The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1866-03-14
Address Of the Hon. Alexander II. Stephens,
BEFORE THE
Geeeral ASeenJyo the State Of Geogia, Feb %, 1866


Gseeral 4seenJyof the State Of Georgia, Feb. 22 1866
Gentlemen Of the Senate and House of Rs0ressntqtioes:
appear before you in answer to your call This cal
coming in the imposing form does, and under the c
cumstances 1t does, requires response from me. Yo
have assigned to me very high very honorable an
responsible position This position YOU know did M
seek Most willing would have avoided it, and nott
ing but an extraordinary of duty could have il
duced me to yield my disincinations and aversion
to your wishes and judgment in the matter For thi
unusual manifestation OF esteem and confidence Ireur
you my prOfoUnd acknowledgements of gratitude
| Of one thing only can give you any assurance an
that is, if shall be permitted they will be discharge
with slngeness OF purpose to thepublc good.
The great object with me now, is to see restoration
fp0ssbe, of peace prosperity and constitutional beI
ty in this once happy, but now disturbed agitated an
distracted country. To this end, all my energies an
efforts, to the extent of their powers will be devoted
You ask my views on the existing state of affairs ou
duties at the present. and the prospects of the future
This is task from which, under ordinary circumstances
| | might very well shrink. He who ventures to speak
and give counsel and advice in times of peril or dis
aster, assumes enTable position Far be that rash
ness from me which sometimes prompts the forward t.
rush in where angels might fear to tread In respond
ing therefore, briefly to your Inquiries; feel trust
the full weight aud magnitude of the subject 1t IN
wolves the welfare of millions living, and that 0
many more millions wao are to come after us am als
fully impressed with the concousness of the nconcev
ably small effect of what shall upon the momentou
/ results involved in the subject itself.
1t is with these feelings offer my mite of counsel
/ your request And in the outset Of the undertaking
limited it is intended to be- to a few general idea
only well may initiate illustrious example in in
voEing aid from high; "that ! may say nothing OF
/ this occasion which may compromt the rights thu
honor the dignity, or best interest of my country
especially the rights, honor, dignity and best in
terest of the people of Georgia With their sufferiDgs
their losses, their msorunes, their bereavements anC
their present utter prosraion, my heart is in deepes
sympathy.
We have reached that point in our affairs at which the
great question before US is, ITO be not to be?"-anc
if to be? How2 Hope, springing in the human
breast prompts under the greatest caamtes anC
adversites, never to despair. Adversely is a severe
school, terrible crucible both for individuals anG
communities. We in this school, this crucble
and should bear in mind that is never negative in its
action 1t is always positive. 1t is decided in its
effects way or the other. 1t either makes better
worse. 1t either brings out unknown vices or arouses
dormant virtues In moralS its tendency is to make
saints reprobatesln politics to make heroes or des
peradoeS The first indication of its working for good
to which hope looks anxousy, is the manifestation of
full consciousness of its nature and extent and the most
promising ground of hope for possible good from our
present troubles of things with getting better in
stead of worse is the evident general realisation on the
part of people, of their present stuatlon-of the
evils upon them, and of the greater still
pending These it is not my purpose to eXaggerate if
COULD that would be useless nor lessen exenuate
that would be than useless. All fully understand
and realise them. They feel them. Itis well they do
Can these evils upon usthe absence of law the want
of protection and security of person and property
which ciyilsaton cannot advance-be removed? can
those greater Oncs which threaten very political
existence,
1t is have not the control of all the remedies
if these questions could be satisfactorily answered
Our fortunes and destiny not entirely in own
hands there are some things that we NAV and can
and ought in my Judgment, to do, from which no harm
come and from which some good may follow, in
lettering present condition. States and communi-
ties well Individuals when they have done the best
they IN view OF surrounding circumstances with all
the lights they have before them set results be what
they may-can at least enjoy the consoaon-no small
recompense that-ot having performed their duty and
pf hoy 0f IpI1 and
man. This, if no valuable request will, | trust
attend the doing Of what propose.
