The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-03-01
.aheQntelli5qllenfe
Slavery is Extlngpighed Forever.

? = = = . q . 2 ia51 = 3ls , I----- ss5
Equitable Legislature for the Freed
-s-sn men Urged at Once. 80
The Legislature of Georgia, some
weeks ago, elected Alexander 81. Ste
phens, late Vice President OF the South
,ernT TConfederacy, to represent; them in
the United States Senate. Mr.. Stephens
peremptorily declined, believing his
prominent CONNECTION with the Davis
Rebellion to be an insuperable objec-
ton TO his presence at Washington as a
Senator. At the same timethe Legisla-
ture invited him to make "A formal pub
lie address before them upon political
TOPICS. Heconsented, apdfWashington's
birthday was selected as the tme. The
words of such a man upon such an occa-
sion necessarily possess considerable
interest, and we give our readers a COM
plete report. soG .Iiiot5iliI7 zeel la7Fi
"sl HteM MR.. STEPHENS SPEECH. i-
Gentlemen of the Senate and House
of Representatives. appear before
you in answer TO your call. This call,
coming in the imposing form it does,
and under the circumstances 1t does,
requires response from me. You
have assigned to me very high and
very honorable and responsible posi-
tion. This position you know did not
seek. Most willingly would L have
avoided it, and nothing but an eStraor-
dinary sense ofduty could have induced
me TO yield my own disinclinHtionsand
aversions to your wishes and judgment
in the matter. For this unusual mani
festation of esteem and confidence re-
turn my profound acknowledge
Of gratitude. OF one thing only can I
give you any assurance, and that is If
shall be permitted to discharge the
Al, ytE,f1 n die
charged with a singleness of purpose to
the public good. The great object with
me iIow is 10 see restoration, If possi-
BILE. of peace, prosperity, and constitu-
tional liberty in this once happy but
now disturbed, agitated and distracted
country. To this end all my energies
and efforts, to the extent of their pow
ers, will be devoted.
You ask my views on the existing
state ofatfairs, our duties at the present,
and the prospects ofthe future. This is
a task from which, under other circum-
stances, might very well shrink. He
who ventures to speak and to give coun-
sci and advice in times of peril and dis
aster assumes no ehviable position.
Far be that rashness from me which
sometimes prompts the forward to rush
in where angels might fear to tread. In
responding, therefore, briefly TO your
INQUIRIES, I feel thrust, the full weight
and magnitude of the subject. IL In
wolves the welfare of millions now liv-
ing, and that of mnny more millions
who are to come after. am also fully
with the econclousness OF the
inconceivable small effect of what L
shall saw upon the momentouS results
involved in the subject itself.
a It is with these feelings offer my
mite of counsel at your request, ana IN
the outset of the undertaking, limited
4 Al ffaNRFF no RrRl
ideas only! Well may initiate an illus
trious example, Invoking aid from on
highthat may say nothing on this oc-
-casion which may compromise the
rights, the dignity or best interests Of
nv country. 1 mean specially the
rights, honor, dignity and best Interests
OF the people of Georgia. With their
u, tFerin9s. their losses, their nisror-
tunes, their bereayments, and their
present utter prostrationi my. heart IS
in deepest sym pathy. We have reached
that point in our affairs in which the
great question before us is TO be, or pot
TO be If to be, how Hopei ever
.springing in the human breast, prompts
even under the greatest calamities and
universities, never to despair. AdYer-
sity is a severe school, a terrible cruci-
bic, both for individuals and icommu-
mites! .gIuil sizrast !,s.i "
We are now in this school, this cruci-
BILE, and should bear in mind that1t IS
never negative in it's action, 1t is nj
iways positive, is ever decidedin effects,
one way or the other. It 1teithertmakes
better or worse, either brings out un-
known vices or arouses dormant virtues.
In morals It's tendency is, to make saints
or reprobates; in politics, to makeihe-
roes or desperadoes. The first 1ndica-
tion of its working good, TO which nope
looks anxiously, Is the manifestation OF
n mn iconsciousness of its nature and
extent, and the most promising grounds
of hope = for possible good from our
inresent troubles, or of things with us
fEetLinp better instead of worse is the
evident general realization on the part
of our people of their present situation,
of the evils now upon them, ana q the
greater ones still illyimpending. 1t IS not
m I! nnrpose to exaggerate. If could,
that would be useless, for to lessen or
extenuate them would be more than
useless. All fully understand and re-
aIiZe them. Its well they do. Can the
evils upon us, the absence OF lawi the
want of protection and security OF per
son and property be removed; anu can can
those greater ones which threaten pur
.yery political. existence be averteds-
These are the questions. 1t Is true we
have not control of all the remedies
Even If, these questions could be Sails
factorfly answered, our fortunes ana
destiny are not. entirely in our own
hands. Yet there are some -thlpgs
NV, Judgment, to- do, from whichnno
harm can come, and from which some
GOOD may follow in bettering our pres
snt condition as States and conlmpnt-
ties. sas,welI as ndividuals. Rhen they
have done the best they can, In view OF
surrounding circumstances, with all the
TIGHTS thew have before them, let results
~ Az u fhnU n mt least en-
ioy the consolation-the no smaA re,
compense-that they have performed
their duty and have conscience void
nj, offensel before God andman. .ophts,
If no more valuable result will, trust,
attend the doing OF what propose. Ine
first great duty, them wpul1 ieii9gih
al This time, is the exercise of the sim
Me though difficult and trying, but
nneyertheless Indispensable quality of
natience, Patience requires OF those
affaoted to bear, to;suffer with furtitude
Jyhateyer IL Is may befall them.
E Thisis often the case and especially IS
IL with us now essential for their qlti-
mata removal by. any instrumentahties : :
xyhateyer. Weare in the condition OF a
man With a adislocated limb or ~ broken
leg, and a very bad compound fracture
TOO at that. How it was lbrokenshouId
not be with him a question OF SO much
Imnortance as how It can be restored TO
health, vigor and strength. Thts re-
quiresi Of him. as the highest SdnIytI y 70
himself, to wait quietly ana patiently
IN spIints and bandages until nature re-
sunies her acti9e powers, until the vital
Functions perform their office. The
4 nittinr of the bones and the granula-
ZION OF the flesh requires time. Perfect
oiniat aud repose, even under the sever
est paiIi, Is necessary; It VIII not dolito
make TOO great haste to get well. an at
tan1,St ~, ,SSalls too soon will only make