The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1863-10-03
=. II. Stevens TO the Georgia
Convention In 1851. :

I
| Convention In 1851. =
| -..+~.. -: -r2-E =. -.
That this step once taken could never
be recalled /; and NIL the baleful and With
eging consequences that must follow, AS
they would seel will rest on the ConVen-
ton for all coming time. When We and
our posteFity shall see our loveiy South
desolated by the demon of war which act
of yours will inevitably invite and call
forth when our green fields of waving
haryests shall be trodden down by the
| fnurderous soldiery and fiery car of war
| sweeping over our land: our temples of
/ Justice laid in ashes; all the horrors and
associations of war upon us; who but this
Convention will be held responsible for it?
| and who but he who shall give his vote
| for this unwise and iii-timed measure
/ las | honestly, think. and believe, shall
| be held to strict account for this suicidal
act, by the present generation, and prob
ably cursed and execrated by posterity.
for all coming time, for the wide and des-
olating ruin that will inevitably follow
this act You now propose to perpetrate?
I Pause, | entreat you, and consider for;
a moment what reasons you can give that
will even satisfy ourselves in ealmer mo-
Emants-what reasons YOU can give to. fell
low-sufferers in the calamity that it will
bring upon US ? what reasons can you
| give to the nations of the earth to justify
lit? They will be the calm and delibe.
rate judges in the case and to what
cause or one overt act can you name or
point, on which to rest the plea of justi-
fication What right has the North as
sailed? What interest of the South has
been invaded? What justice has been
denied? and what claim founded in JUS
tice and right has been withheld? Can
either of you to-day name one govern
! mental act of wrong, deliberately and
purposely done by the Government Of
Washington, of which the South has !
right to complain / challenge the an
| sWeF While, on the other hand, let me
show the facts, tand believe me gentle
men, / am not here the advocate of the
| North but | am here the friend, the
tirm friend and lover of the South and
her institutions, and for this reason /
speak thus. plainly and faithfully for
yours, aatiAe, and every other mans inter
est, the words of truth and soberness, J
of which wish YOU to judge, and | will
only state facts which are clear and UNI
| deniable, and which now stand as record
authentic in the history of our 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
| y'ars? When we asked q three-fifth>
| representation in Congress tor our slaves.
was 1t not granted? When we asked
and demanded the return of any fugitive
| from justice, or the recovery of thoat.
persons owing labor or allegiance, was il
mot incorporated in the Constitution:
and again ratified and strengthened II
the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850.
But do YOU reply that i'll many in>tan.
ces they have violated this compact, anG
:,gl have not been faithful TO their en-
gagemehts A. individuals and loca
communities they have done so but no,
by the sanction OF Government for tina;
/ has always b, ell true to Southern inter
| ests. Again, gentlemen, look at another
fact: when we have asked that more ter
! ritory should be added: that We mighi
spread the institution of slavery, have
! they not yielded to our demands in iv-
| ing us Louisiana. Florida and Texas. out
Of which four States have been carved.
and ample territory for four more to be
| added in due time, if you by this unwisc
and impoltic act do not destroy thiy
| hope, and, perhaps by it lose all, and
have your last slave wrenchcd from YOU
by stern military rule as South America
and Mexico were; or by the vindictive
decree of universal emancipation, which
may be reasonably expected to follow.
But. again, gentlemen. what have we
to gain by this proposed change of our
relation to the general Government =
! We have always had the control of it.
and can vet, if We remain in it. and are
as united as.we have been. We have
! he d majority Of the Presidents chosen
, rotn the South; as well as the control
and management Of most of those chosen
rom the North. We have had sixty
/ cars Of Southern Presidents to THEN
! fwcnty-four, thus controlling the Execu-
/ tive department.. So of the Judges OF
the Supreme Court, we have had eighteen
! from the south, and but eleven from the
! North although nearly four tifths of ju-
| dic!al business has arisen in the Free.
States, yet Al majority Of the Court has
! always been from the South. This we
have required SO as to guard against any
! interpretation OF the Constitution unia-
/ vorable to us. In like manner we have
been equally watchfuf to guard our inter
estS i'll the Legislative branch OF Govern
m"nt. In choosing the presiding Presi
J lrnts tpfo tt",l of the Senate we have
ha" twenty-tour to their eleven. Speak
u,,< of tire t:nuse we have had twenty
three to their twelve While the major
ity of the representatives,, from their
greater population, have always been
from the North. yet we have so generally
SECURED the Speaker, because he, to q
great extent, shapes and controls the
legislation of the country. Nor have
We had less control in every other depart
ment of the general Government. At
tornev Generals we have had fourteen,
while the North have Ind hut FIVE. For