The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1864-02-04

md determination TO conquer the re-
bellion. 1t will be conquercd-it is, in
fact, conquered at this moment; its
power is broken its fate is scaled.
II. STEPHENS ON
SOUTHERN GRIEVANCES.
The following speech Of Mr.. Steph-
ems, the present Vice President Of the
rebel Confederacy, was delivered in
the Georgia State Convention in Jan
uary, 1861. 1t will be remembered
that MI Stephens, just before that
time, made Union speech to the peo-
pie. The language of this address to
the Convention is even stronger than
that Of his more famous speech. 1t is
II crushing reply to those Northern
sympathizcrs with the rebels, who arc
constantly proclalming that "the
South" was injured, and came short Of
its rights in the Union. MIR. Stephens
said
"This step (of sccossion) once taken
can never be recalled: and all the bale
full and whitening consequnce that
must follow will rest on the Conven-
tion for all coming time. When we
and our posterity shall see our lovely
South dcsolated by the demon of war,
which this act Of yourS rW ineritaJly IN
rite and call forth; when our gocen
fields Of waving harvest shall be trod-
den down by the murderous soldiery
and fiery car Of war sweeping over oul
land; our temples Of justice laid in ash.
es; all the horrors and desolations Of
war upon us; rhO hit THIS Convention
wW be held responsible for itP and who
but him who shall have given his vote
for this unwise and ill-timcd measure
as | honestly think and believe, shall
be held to strict account for this suicidal
act By the present generation, and pr0ba-
bly, cursed and erecrdted by pOsterity 70,
all coming time, for the wide and DESC
lating ruin that will inevitably follow
this act you now propose to perpc'
trate?
THE NORTH BLAMELESs
"Pause, I cntreat you, and consider
for moment what reasons you car
give that will even satisfy yourselves
in calmer momcnts-what reason car
you give to your fellow sufferers in the
calamity that it will bring upon us
What reasons can yOu gire to Henation,
of the earth to justify it? They will be
the calm and deliberate judges in the
case; and what cause or one overt acr
can you name or point 10, on which Il
rest the plea classification? VIA
right has tie North dSSdilcd? Wha
interest of the South has been invaded
What justice has been denied, an(
what claim, founded to justice ant
right, has been withheld? Can eithcl
ofyou today name one government &c
of wrong, deliberately and purposely
done by the Governments Of Washing
ton, of which the South has a right t
complain? l challenge the answer
While on the other hand, let me show
the facts (and believe me, gentleman
| am not here the advocate Of tn,
North; but l am here the friend, th,
firm friend and lover of the South anC
her institutions, and for this reason
speak thus plainly and faithfully fo
yours, mine, and every other man
interest the words of truth and sober
ness) or which ! wish you to Judge, e,ant
/ will only state facts, which are clea
and undcninblc, and which now stan'
as records authentic in the history o
our country, .3.-. .."'
"When we of the South demanded
the slavetrade, or the importation 0
Africans for cultivation of our lands
did they not yield the right for twen
ty years? When we asked three
tiflhs representation in Congress fo
our slaves, was it not granted? Whel
we asked and demanded the return 0
any fugitive from justice, or the recov
cry Of those persons owing labor or al
legiance, was it not incorporated in tn
Constitution, and again ratified an,
strengthened by the fugitive slave lay
of 1850? But do you reply that il
many instances they have violated thi
compact, and have been faithful t
their engagements? As individual an
local communities they may hav
done so, but not by the sanction c
Government, 70: that has always bee
true to Southern interests. '
"Again, gentlemen, look at anothe
fact; when we have asked that NOR
territory should be added, that W
might spread the institution of slave
ry, have they not yielded to our de
mands in giving us Louisiana, Florida
and Texas, out Of which 4 States hav
been carved, and ample territory fo
four more to be added in due time,
you, by this unwise and impolitic ac
do not destroy this hope, and, perhap
by it lose all, and have your last slav
wrenchod from you by stern militar
rule, as South America and Mexic
were; or by the vindictive decree of
universal emancipation, which ma
reasonably be expected to follow?