Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1866-03-01
Mr.. Stephens speech.

ly before been elected TO represent Geor-
gia in the United States Senate, and In
this speech, while referring to his re-
luctance to re.enter public life, arising
out of his position as Vice President OF
the Confederacy, accepts the office to
which he had been chosen. Whatever
he chose TO say would in any event have
an Importance as the opinion OF the
ablest Southern politician. What he
now says is especially important, DE-
cause he speaks for his State and to his
State, and must be presumed 10 speak
the best word he can to advance her in
terests.
We frankly accord to this address the
praise of being perhaps the best proceed
ing from any citizen south of Mason
and Dixon's line yet. 1t contains some
good advice to his constituents, and
some sound views of public affairs, Mr..
Stephens has qualities quite distinct
from those which usually win attention
on Southern stump, and he displays
them in this address to advantage. He
Counseis patience. He reminds his
hearers that they must expect to endure
such Ills as now befall them, likening
his listening constituents to man with
q broken leg-who must for time tole.
rate his splints and bandages-that is,
must tolerate exclusion from Congress,
payment of taxes, military rule, deprl-
walton of postal facilities, and 'Other
matters on the long list of our present
irconveuiences." In order that the peo-
pie may advance to better state, they
must show harmony among themselves
and renewed loyalty to the Government.
Mr.. Stephens reiterates with emphasis
and with elaboration his well-known
view that loyalty is perfectly consistent
with secession; in other words that the
South remained always faithful TO the
principles of government which the Con-
st,,,..'nn was meant TO embody; and
that the only point at issue was whether
the State or the rUuvIel gOvernniS..-
should be paramount. GAS for myself"
says he, | can affirm that no sentiment
of disloyalty to these great principles of
self-gOvernment recognized and embOd-
led in the Constitution Of the United
States, ever beat or throbbed in heart of
mine" He would say the same Tor
Georgia and for the whole south. Sc
cession he viewed only as q means to an
end; snu the means has failed.
1t is Of more consequence to inquire
what Mr.. Stephens proposes for the tu-
ture. He does not leave US in doubt on
this any more than on the other point
awe should accept the 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
| it, and that "the whole United States,
| therefore, is now, without question, Our
country, to be cherished and defended as
such by all our hearts and by all oul
arms" That at least is something
Next, slavery has been destroyed
Whether for better or for worse is not
important; it is gone, and the new state
| of things is to be accepted. Many
! changes must follow. Old codes of law
| become obsolete. For the negroes wise
and humane laws should be made. Mr.
Stephens uses language which for (
SOutherner Of this generation is remark
able. "Ample and full protection should
be secured to them, so that they ma!
start equal before the law in the posses
sion and employment of all rights 0
personal liberty and property" Tha
has even the flavor Of the Declaration
in it. Could Mr.. Stephens but persuad
his Georgia Legislature to frame sucl
opinions in statute He praises tn
fidelity of the negro in times past; ad
mits his capacity for improvement, ant
correctly lays down the principle tina
the object of government is the good c
the governed, including those of Africa
! descent, Cooking to the greatest affair
able advancement, improvement, an
progress, physical, intellectual, an
moral, of all classes and condition
within their rightful jurisdiction"
Again, "all obstacles, if there be any
should be removed, which could posi-
bly, hinder or retard the blacks to tn
extent Of their capacity" EducatiO
ahOuld be open to them not only &c
their own sake, but for that of the CON
munity. at is difficult" said NJ
Stephens, very explicitly and sensibl1
"to conceive greater evil Of COurs
than could befall our country, striCke
and distressed as it is, for SO lare
portion of it's population as this elias
will quite probably constitute among U
hereafter, to be reared in ignorance d.
pravity and vice" Again we say coul
but this belief of Mr.. Stephens be trap'
lated into Georgia law, and into law fC
all the southern states the problems {
reconstruction were amasingly simpl
fed We wish the State Legislature
might take the advice of their counselC
to ''do the best they can with their prol
lem" Sure they may be that someho
the problem has got to be solved, an
can by no means be shirked or shuttle
! out of sight.
1t is fair to admit, thinks Mr.. Stepl
ems, that the outlook of the south
somewhat gloomy. We judge his be
hope lies in the two conditions aboN
stated, genuine loyalty to the Unic
} and justice to the negro. And he max
the remarkable admission-especial
remarkable for the second executive of
Ger of the rebel conftderacy, that "du
ing the whole lamentabte conflict it W;
my opinion that, however the pendir
strife might terminate so far as the a
peal to the sword was concerned, after
while, when the passion and excitemel
Of the day should pass away, an adjus
I 4 L., do -,