Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1871-06-23
1 HAVE SHAKEN HANDS WITH POLITICS

HAVE SHAKEN HANDS WITH POLITICS
l am Tow engaged upon matters of life
insurance. Laughter and applause l
would like to insure all your lives for hun
dred years. Laughter and applause 1
have, therefore, my friends, very quietly
presented this opinion, which I entertain
upon the subject that has been the duty Of
former years, but not Of present years. 1
know l can do you no good I am not en-
gagged in public affairs, but hope to do you
some good by showing the world that though
[ have retired from active public service,
yet it is my purpose to serve you with head
and heart and hand as long as live. Your
interest is mine-not in mere abstract and
general sense, but in that devoted care
which I have for your welfare and happi-
ness, and the only reward I ask or seek is
that 1 may live to see all your political
rights restored, and the whole South pros
porous, independent and happy Applause. !
Therefore, in what 1 have said l have only
spoken Of what I consider the best policy for
the people of the South, under the present
circumstances, to pursue Let the people
of the North take care OF themselves. You
went to war upon the same question for
which your ancestors and theirs commended
In the first revolution against the Govern.
ment OF Great Britain-the right of COM
mercial independence or State sovereignty
You secured it in that first war, and State
sovereignty must again be restored, or else
the republic of America is failure. Des-
potlsm cannot be exercised under a republi-
can form OF government, and, my friends, if
you can but wait, all will be we'll. If any
of US die before the day of peace and liberty
dawns, let us die in the faith that it will
come at last. The people of the North will
never surrender their ri hts; and when theS
see danger at home, than they will need
your aid and will come to you, and then yod
will be crowned with victory and triumphant
success. Applause. I am not of those
swhc accept the situation
ACCEPT NOTHING.
These cant phrases that we hear so much
OF about accepting the situation" and
about our rights having been submitted to
the ''arbitrament of the sword are but the
excuses Of towards. Applause I admit
that powor prevails over truth l admit
that power is so great that it would be folly
to resist it, and therefore am in favor, my
self, of being acquiescent, and I advise y1u
to the same course, but I do not admit that
our rights have ever been submitted to the
arbitranlent Of the sword Who has the
power to submit your liberties to the arb-
trament of battle You never delegated that
power to your representatives I, as your
Executive, never claimed it, and never dy-
ing OR living, will admit it. Applause.
And then, my friends, about this much talk
ed-of subject of accepting the stuation.''
You are not called upon to acknowledge
that you have done wrong unless you feel
it.
DON'T BELIEVE I DID ANY WRONG,
and therefore I don't acknowledge it. All
that goveanm ent has right to claim from
any of its subjects is, that they will quietly
submit to the law. Liberty of the law is
their Inheritance. and submission to the
law, as long as it is such, is their duty and
their obligation, and it should be their
pride. Now, my friends, having already
said more than l intended, it only remains
for me to say how happy [ am to see the
evidences Of prosperity that now surround
you. The first time that [ saw the place
where your city now stands, it was little
more than a wilderness. When I saw it
again looked upon blackened and deserted
ruins, upon the wrecks of noble fortunes,
upon desolated hearthstones, and upon
ruined and stricken people. Your city had
been devastated and laid waste by an act of
vandalism darker than aught that ever dis
graced the fame of Turenne. But look
upou it again to-day, and the traces of desc
lation and destruction are no longer visible ),
but in their stead magnificent STRUCTURES rise
upon every hand, to mark the wonderful
advance of improvement, prosperity and ma
terial greatness. [ rejoice in it. It is but
the beginning af the grand era of prosperity
that is yet to come, and I rejoice to see you
going on building your railroads, establish
ing your manufactures, inaugurating new
enterprises of commercial profit, building up
your town, improving your land and devel-
oping the material resources within your
reach. You will thus 60 on increasing un-
til you become wealthy and powerful. I
say rejoice in these evidences of assidious,
earnest labor in things material, because
there is little in this that a foreign govern.
ment can interfere with. Persevere in this
direction wait quietly and patiently until
the tide turns-as, sooner, or later, turn it
willard the day is not far distant when
the sun will shine upon you free, indepen.
dent and sovereign State. Applause. +
With these expressions, and with this ad-
vice to you, have done. I feel that can
not fully express my gratitude to you all for
the kindness you have manifested towards
me, and the heartfelt desire I have that
your ways may be ways of pleasantness, and
that your lives may be prosperous, and that
your eyes at last may close upon your conn
try free and your children standing erect,
proud representatives Of the grand old Com.
Of Georgia. Great and pro-
longed applause.
Hon. Alexander H. Stephens, of Geor-
gia, has become part owner, and is to be the
political editor Of the Atlanta Sup In his
he says the Sun will be the true
organ of the Jeffersonian principles Of the
Federal Government, and ''its position will
be that the government of the United States
is "confederated" or federal republic
formed by the States, possessing in itself no
sovereignty, but that all its sover-
eigp powers which are specific and limited
are hold entirely by delegation from the
several States, and that the States are abso
lutely sovereign in the exercise of all re-