidency of the so-called Confederacy, for
which he has since battled with zeal worthy
of a better cause. We invite a careful perusal
Of the speech referred to, as it triumphantly re-
flutes the thrice-told tale Of copperhead politi-
cians-that the rebellion was caused by the out
RACES perpetrated upon the South by the people
of the North and the disregard OF the Constitu-
ton BY the Congress and Government of the
United States. This able speech, be it remem-
bered, was delivered long after Mr.. Lincoln's
election, but before his inauguration Referring
to the proposed secession of his state, Mr.. Ste
phens said:
That this step, once taken, could never be re-
called; and all the baleful and whitening conse-
quences that follow will rest ON the Convention
for all coming time. When we and our posterity
shall see our lovely South desolated by the
demon of war, which this act of yours will in
eyitably invite and call forth; when our green
fields Of xwaving harvests shall be troddcn down
By the murderous soldiery and fiery car of war
sweeping over our land; our temples of justice
laid in ashes; all the horrors and desolations of
war upon us; who but this Convention will be
held responsible for it, and who but him who
shall have given his vote for this unwise and ILL
timed measure shall be held to strict account for
this suicidal act by the present generation, and
probably cursed and execrated by postcrity for
all coming time, for the wide and desoiating
ruin that will inevitably follow this act you now
propose to perpetrate?
Pause, entreat you, and consider for mo-
ment what reasons you can give that will even
satisfy yourselves in calmer moments - what
reasons you can give to your fellow sufferers in
the calamity that il will bring upon us. What
reason can you give to the nations of the earth
to justify it? They will be the calm and DELHI
crate judges in the case and to what cause or
one overt act can you point, on which to rest
the plea of justification, What right has the
the North assaled? What interest of the South
HIS Dteu luNdutu. W nat justice mas Deeu QenleQI
and what claim founded in justice and right has
been withheld? Can either of you to-day name
one governmental act of wrong deliberately and
purposely doHe by the Government of Washing
ton, of which the South has right to complaint
challenge the answer. While, on the other
hand, let me show the facts, tand believe me,
gentlemen, am not here the advocate of the
North, but am here the friend, the firm friend
and lover of the Sonth and her institutions and
for this reason speak thus plainly for yours,
mine, and every other mans interest, the words
of truth and soberness,) of which wish you TO
Judge, and will only state facts which are clear
and undeniabe, and which now stand as records
authentic in the history of our country
When we Of the South demanded the slave
trade, or the importation of Africans for the
cultivation of our lands, did they not Weld the
right for twenty years. When we asked three
ffths representation in Congress for our slaves
Was it not granted? When we asked and de-
manded the return Of any fugitive from Justice,
or the recovery of those persons owing labor or
allegiance. was it not incorporated in the Con-
stitutionY and again ratified and strengthened
in the Fugitive Slave Law of 1857
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 they may have done so:
but not by the sanction of Government; for that
has always been true to Southern interests.
Again, gentlemen, look at another fact: when
We have asked that more territory should be
aaaeo' tna' we might spread me institution of
slavery, nave they not yielded TO our demands
ana gwen US LOUISIANA, f!orda and Texas, out
Of which four states have been carved, and am
PIE territory Tor four more to be added in due
time, II you oy tins unwise and impolitic act do
not destroy tins hope, and, perhaps, by it lose
all, ana nave your last slave wrenched from you
by stern military rule, as South America and
Mexico were; or by the yindictiye degree of
universal emancipation which may reasonably
be expected to follow!
put, again, gentlemen, what have We to gain
DIV thus proposed change OF our relation to the
general government We have always had the
control, ana can yet, II we remain in it, and are
rs united as we have been. We have had a ma
Jority OF the Presidents chosen from the South,
AZ well as the control and management of those
chosen from the North. We have had sixty
years OF Southern Presidency to their twenty
four, thus controlling the Executive department.
30 Qf the Judges of the Supreme Court, we have
had eighteen from the South, and but eleven
from the North; although nearly four fifths of
the judicial business has arisen in the Free
states, yet majority Of the Court has always
been from the South. This we have required so
as TO guard against any Interpretation of the
Constitution unfayorable to us. In like manner
we have been equally watchful to guard our in
terests In the Legislative branch of government.
In choosing the presiding Presidents (pro fem.
OF the Senate, we have had twenty-four they
eleven. Speakers of the House, we have had
twenty-four and they twelve. While the major
ity OF the Representatives, from their greater
population have always been from the North,
yet We have generally secured the Speaker, be-
cause he, to great extent, shapes and controls
the lapisiatiOn of the COUNTRY Nor haze 49,,