Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1864-09-22
RUTLAND HERALD.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1854.
rn. Responsibility for ,he Rebel
lion,
.ypycu or ALEXANDER H, srBrHESs,

Southern reDelllOnj anu VINO COlupOHc
What is known as the copperhead demo-
eratic party, charge the guilty origin of
ehe war upon Northern denial of South
rn rights induced by abolition inter
neddliug' In the resolutions of their
opnventions, the speeches of their orators
md the editorials of their newspapers
|k is notoriously Northern men alone
pen who are striving to resist armed
reason and defend the Union-who re-
Rive all the denunciations due to those
Vho have plunged the country into this
Ggsntic, bloody, devastating war, while
De rebels who commenced it are treat
~ as the innocent defenders of violated
lights. This malignant perversion of
DC truth is so persistently INDUCED in /;
n is SO constantly made the staple of
Gpperhead productions the false accu-
|etion is 80 increasingly and unblush-
|hgly paraded by shameless Northern
{ nen in the face OF their loyal and law
|abiding fellow citizens, that frequent
nference to it becomes necessary to keep
&c unwary and unthinking on their
pard.
u Now we have, fortunately, perfect
ID uuanswerable defence to this whole
hfamous charge against loyal men we
bve a complete exposition of the utter
ouselessness of the rebellion, and a
complete justification of the course Of
Ae United States Government, from no
B. person than Alexander II. Ste
mems, the Vice President of the South
On Confederacy." We ask all democrats,
Who are open to conviction of the truth
b read this Southern testimony.
The speech was delivered by Mr.. Ste
pbens in the secession convention of
Georgia. few weeks before that state
nceded, and while the question of its
0cession was under discussion The
ornest and eloquent words in behalf oe
De Union, in vindicaHon of the North,
1Dd against secession, lose none of their
Nrce, because the speaker afterwards
= obmitted to follow his state into the
eomed rebel Coniederacy. Read, we
|oy, these words of Southern pro-
avery leader, now rebelVice President,
nd then tell us what is to be thought
oe Northern men who continually ma
uen their loyal fellow citizens as respon-
dbletor all the suferings and bloodshed OF
& war. Mr.. Stephens said
y This step (secession) once taken, can
ugrer be recalled and all the baleful
ooGsequences that must follow will rest
e the convention for all coming time.
When we and our posterity shall see our
hRely South desolated by the demon OF
2r, which this act of yours will inev-
lobly invite and call forth when our
| ceen fields of waving harvests shall be
todden down by the murderous sol
dery and fierce car of war sweeping
Ger our land our temples Of justice
Id in ashes, all the horrors and desola-
tpns of war upon US, who but this con-
4 {Untion will be held responsible for IT.
i Nd who but he that shall give his vote
ii this unwise and ill-timed measure
ikall be held to strict account for this
fSuscidal act by the present generation
I'D probably cursed and execrated by
Eposterity in all coming time, for the
II Wlde and desolating ruin that will inev
II ihbly follow this act you now propose
l y perpetrate.
r n
anoment what reasons you can givt
aat will even satisfy yourselves Ii
lmer moments, what reasons you car
I've to your fellow-sufferers in the ca
unity that it will bring. What rea
e1bs can you give to the nations of tn
nth to justify it They will be tn
eQm and deliberate judges in the case
k1ad to what cause, or one overt act, ca
y0u point on which to rest the plea O
ratification What right has th
prth assailed What interest of th
Deuth has been invaded7 What justic
Ans been denied, or what claim, founde
u justice and right, has been withheld
0n any of you today name one gov
oAme0tal act of wrong deliberately an
plrposely done by the government 9
I sshington, of which the South has
taShs to complain 2 challenge the al
On the other hand, let me show I'll
Cts OF which wish you to Judge.
III only state facts which are clear an
MGeniable, and which now stand 3
cords authentic in the history of OF
Qantry. When we of the South d
Anded the slave trade, or the import,
b Of Africans for the cultivation
1s lands, did they not yield the rigl
twenty years7 When we asked f,
bhree-nfths representation in Congre.
our slaves, was 1t not granted
hen we demanded the return of ar
Ritive from justice, or the recovery
Dse persons owing labor or allepianc
y 1t not incorporated in the Copstit
Rn, and again ratified and strengthe
in the Fugitive Slave law of 1885,
ben we asked that more terrific
puld be added that we might spre,
institution OF slavery, have they n
lded to our demands in giving Lou
~ Florida and Texas, out of viii,
states have been carved, and amr
H'tory for four more to be added
Time, If you, by this unwise q,
Polltic act, do not destroy this hor
Hp~Aaps oy 1t lose al, aud have 70