Charles City intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa) 1864-1866, 1864-09-29
The Rebellion,


The Rebellion.
When the rebel Vice President Ste
phens made his famous speech before
the Georgia Convention in 1860, he
expressly disavowed the existence Of
the causes of revolt that are now dai'
ly magnifed by the copperlead press
Speaking as a Southern man to South
ern men, on this very grave occasion,
he told the members of this Conven'
ton that the South had no reason to
complain Of the action of the United
States Government in the past, and
no reason for anxiety as to what il
might do in the future. He asked
them t"
What right has the North assailed? What
interest of the South has been invaded What
justice has been denieds and what claim
founded in justice and right has been with
heldf Can any of you to-day name one Gov
ernmental act of wrong deliberately and pur-
posely done by the Government at Washing
ton, of which the South has right to COM
plain! l challenge the answer
So far from the South having suffer.
cd any practical damage from what
the Coppcrheads term the meddlesome
spirit of the North, the boot was en-
tirely on the othrr leg. A State and
domestic institution of the South
which was of little advantage and
great damage to the North, was actu.
ally fustered ard sustained at the OK.
pensc of TIC North and by her soiun
tary action. AS Mr.. Stevens said
When we of the South demanded the slave
trade or the importation of Africans for the
cultivation of our lands, did they not yield
the right for twenty years? When we asked
a three-ffths representation in Congress fol
our slaves, was it not granted When we
asked and demanded the return of any fugi
tive from justice, or the recovery Of those per
sons owing labor or allegiance, was it not in
corporated in the constitution and agar
ratified and strengthened in the Fugitive
Slave law Of 1862
DO you reply that in many instances they
have violated this compact, and have moi
been faithful to their engagements As in
dividuals and local communities they ma,
have done so; but not by the sanction o
government, for that has always been true Il
southern interests. Again, gentlemen, lool
at another fact when we have asked tina
more territory should be added, that we nigh
spread the institution of slavery, have the,
not yielded to our demands, and given u
Louisiana. Florida and Texas, out of whicl
four States have been carved, and ample terri
tory for four more to be added in due time,
you 10y this unwise and impolitic act do no
destroy this hope, and, perhaps, by il lose al
and have your last slave wrenched from you
by stern military rule, as South America an,
a universal emancipation, which may reasona
bly, lie expected TO follow?
When finally the people Of thu
North found that concessions an.
sacrifices to slavery resulted in being
called on to make further and create
concessions, when they found tina
slavery, not contented with the vas
empire added to her domain by tn
blood and treasure of the whole coun
try, would exclude the free labor o
the North from the territories Of th,
Nation, they presented in perfect.
regular and constitutional manner
their ultimatum. They would not in
terfere with slavery where it was
but it must not extend over the con
mon national domain. This was TIL
whole extent of the infraciion Of tn
mind your own business maxim
Ivy which the Copperhead party see
to justify rebellion. No rights Of tn
southern States or people had bee
violated or were in danger of viola
ton. Every intelligent rebel kne,
this as well as Mr.. Stephens. VIII
solemnly warned bis section of tn
folly, causelessness and wickednes
of the war it was about to commenc
against the best government on eartl
Let us again contrast this view wit
that Of the Northern advocates of tn
rebellion. Said he
Now for you TO attempt TO overthrow sue
a government as this, under which we hav
lived for more than three-quarters Of centu
ry-in which we have gained our wealth, on
standing as a nation, our domestic safety
while the elements of peril are around us, wit
peace and tranquility, accompanied with un
bounded prosperity and rights unassailed--is tn
height of madness, folly and wickedness, I
which l can neither lend my sanction nor m
vote.