The first great duty then would enioin at this time
the exercise of the simple though difficult and trying
but nevertheless Indispensable quatyo Of patience. Pa
tience requires of those afflicted to bear and to suffer
with fortitude whatever ills may bealI them. This is
often, and especially is it the with now, essen
tia for their ultimate removal by any inSrumentaties
whatever We are in the condition Of with dis
located limb or broken leg, and avery bad compound
fracture at that How 1t became broken should not be
with him question OF so much Importance, how it
can be restored to health Vgor and strength This
quires Of him, as the highest duty to himself to wait
quietly and patiently in spnts and bandages until
resumes her active poWerS-un the vital functions
perform their office. The knitting of the bones and the
granulaon of the flesh require time. Perfect quiet and
repose even under the seVereSt pan is necessary 1t
will not do to make too great haste to get we'll An at
tempt to walk too soonWi only make the matter worse
We must ought now, therefore, in similar manner,
to discipline ourselves to the like degree of pa
tence. | know the anxiety and restlessness of the
popular mind to be fully on our feet again-to walk
abroad did-to enjoy the free out
door of heaven, with the perfect of all limbs.
know how trying it is to be denied representation In
congress- while we are paying our proportion of the
taXes-how annoying 1t is to be even partially under
military rue-and how injurious it is to the general
interest and business of the country to be without post
offices and mail COMMUNICATIONS; to say nothing of d
other matters the long list of our present ncon
veniences and privatons. All these however, we must
patiently bear and endure for SEASON. With quiet and
repOse may get we-may get once more on our feet
again One thing Is certain that bad humor ltemper
exhibited either IN re6tesness or grumbng will not
hasten it.
Next to this another great duty 1e owe to ourselves
the exercise OF abera spirit OF forbearance amongst
ourselves.
The first step towards local or general harmony is
the banishment from breasts of every feeling and
sentiment calculated to stir the discOrdS of the past
Nothing could be Injurious or mschievous to the
future of this country than the agitation at present
questions that divided the people anterior to- during
the existence of the late war. On no occasion, and
especially in the bestoWment of Office ought such diff
erences of opinion IN the past ever to be mentioned
either for or against any one otherwise equally entitled
confidence These ideas or sentiments of othertmes
md circumstances are not the germs from which hope
ul organisation can now arise Let all differences of
opinion touching errors supposed errors of the head
heart the part of any, in the past growing out of
hese matters be at once in the deep of oblivion
orever buried. Let there be examinations recrmi-
nations account of acts of other days. No canvass
ng OF past conduct motives. Great disasters are
lpon and the whole country, and without inqurng
low these originated, or at whose door the fault should
De laid, let ow, sharers of common mis-
ortunes, all occasions consult only as to the best
means, under the circumstances as we find them to
ecure the best ends towards future ameoration Good
IS what want This should be the lead
ng desire and the controlling object with all; and |
iced not assure you if this can be obtained that our
iesoated fields, towns and villages and cities now
n ruins, will soon-like the Phenix-rise again from
heir ashes and all our waste places will again
Instant day, blossom as the rose.
This view should also be borne in mind that whatever
of opinion existed before the late fury of
he war; they sprung mainly from differences as to the
es means to be pursued to the great controlling
bject of a--which was good government. Whatever /
nay be said Of the loyalty disoyaty of any, in the
ate most amentable conflict of arms, l think | may
enture safely say that there was on the part of the
reat mass of the people of Georgia. and of the entire
outh dsloyalty to the principles Of the constitution
# the United States To that system of representative
governments of delegated and limited powers; that es
in a phase on this continent of all the
ssentialS Of Englands KayRa Chd1ta, for the proec
ion and security of life, liberty and property funda
mental TRUTH that all political power resides in the peo
lie. With US it was simply question as to where our
llegance due in the maintenance of these princ
es-which authority paramount in the last resort
State or federal As for myself, can affirm that no
ointment of disoyalty to these great principles of self
oFernment recognised and embodied in the constitu-
ion of the United States, beat or throbbed in |
reast heart of mine To their maintenance my
fhoe soul ever enlisted and to this end nv whole
boSh nfor hany, lny-