Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1864-04-06
Murtb- Cmuliua Stuuhurh'

Slullualu
Abstract of the Speech of Hon. A. H. stephens
The Columbus (Ga) " Times" publishes <n g! io.-
loving abstract of speech delivered oy VICE
pres;dsnt Stenhens in the hall of the mouse OF hep.
resentatives, at Milledgeville onSW ednesdsy eve
ming March 10Th, 1864: ,5.r y,
Mr.. Stephens began bs speech az the nour u hg
P NJ and closed q 1920. The hai ~ss 'a a;,;zaus
generally ,aerc being among the latter many LADIES'.
Sl seGRed anxious to get another sight OF one
1ul1om the people of Georgia had often honoreo ana
70 whom they had often looked for counsel 10 times
Of peril. He had entered at an early hour IN COM
many with his EScellency the Governor OF georgia
and had not been observed until he aseenaeo 'ie
Sneakers stand. Then there was burst Oh nearly
applause that seemed to come from all Ptesem.
testifying how truly, and with Whas res"'u ne was
He.b began BY saying that his object was to speak
on the state Of public affairs at this present crisis.
The time had passed when the measures wplcn
brought nm the war should be discussed; the great
question to bexietermned by legislators was the
proper outstanding and management OF all the re,
sources of the country. The country was ensironea
by dangers and peris within and without, ous
though the times were perilous he did not regards
the cause as hopeless. If true to ourselves and TO
our cause we must ultimately succeed
The enemy had not US yet inflicted any vital blow
on our interests though they gained some important
advantages, the chief of which was their success
from their gunboats. We could not resist tneir
attacks successfully from this source any more tnan
lion could successfully attack q shark. IL askeu
whether we should ultimately triumph, his reply
would be yes, thousand times yes, if we properly
managed the resources of the country.
On the currency question he did not lnteno TO
speak further than to say that he regarded 1t as an
unwise measure, though it might have been the
best that could have been adopted with the conflict
ing opinions on the subject.
On the Military Act-the second Conserlption
Act as he termed the was more severe He
thought it put too large portion of the lighting
men IN the field. Only one third of the lighting
men of country, it had been demonstrated by
history could be safely put in the held. Whenever
this proportion was exceeded there was danger to
the country in long wars, from the want OF means
of subsistence of the army. He feared that SUM-
Gent regard had not been paid to the TACT wnen tue
bill was under consideration. As to the question
assumed in the Act that all the mechanical, manu-
featuring and agricultural labor of the country
could be-put under the control of the President,
that was question left for the Courts to determine,
and he would be satisfied with their decision
The next important question that would De sub.
mitted to the Legislature was the act suspendlng
Congress had the power to suspend that writ by an
implied grant in the Constitution, it did not have
the power to do that which the act did, which was
to authorize the of persons without charge
being made against them oath or affirmation, OF
probable cause of some person. That right Con
gress had not the power to take away, for 1t was
expressly granted in the Constitution The act
contained thirteen specifications, in any one Of which
the writ might be suspended. There was no need
Of the act so far as concerned persons guilty OIL
being spy, of treason, or of cutting telegraph
wires. The entire spirit CT unity of the people ia
The prsasoason of this war; forbid the entertaining
Of anyAsh opinon. 1t could have reference to but
class which is styled persons seeking to avoid
military service.
The great liability to abuse of this power, so fal
as that class of persons is concerned, was: dwell
upon with great earnestness and force Instances
we're advanced in which the power would be likely
to be abused. One was the case of a man who wa!
put into military service in the field whom tn
family record and other evidences showed to b
above forty'fveyears Of age, because under recen
order the persons age had to- be computed accord
ing to the last census, and the person referred t
had had bis age wrongfully given in. Anothe
instance was adduced of person seeking to get hi
son into the army as volunteer, IS under the &C
Ire had right to do, and having that son suddenl
arrested and put into prison as seeking to avoi
military service"
Mr.. S. thought it the duty of the Legislature t
give public expression to their opinion as the mos
likely to effect the repeal of the act by the mex
Congress. lie favored the free expression Of opir
i"n, and thought it as much duty to disapprove
measure that is wrong, as to approve Of one that
right
he considered the great question involved in tt
war to be independence and constitutional bert
Without one he did not want the other. He wou
lot desire to survive the defeat of either.
Elk PRESIDENT FnLNoRE ON TIE WAR-Tl
Northern papers bring US the first expression
opinion on the war that we have seen from Millaa
Fillmore. At the opening Of the great Central Fai
asSt James Hail. Buffalo, he is reported to ha,
spoken as follows: -.
Three years-of civil war have desolated the fai
est portion of our land : loaded the country vii
an epormo,is oeht that the sweat of millions y
unborn must 6e taxed to pay; arrayed BROTH
assinst brother and father against sen in mort
conflict; deluged our country with fratcrnal blooc
whitened our battle-felds with the bones of Il
slain, and darkened the sky with the pail of mour
i~g Yet these appalling calamities- which as y
have touched our city more lightly than any 9th
in the land-have imposed upon us new dutie
which must be promptly met and generously di
Charged, and new bordens which must be patient
q. ard cheer(ully borne.
We cannot, in our humble capacity, control IL
events Of this .desolatng war. We hear its thu
ders and mark the track of desolaton, and we mu
meet the emergency as best we can but never de
p:r of the republic 1t is no time now to inqu
whether it might have been avoided Let tho
who seek light on this subject read Washington
Farewell Address. Nor are we now to crticise IL
conduct OF those who control, it, awarding prais
hee and bestowing eensure there The imparti
historian viii! do this when the passions engendere
by the strife have cooled, and partisan prejudice
petty jealousles malignant envy and intrigu,n
selfish ambition shall be laid in the dust, and it
hoped, buried in oblivion. And much less are v
called upon to predict when or how this war wi
end. Let those who seek light en- the subject rea