Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1864-09-23
0AMRAIoN DooUMESrS.-No.
no EXCusR FOR REBELLIoN.

]
We have already published once or twice
since the war began, the extract below from
the great speech Of Alexander n. Stephens
the vice President Of the Southern Confeder.
aey. Ii was made 10 The Georgia Conven.
tion, in January, 1861 against the ordinance
Of secession. IL has never yet been answer
ed and never will be, because its statements
Of facts are such that il never can te. We
believe Il 10 be the best and most consise
statement Of the case yet made either north
or south. Read sgain. how early Mr..
Stephens foresaw the results that would fol-
low secession, even to the end and death OF
slavery. The wave Of secession which swept
over the south in 1861, finally carried Mr..
Stephens with il, bot hts speech still remains
as monument TO truth and the ruin and de-
solution Of the south. We believe that Mr..
Stephens 10 bis heart reyeres the old Gag
Of the Union, aud that he is kept down by
the relentless hand and power Of the slave
holders rebellion. The following is the
speech. Read II. every Union man, and re-
me mber the contents
This step (secession) once taken can never be re-
called aud all the baneful consequences that fo
low will rest on he conyenuoh i0r all coming ume
when We and ~ proper shall see DOR lovely seuth de-
viii inevitably invite aud call iouh when our green
helis Of waving h.tvests shat be uodden down By the
murderous souiery and den Of war sweeping over
our land our temples istce laid ashes, an The
horrors aud desoauon OF war upon US, but this
convention wall be held responsible for h. and
he that shall give hts for hls unWise and i timed
measure shs be held STREE account for this suicidal
act bj the present &c Grafton, aud probably aud
eNectated by plsierU iu all coming time for The vide
aud de- plating ruin that vii inevitably follow this
}ou now oplfe 90 petpetrate
PAlse. enueat you, and con,ider for smoment what
reason can give that will e,cn satisfy yourselves
aitt momeuts Nhat Tea on you can give your fello-
Heiers lu the calamity hat t will brii X Mhatteas
au you give TO tte ma ions Of the earth 10 jIsufy 1t
They all be the calm and deliberate dyes OF the c. Sc
aud % what cause overt act, oan you pont on
which 70 rest TIE plea of ls,hcatiou What sht has
the N-rtn assailed What interest Of the South has
cen il vadeo W hat Jlsteetas been denied, MIA
ia found in justice and r. ht ha been thLed
Can any yu tJ-day name enc governmental act Of
VT ng deli eistey AID p.rposey done Uy the govern
ment at Washington Of which the south has night TO
complain ! challenge the answer.
On he other md, let .e show the facts Of wuith
VII sou % judge will only ate facts which ear
theuuc in the hi tory Of ouutry When We Of the
south dem and The save trade or the importation Of
All csua of tne ult yauon o nur lands, cad they not
"a Id the right for twenty yearsi When We ask fr
thfeehtus prsseutauOui Ia Congress for oar slaves
va not srsutd When ~e .msnded the ietuln VI
an inGihN com justice or ihe recovery Of th's per-
sous owing abo VI ail giau it iucornof,led
IA tue COnsu Tito anu in rat hed aud Strengthened
iI thu Fugiv Slave law Of iojJ Wien W. 80 e. that
more titOry oud sddt "a that we m ght spfead
la ututou OF slavry have the, d,d % our de-
a,snds m wing Louisia A, Fionia AMI T,xu, out Of
winch four ats have 0ee carved, aud upe Territory
Tor o-i m"re u b. ode IN oue tae II you by tue uu-
wise and pgus Gct do de,roi th- hope aud pr
haJs by i lose ali, ana have your last slave nc ed
ifOm you by stern military rule, as south Am aud
Mexico wTe or by tue yindislve decree o. uoiverss;
emane patton, which may Tasoaaby be expected to ol-
low
But what we TO gain By ibis proposed change of
our relation 10 the leuefal gOytrume u We have al
way had the conlroI Of it am can Ct 4 ~e rema IA
and ate united - Ne hay, been. We have had d a.
IoTy OF the fiesidents CHOSEN rom tue oo-h vel
AS the cout a4d anaHemeut OF st Of thOs- oi
rom the Norih We lave hai Sky years OF Southtn
fIesileus % ther twenty fUu, thus conf0 iug thr
&c .'e department 50 Of he Judges Of The oupfeme
1Ouft W. have mad eighteen irom the South and but
: even from he NortA AIheis tffatly four.hfhs OF
ihcJ Idlclal bus ness has an eue 1e Satrs yet
nsJo iv Of he Court slways been from The South
TINS We have required as ~ guArd Aay inter.
retauon OF the Constitution unArorabe to US / like
manner We have been equally val hfu 70 guard
.erssts 10 the Legislative brauua Of government. L.
ehoosi, the presid' Presidents { TO. L, IN Of the
Senate we have had tive ty four 10 their eleven Speak
efs of the hou'e we have had ten ythr,e AMI they
Twelve VIII e the IA sj my oi repfos,ntaives from
,heir greater iotuiation, have always bee ON The
North, yet We have generally secured he Speaker be-
cause he 70 treat extent, hapes aud contrls the e-
.islatiou OF the cuuuuy.
Nor have We had less control n every other depart
ment II The general government OF Attorney Gene.
rails We we had fourtee7 Nhle the North have had
bat i've Oi For i-a dmntefs we have had eighty-sis
and they have hau hfy -fouI While three.fourtns
VI the business which demands diplomatic a4ents abroad
clearly from the free Staes from their greater com
mefcal interest, yet We have had the principal embas-
sies the world markets for our cotton
tobocco and sugar on the best possible We have
had i0rlty Of the hig officers Of both army
and navy while larger proportion " both soldiers aud
sailors drawn the North Equally SO of clerks
auditors and prohers filing Executive depart
nenti the record shoss for the last ~ yeas that OF
thee thousand thus employ have b ad more than
tNO-thrds OF the while have but oue-thrd of
the rhite population Of ,he republic Again look Al
another ltem 10 which have great and vital inter
cot, that Of revenue means Of supporting the govern
ment. From ofh,la documents we learn that htds
over threefIuhs of The collected for the sup
port Of tie government has uLioTmy been raised fOm
tue North.
Pause now while you an6 contem plate carefully
and ,andidiy these important Items Leaving out OF
view for the present the countless millions Of dollars
must expend IN with he North, with Of tn
sands OF your sons and brothers sa in battle and OsI
ed up sacrifices upon the altar Of your ambit in-and
for WHAT II Is for the overthrow Of the American gov
einnen established by our eommon ancestry, cemened
md built up by their and blood snd founded on
The broad prn. .pies Of right and justice and humanity
And as such must declare here, often be ore and
which has been repeated BY the greatest and wisest Of
statesmen aud patriots in this and ohet lands that is
he best and ffeest government the most equal in its
ghis the most just in its decisions, he lenient
u its measures and the most inspiring in s principles
% elevate the race 4 man that the Of heaven ever
hone upon. Now you attempt to overthrOw such
government as this una'sa led is the height Of mad
less, folly a.d wekednass."