New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1866-02-26
MR.. srRPHRNYs SPEECH.

MR.. sCEPHENs's SPEECH.
Mr.. A. II. Stephens OF Georgia delivered by
invitation an address before the Legislature OF
that State on Waslu1gton's birthday. Mr..
Stephens had shortly before been elected to
represent Georgia in tho United States Senate,
and in this speech. while referring TO his re-
luctance to rctutsr public life. arising out of his
posiiion is Vice President Of the Con'ederacy.
accepts the Office 10 which be had been chosen.
Whatever he chose 10 say would In any event
have al importance on tho opinion Of the ableot
southern politician. What he now says il
/ especially important be- ause he speaks for his
State and 20 his State aud must be- presumed
TO say the best word he can 10 adyarce her
interests.
We frankly accord 70 this address the praise OF
being perhaps the hes, yet proceeding from any
citizen south Of Mason ana DiyOn's line. II
contains some good advice to hs constituents,
and some sound views Of public affairs. Mr..
stephen, has qua,i'ies quite distinct froni those
which usually vim attention Oh a Southern
stump. and be displays them N this addrc-, to
advantage. He cCunsel' patience. lie re-
minds his hearers that they must expect
20 endure such Ills as nov beiall them.
!ikeailg his listening constituents to q
man with broken leg, who mus,
for the time tolerate his splints and bandagos-
tina, is. must tolerate exclusion from Congress
pas mcnt OF taXe- military rule, deprivation Of
postal facilities. and 3D. other matters on the long
Is. Of our present Inconvenience. In order
that the people may advance 20 better state
they must show haruony among themselves and
renewed loyalty 20 tho Government. Mr.
Stephens rciterates with emphasis and with
elaboration his we!l-known view that loyalty
Is perfectly conH tent with secession; IN
other words. that the South remained always
faithful 10 tho principles Of government which
the Constitution was meant 10 embody; AID
that tie only point 1t issue was whether the
State o. the Federal Government should be- par
amount. AS io- myself" says he. Il can
affirm That no sentiment oi dSloyalty to these
great principles Of .clfgoyerEmcnt recognized
and embodied in the Constitution Of the United
States. eyer beat or throbbed in heart OF mine
He would SOY the same for Georgia and for the
whole south. Secession he viewed only as n
mean, to an end; and the means has failed
IL is Of more consequence TO inquire what Mr..
Stephens proposes for the future. He does not
leave Us in doubt on this any more than on the
other point: We should accept tho issues of
The war, and abide By them in good faith"
What are the issues thus settled, First. that
Georgia is in the Union, not out of il; and that
"the whole United States, therefore, is now,
without question, our country, 10 BE- cherished
and defended a. such by oil our hearts and by
all our arms" That st least IL something.
Next, Slavery has been destroyed. Whether
for better or for worse il not important; il is
gone and The new state of things is to be ac
ccpted Many changes must follow. Old
cod.s OF law become obsolete. For the
negroes wise and humane laws should be made.
Mr. Stephens uses language which for
Southcmer of this generation is remarkable.
Ample and full protection should be secured
to them, so that they may start equal before the
law in the possession and enjoyment of all rights
of personal liberty and property That has
even flavor OF the Declaration in it. Could
Mr. Stephens but persuade his Georgia Lcgisla.
ture to frame such opinions into statutes He
praises the fidelity of the negro in times past;
admits his capacity for improvement, and cor
recty lays down the principle that the OBJ
ject Of government is tho good of
the governed, including those Of African
descent looking to the greatest
attainable advancement, improvement aud
progress. physical, intellectual, and moral of
all classes and conditions within their rightful
Jurisdiction" Again, "all obstacles, il there
be any, should be removed, which can possibly
hinder or retard the blacks 20 the extent Of their
capacity" Education should be open to them;
not only for their own sake, but for that Of the
community. lis difficult" says Mr.. Stephens.
very explicitly and sensibly, "to conceive q
greater evil or curse than could befsll our
country, stricken and distressed - it nov is,
for 30 large . portion of its population -
this class will quite probably constitute
among a. hereafter. to b reared In Ia.
pOrancs. dspravity. and lvios." Assia We sayl