The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1863-07-10

Stephens, Vice.President Of the 30
called Confederate States, delivered
in the Secession Convention Of Geor.
gia, January, 1861.
This step, the secession Of Georgia,
once taker, can never be recalled; and
all the baleful and withering consequen-
ces that must follow, (as you will see,
will rest on the Convention.for all coming
time. When we and our posterity shall
See our lovely South desolated by the de.
mon of war which this act Of yours will
inevitably invite and call forth when our
green fields Of waving barvests shall be
trodden down by The murderous soldierv
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 il =? and who but
him who shall give bis vote for this un-
wise and ill-lImed measure as l honestly
think and believe, shall be held to strict
account for tbs suicidal act, by the pres
ent generation, and probably cursed and
exeora:ed bv posterity for all coming time.
for the wide and desolaling ruin that will
inevitably follow this act you now propose
to perpe,ua;e?
Pause, entreat you. and consider for
a moment what reasons you can give that
will even satisfy yourselves in calmer
moments what reasons can YOU give 10
yonr fellow sufferers Ia the calamity that
1t will bring upon US ? what reasons can
you give TO the nations of the earth to Jus.
iify it? They will be the calm and delib-
crate judges in the case and TO what
cause or one overt act can you point, on
which to rest the plea Of justification Z?
What right has the North assailed ?
What interest Of the South has been in.
vaded ? What justice has been denied
and what claim founded in justice and
right has been withheld? Z? Can either Of
you to-day name one government: act Of
wrong, deliberately and purposely done
by the government at Washington, o,
which the South has right to complain
challenge the answer! While. on The
other hand, let me point you 10 The facts
land believe me gentlemen. am not her,
the advocate OF the North but am her,
the friend. the firm friend and lover o
the South and her institutions. and fo
this reason l thus speak plainly and faith
fully, for yours. natne. and every other
mans interest. the words Of truth and So
berness. o! which wish you to Judge
and will; only state facts which are cleal
and undeniable, and which now stands al
records authentic in the history of oui
country.
When we Of the South demanded the
slave trade, or the importation Of Afri
cans for the cultivation Of our lands, did
they not yield the right for twenty years
When We asked three filths representa-
lion in Congress for our slaves. was il no
granted =? When we asked and demanded
the return ofauy fugitive from justice, OF
the recovery Of these persons owing labor
or allegiance, was il not incorporated in
the Constitution 2 and again ratified and
Strengthened in the Fugitive Slave Law
Of 1850?
But do you reply. tha, in many instan.
ces they have violated this compact, and
have not been faithful 10 their engage
ments ? AS individuals and local com mu.
nj les 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 added, that we might spread
The institution Of slavery, have they no
yielded 10 our demands in giving US Lou
isiana, Florida and Texas, out of which
four States have been carved, and ample
territory for four more 10 be added in due
time. il you by this unwise and impolitIc
act. do not destroy this hope, and. per.
haps, by it lose all. and have your last
slave wrenched from you by stern militia.
ry rule. as Sonth America and Mexico
were or by the vindictive decree Of u
niversal emancipation. which may reason.
ably be expected 10 follow?
But, again, gentlemen, what have we
10 gain by this proposed change OF our re.
latiou TO the general governments We
have always had the control oi it, and can
yet. If we remain in it, and are as united
Ms we nave Uten. we nave mac mbJOT'
ity Of the Presidents chosen from the
South as well as the control and man
agement of most Of those chosen from the
North. We have had sixty years o.
Southern Presidents 10 their twenty -FOUR
thus controlling the Executive department
So Of the judges of the Supreme Conrt
we have had eighteen from the South
and but eleven from the North although
nearly four-fihhs of the Judicial business
has arisen iu the Free States, yet a ma.
jority Of the Court has always been from
The South. This we have required SO as
to guard against any Interpretation of the
Constitution unfavorsble 10 us. In like
manner we have been equally watchful tc
guard our interests 10 the Legislative
brapnh OF the government. In choosing
the presiding Presidents pro tenn, } o
the Senate, we have had twenty.four tt
their eleven. Speakers Of the House. W.
have had twenty.thiee, and they twelve
While the majority Of the Representa-
tives. from their greater population, have
. always been from the North. yet We have
+ so generally secured the Speaker. because
he, 10 great extent. shapes and controls