Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1871-06-23
The Hon. A. H. stephens Editorial Plat
form.

AAo HON. "A. HI stephens Editorial F10t
| form.
The Hon. A. H. Stephens has purchased
an inter ia the Atlanta (Ga.l Sun, and tn
political department Of that paper will here
after be "undsr bis advisement, direction ant
general CONTROL" The following is Mr.. Ste
phens' salutatory:
Since the announcement" of Mr.. Speight
on the 10Th instant. it is proper for me tt
state to the patrons of the Sun that in con
sentlng, as one of the proprietors to TAKE
charge of the political department of this pa
per, my object is to make it true organ o
the Jeffersonian principles of the Federal Gov
eminent, under which the peoples OF the U
nlted States lived in 50 great peace, prosperity
and happiness for more than half century
The object will be to advocate such doctrine:
as will secure perpetual and harmonious
union of the States under the Constitution, f
the spirit and for the purposes for which il
was originally made by the fathers, and upor
the principles announced by Jefferson, main
tanned By Madison, and set forth by Genera
jackson in his authorized" explanation o.
the principles of his Proclamation on the
Modification movement in South Carolina il
1882. and in his Farewell Address.
Upon these principles, and those announc-
ed by General Washington, he who was "frs
in war, first 10 peace, and first in the hearts
OF his countrymen," the Sun will stand. Its
position will be that the Government of the
United States is '.confederated" or "federa
republic" formed by the States, possessing in
itself no inherent sovereignty, but that all its
sovereign powers-which are specific and
limited-are held entirely by delegation from
the several States, and that the States are alb
soutely sovereign in the exercise Of all reserv-
ed or undelegated powers.
The Sun, under my general control OF its
political course, will continue to stand upon
the principles of the platform of the Democra-
tic party of the Union, as announced in their
last general Convention at New York, 10 1868.
A chief object will be to show by calm and
argumentative appeals to the good sense and
patriotism of the true friends of the Constitu-
ton, North as well as South, that any depar-
ture from the essential principles of that plat
form will be exceedingly dangerous, if not
fatal, to the liberties of the whole country.
The great ''living ISSUE now before the
people of the United States, is between con-
soidation, centralism and empire on the one
side, and the sacred sovereign right of local
self-government by the people of the several
States on the other; or, in other words, the
great question now is, whether the people of
these States are to live under government OF
laws or government of bayunets. This is
the great practical, absorbing, Giving issue"
at this time.
With regard to the past usurpations and
revolutionary measures of Congress since the
restoration Of the Union in 1865, by the re-
sumption of their obligations to the Union
under the Constitution by all the States which
had attempted to withdraw from it, and for
which alone the war was professed to be waged
in opposition to the attempt, the Sun will adj
vocate and enjoin strict obedience to all acts
of Congress and acts of State Legislatures
under them which have the form of law as
expounded by the courts, State and Federal.
and imposed by those in authority clothed
with power to execute them.
Constitutional liberty is the offspring Of
reason-not Of phi si6a4 -foEea -----------
The rectifcation Of all political wrongs and
usurpations under our systems Of government
should be sought through the instrumental
ties of the observation-disclosures the peaceful
operation of the ballot-the Legislative, Ju
dlclM and Executive departments VI the
Government.
But no people devoted to constitutional law
need ever expect to secure a ratification Of
admitted usurpations of power by granting 10
advance a general absolution to the perpetra-
tors Of them. The position of the San to-
wards all usurpations by Congress will be the
same as that Of Mr.. Jefferson towards the
fallen aud sedhion" acts. This is quite
enough for the present.
1t is proper, however, to add for general
information, that it is not my intention to-
change my present residence. There is no
prospect of my ever being able physically to
do so, even if / were inclined. All commu-
ncations, therefore, to me connected with my
engagement with the Sun must be addressed
to me at this place.
ALEXANDER H. STEPHENS.
Liberty Hall. awfordsyille. Ga.