Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1865-05-26
RICHMOND WHIG.
FRIDAY MORNING. MAY 2s, 1866.
A PROPHECY FULFILLED.
ALEXANDER II STEPHENS ANTI.
SECESSION SPEECH.

| The following extracts from speech de-
livered in the Georgia Convention of 1861,
by Alexander H. Stephens, will be read at
this time with apprecative interest. The
inevitable consequences which he then FORE
saw would follow a declaration of hostilities
against the Government, have all been more
than realized. Mr.. Stephens makes the en-
phatic assertion that the South could have
no cause for bringing such calamity upon
the nation, whose desolatipg influences are
predicted with remarkable sagacity. We
hope that every thinking man will read this
speech, and ponder over the lessons which
| it teaches:
This step (said Mr.. Stephens) once taken,
could never be recalled and all the hateful
and withering consequences that must fol-
low-as they would see-will rest on the con-
vention for all coming time. When we and
our posterity shall see our lovely South des
olated by the demon of war, whicn this act
of yours will inevitably invite and call forth;
when our green fields of waving harvests
shall be trodden down by the murderous SOL
diery and fiery car of war sweeping over our
land; our temples Of justice laid in ashes
all the horrors and desolation of war upon
us, who but this convention will be held re-
sponsible for it and who but him shall have
given his vote for this unwise and ill-timed
measure, as l honestly think and believe,
shall be held to strict account for this suici-
dal act by the present generation, and prob
ably cursed and execrated by posterity for
all coming time, for the wide and desolating
ruin that will inevitably follow this act you
now propose to perpetrate Pause, / en-
treat you, and consider for moment
what reasons you can give that will even
satisfy yourself in calmer moments
what reasons you can give to your fellow
sufferers IN the calamity that il will bring
upon us. What reasons you can give to the
nations Of the earth to justify it? They will
be the calm and deliberate judges in the case !;
ard TO what cause or one overt act can you
name or point on which to rest the plea of
justification What right has the North as
sailed What interests of the South has
been invadedi What justice has been de-
MED and what claim founded in justice and
right has been withheld? Can either of you
blame to-day one government act of wrong
deliberately and purposely done by the Gov
ernment at Washington OF which the South
has right to complain challenge the
answer! While, on the other hand, let me
show the facts, (and believe me, gentlemen,
am not here the advocate OF the North, but
l am here the friend, the firm friend of the
South and her institutions, and for this rea-
son l speak thus plainly and faithfully for
| yours, mine and every other mans interest,
the words of truth and soberness, of which
wish you to judge,) and l will only state
facts which are clear and undenabe, and
| which now stand as records authentic in the
| history of our country.
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 20 yearsl When we asked a
three -ffths representation in Congress for
ourselves, was it not grantedS When We
asked and demanded the return of any fn.
gitiye from justice, or the recovery of those
persons owing labor or allegiance, was it not
incorporated in the Constitution, and again
ratified and strengthened in the Fugitive
Slave Law of lS50Y But do you reply that
in many instances they have violated this
compact, and have not been faithful TO their
eng 4gements As individual and local COM
| munities, they have done so; but not by the
sanction of government, for that has always
been true to Southern interests. Again, gen.
tlemen, look at another fact. When We have
asked that more territory should be added,
that we might spread the institution OF
slavery, have they not yielded to our de-
mands in giving us Louisiana, Florida
| and Texas, out of which four States have
been carved, and an ample territory for
four more to be added in due time If
you by this unwise and impolitic act, do not
destroy this hope, and, perhaps, by it lose
ALL and have your last slave wrenched from
you by stern military rule, as South Amer
lea and Mexico we're, or by the vindictiye
decree of universal emancipation, which
may reasonably be expected to follow. But,
again, gentlemen, what have we to gain by
this proposed change of our relation to the
General Government We have always had
| the control of it, and can yet, If we remain
in it, and are united as We have been. We
have had a majority of Presidents chosen
from the South, as well as the control and
management Of most of those cho sen from
the North. We have had sixty years of
Southern Presidents to their twenty-four,
thus controlling the Executive department.
So Of the Judges Of the Supreme Court; we
have eighteen from the South, and but elev-
en- from the North. Although nearly four
flths of the judicial business has arisen in
the free States, yet majority of the Court
has always been from the South.
This We have required so as to guard against
Il
vorable to US. In like manner We have been
equally watchful to guard our interests in the
legislative branch of the Government. In
choosing the presiding Presidents (pro tenn. J
Of the Senate, we have had twenty-four to
their eleven. Speakers of the House, we
have had twenty-three and they twelve.--
While the majority of the Representatives,
from the greater population, have always
been from the North, yet we have so gener-
ally secured the Speaker, because he, to o
great extent, shapes and controls the legisla-
tion of the country. Nor have We had less
control in every other department Of the
General Government. Attorney Generals,
we have had fourteen, while the North
have had but five. Foreign ministers, we
have had eighty-six, and they ffty-
four. While three fourths Of the business
which demands diplomatic agents abroad, is
clearly from the free States, from their
greater commercial interests, yet We have
mad tn 9 principal embassies, so as to secure
the worlds markets for our cotton, tobacco
and sugar on the best possible terms. We
have had vast majority of the higher offices
of both army and navy, while larger pro-
portion of the soldiers and sailors were
drawn from the North. Equally so Of clerks,