The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-04-18
Telegraph.
Afternoon Dispatches.
The Texas Convention.
Mexican News.
New York Legislature.

ANAANeaA AAWcs
New York Legislature.
The following is the continuation Of III,
testimony Of A. H. Stephens before the Re
construction Committee, the first part o.
J which was published by US yesterday:
WAsHIEeToN, April 17.-Question.-State
whether, from your observation, the events
Of the war have produced any change Of the
public mind Of the State in relation te the
Constitution Of the United States3
AnsWsr.-That question I answered in
part yesterday. While l cant say, from
personal knowledge, to what extent the
abstract question of the reserved rights of
States may have changed, my decided opin-
ion is that very thorough change have
taken place upon the practical policy of re-
sorting 10 any such rights.
Q. What events or experience of war have
contributed 10 this change?
A. First, the people are satisfied that a
1 resort to the exercise Of this right, while it
/ is denied by the Federal Government, will
lead 10 war, which many thought before the
| late attempted secession would not be the
that civil wars are dangerous TO liberty,
and moreover, their experience in the late
| war, l think, has satisfied them it greatly
| endangered their own. l allude especially
| 10 the writ Of hG5eas corpus and the military
| CONSUMPTION, the proclamation Of martial
| law IN various places, general impressments
| and the levy Of forced contributions, as well
as the very demoralizing effects Of war gen
orally.
Q. When were you last a member Of the
! Congress Of the United States?
A. / went out on the 4th Of March, 1852
Q--Will you state, if not indispOsed to
do SO, the opinions which led you to identify
yourself with the rebellion so far as to ac-
cept the Office Of Vice President of the Con
federate States of America; so-called.
A. l believe thoroughly in the reserved
sovereignty Of the several States of the
Union under the compact of union Of the
Constitution Of 1857. I opposed secession,
therefore, as a question Of policy and of
right on the part of Georgia. When the
State seeded against my judgment and
vote, thought my ultimate allegiance was
due her, and | prepared to cast my fortunes
and destiuy with her and her people rather
than TO take any other course, even though
it might lead to the sacrifice of myself and
her ruin. In accepting the position under
the new order Of things, my sole object was
to do all the good could in preserving and
perpetuating the principles of liberty as
established under the Constitution of the
United States. If the Union was to be
abandoned either with or without force,
which / thought q very impoiitic measure,
/ wished, if possible, to rescue, preserve and
perpetuate the principles of the COnstitu-
Iion. This l was not without hope might
be accomplished in the new confederacy Of
the States formed. When the conflict arose,
my efforts were directed TO obtain as speedy
and peaceful adjustment of the questions as
possible. This adjustment, as l always
thought, to be lasting, would have ultimste-
ly to be settled upon a constitutional basis,
founded upon the principles Of mutual
convenience and reciprocated advantage on
the part of the States on which the
Constitution Of the United States was origi-
nally founded. l was welded TO no partIc-
ular plan Of adjustment, except iEa recOgni-
ton, as basis of the separate sovereignty
of the several States. With this recognized
principle l thought all other questions of
differences ought to adjust themselves ac-
cOrding TO the best interests Of peace, welfare
and prosperity Of the whole country, as en-
lightened reason, calm judgment and sense
Of Justice might direct this doctrine of the
sovereignty of the several States, as a self
adjusting, regulating privilege of our Amer
lean system Of State government, possibly,
over the continent.
Q. Have your sentiments undergone any
change since the opening of the rebellion in
reference to the reserved rights of the States
under the CONSTITUTION Of the United States?
A. Ny convictions on the original alb
straot questions have undergone no change
but / accept the issue Of the war and the
result as q practical settlement Of that ques-
tion. The sword wss appealed to to decide |
the question, and by the decision Of the
sword I am willing to abide.
GALVESTON, April 12.-The Constitution
abolishes slavery, places freedmen on an
equality with whites before the law, and
gives the Legislature power to guarantee
railroad bonds for iron contracts. It will
be submitted to the people on the fourth
Monday in June. A resolution indorsing
the Presidents policy was lost in the Con-
Vention.
SAN FRANCIsoo, April 15.-sOme excite
ment was created in New Westminster,
British Columbia, by the exhibition of a
sign Of Fenian headquarters at Thomas
Caherty's hotel. Upon refusing to reno We
it, when requested, Mr.. Cafierty was arrest
ed and sentenced 10 three months impris-
onment.
NEw YORK, April ia Brownsville /
letter Of the 9Th says Cortinas, with a
force, is about twenty miles from Mata-
Escabide, who is operating with Mejia.
Murders and robberies continue undated
in the neighborhoOd Of MztamoTas and
Brownsville.
SAN Francisco, April I5--Consul Cooley
has received a letter from Juarez, date Ell
Paso, March 9Th, stating that the troops
moving on to chihuahua would occupy that
place, aAd in eight days from date the Lib
eral Government be established there.
A letter from Gen. Alyarado fully con-
firms the defeat Of Mendez by the Liberals
at Urdapon. The constitutional Governors
Of Chihuahua and Tobasco give official no
tice that those States are now under the
Liberal rule. Military operations are be-
ing carried on throughout Oaxaca.
Albany, n. Y, April 17.-In the Senate,
in the evening session, the bill incorporat-
ing the Niagara Ship Canal Company was
considered in committee Of the whole. At
ter q lengthy discussion by WalcOtt, An
drews, PiersOn, O'DOnnell and Goddard in
favor, sud Parsons, Bennett, Sessions, Fol-
gar, Williams, Solein, Hoyt and Crawley
IN opposition. The bill was amended, Civ
ing the Canal Board power TO levy tolls,
and providing that the canal shall not be
constructed until the Erie and Oswego ca
nails are sufficiently enlarged 10 acc0mmo-
date boats carrying 20 900 bushels Of corn,
aud ordered to a third reading. In the
Senate, Sessions moved 10 postpone indef-
mite the question Of agreeing with the
report 10 order the sill 10 a third reading.
and il was lost-I6 TO IL. The bill was then
ordered to be engrOssed for thiId reaGing.
Adjourned,