The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1864-07-29
The Rebellion IneXcusable.
By ALEXANDER II. STEPHENS.

II is we'll known that Alexander ii Stephens.
Low Vice-Presden, Of the Conf,dcraoy, at first
set hin elf 1csolu,ey against The rebellion. Ills
utteranccs at that 'ruc, 80 tcn.b!y conhtmed by
what has siI.. ar Il place, deserve record as
showing It's utterly IncXcusaJ!e folly and guilt
We think we have printed his speech before, but
some may not have read It at all. aid others WI!
be glad to rcpeIuse II, noting the gradual ana
certain fulfilling Of hi, worst predictions IL
the Georgia convention of January, 1861, pend
ing the question Of secession, lie laid
This step CAGE taken can neye; be re-
called and all the baneful consequences
that must follow, will rest on tie convention
for all coming time. When we and our pos
terity shall see our lovely South desolatrd
by the demon of war. which this act OF yours
will inevitably invite and cali forth; wnen
Uur green fields of waving harvests shall be
'roGden down by the murderous soldery
and fiery Car Of war sweeping over our land,
OH temples Of justice laid in ashes, all the
horrors and des0latlOES ot war upon Us, who
bat tA.s convention will be held responsible
for it, and who but lie lhat shaI. give his
Vote Tor this unwise and i,l-timed measure,
sua be held to strict account for this suclL-
q. 4cl by tAr present generation, and prob
ably cursed and extcrated by posterity in all
coming time, for the vide and desolating ru
Va that will inevitably follow this act you
OK propose to perpetrate ?
Pause, | eutreat you, and consider for q
n.ome;t what reasons you can give that Will
eHeFt satisfy yourselves in ealmer moments,
what reasons You can give 20 your fellow
sufferers in the calamity that it will bring.
What reasons can you give to the nations OF
Tie earth to Justify 1t ?
They will be the calm and deliberate
-lgeo in tue case; and to what cause, or
one overt act, can you point, on which to
rest the plea of justification? What rights
has the North assaiIed What interest OF
tie South has been invaded What justice
Las been denied, or what clam, founded in
Justice and right, has been withheld? Can
any OF you to-day name one governmental
act of wrong deliberately aud purposely
done by the government at Washington
Of which the South has right to complain
challenge the answer.
On the other hand, let me show the facts
Of which ! wish you to Judge; and | vii
ouly state facts, which are clear and undeni
able, and ich now stand as records authen
tic IN the history of our country. When WI
OF the South ucmanded the slave trade, o
the importation Of Africans for the cultlva
ton OF our lands, did they not Vi Id the righ
for twenty years When We asked for
three-iitths representation il Congress 70
our slaves, was II not g.ar,,ds When "
demanded the return Of any fugitive iron
Justice, or the recovery O. those Persons cg
'ng labor or allegiance, was Il not ncorpor
led in the Constitution, and again rattle
and strengthened in the Fugitive Slave La
. 1850? When we asked that mote terr
try should he added that We nigh! spree
liz Institution OF slavery, have they h
Welded 70 our demands in giving Louisan
J.. rila and Texas, out of which four stat
lave been carved, and ample territory
!our more TO be added in due time, if 20
ythis unWise and impoi,ic act, do not d
''roy this hope, and perhaps By it lose a
and have your last slave vrenched from "
by stern military rule, as South America al
@eAco were, or by the yindietive decree