The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1863-08-21
D, fure ihs wst--spccch of Alex. ~
Stephens.

81. W M NSlyNN'.i 'NfS"tfN' " N''N
following speech delivered in tie
Georgia Convention, by A. II. Stcph !
ems, now the Vice President of the
Confudelitcy Sir Stephens opposed
Secession to the very last, and the
following speech was made in TIE
Convention that voted the State out
of the Inion. lie was afterwards
forced into Secession, but he has let
upon record n most triumphant win.
dicatiop of the Government, and u
complete demolition Of the preiences
of the Secessiomsts. Read it care
fully, aud hand 1t to your Democrat.
ic nelghbor who believes that the
Sorth had just cause for rebellion.
This step, once taken, could never.
I've recalled; and ali the baleful and
wthering Consequences that must fol-
(as they would sce) mustrest on the
Convention for MI coming time.---.
When We and our posterity shall see
our lovely South dcsolatcd by the de
mon of war; which this net of yours
will inevitably invite and call forth;
when our green fields Of waving har-
vest shall be trodden down Ivy the
murderons soldiery and fiery car of
war sweeping over our land; our tenn
pies Of Justice laid in ashes; and the
horrors and desolations of war upon
us; who but this Convention will be
held responsible for ity And vino but
him who shall have given his vote for
this unwise and ill-timed measure, rs
! honestly think and believe, shall I've
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
Nide and desolating ruin that will in
ry.tably follow this act you now pro
pose to perpctratc? Pause, entreat
you, and consider for Il moment what
reasons you can give that will even
sfyyourselyes in calmer moments
What reasons you can give to yOul
fcllow sufferers ia the calamity thai
it will bring upon us. What reason,
ran you give to the nations Of th'
earth to justify itg They will be the
calrn and deliberate judges in tht
case: and to what cause or one over
act can you name or point, on whicl
right has the North assailedg Wha
interest Of the South has been iHyNdoC
by it, What justice has been denied
And what claim founded in iustic,
and right, has been withheld? Cal
either of YOU today name one govern
mental act Of wrong, deliberately anC
purposely done by the Government
of Washington, of which the Soutl
has right to complain. l challcng,
the answer.
While, on the other hand let M
show the facts (and believe me, gen
tlenen, | am not here the advocate o
the North; but | am here the friend
the firm friend and lover Of the Soutl
and her Institutions, and Tor this rcas
on ] speak thus plainly and faithful,
oryouts, mine, and every other man
interest, the words of truth and sober
messy Of which wish you to Judge
and i viii only state facts which ar
clear and undeniable, and which nov
st4nd q rAae,s gt'eS.i "a. - .is1 d liz sii
South demanded the slave trade, o
the importation OF Africans for til,
cultivation Of our lands, did they no
weld the right for twenty years?-
When we asked a thrcc-tilths represel
tation in Congress for our slaves, wa.
IT not granted; When we asked an,
demanded the return Of any fugitive
from justice, or the recovery of those
persons owing labor or allegiance
was it not Incorporated In the Consti
tuition, dHiiagain ratified and strength
ened in the Fugitive Slave Law OF
1897. But do you reply that In many
Instances they have violated this com
pact, and have not been faithful to
their engagement? AS in individual
and local communities they may have
done so, but not by the sanction OF
the Government, for that has alwayt
been true TO SouIhern interests.
Again gentlemen, look at another
fact; when we have asked that moro
territory should be added, that We
might spread the institution of Slave
ry, have they not yielded to our de.
mands in givingus Louisiana, Flori,
ea and Texas, out of which four State
have been cai ved, and ample terrific.
ry for four more to be added in due
time, ifyou by this unwise and ilnpo
litic act do not destroy this hope, anu
perhaps, ny n loose all, and have youl
last slave wrenched from you by ster
military rule, as South America anc
Mexico were, or blythe vindicativC
decree of q universal emancipation
which may reasonably be expected e
follow. Bat again, gentlemen, wha,
have we TO guin by this proposed
change OF our relation to the general
Government? We have always had
the control Of it, and can vet, if VIC
remain in it and are rs united as VIC
have been We have hrd emaiority
of the Presidents chosen from th,
South, as wei AZ the control and man
agement ofm'st cf those chosen from
the North. We have sixty years O
Southern Presidents TO thtir is enty
four, thus controlling the Executive
DpDartment So or thp JudoraS nf H.,