The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1873-02-07
SPEECH or ALEXANDER II. sTEPHENs,
OF ATLANTA, GA.

Alexander II. Stephens, once vice.
President Of the Confederacy, but
latterly more prominent as the rec
ognized head OF what is known as
the Bourbon Democracy of the South, |
delivered an address in the hall Of
the House of Representatives at At
lanta Ga., which il of some interest |
rs showing the line of policy which |
will probably be pursued hereafter
by that wing Of the party. Mr..
Stephens was received with great ap-
plause and said his remarks were
originally intended for delivery i'm
mediately after the meeting OF the
Georgia Electors, but as Mr. Gree
ley's obsequies were then occurring
it was not deemed becoming to carry
out TINT design. The speaker then
continued:
II have been charged with being
an "impracticable, an extremist, an
ultraist, and even revolntionist.
Upon what grounds are these char
ges rested? When and where did l
ever utter an irnpracticable, an ex-
treme, or revolutionary sentiment?
Is it ultra or extreme, To maintain
the truths Of the Constitution? Ii it
revolutionary to urge upon the peo-
pie, while they never voluntarily
sanctioned wrong, yet, in seeking
remedies, always to appeal to the
peaceful instrumcntalities of the
Constitution? First to the court,
and If that failed, then to the ballot
box. When and where, did / ever
advocate any other course? My
position has ever been that appeals
TO force, or TO arms, or 10 revolution
ary force are the unsafest Of all re-
sorts. either for the maintainance Of
rights or the preservation of liberty.
Liberty springs from other arenas
and other forums. All that arms
ever yet did in behalf of liberty was
TO repel open aggressions upon it.
This appeal should never be resorted
to so long as reason and justice-the
Legislative halls and the judicial tri-
bunals-are open TO access. When
and where have / ever uttered
sentiment inconsistent with this
view? Why am 1, therefore, charg-
ed with being an nltraist and ex-
tremist, much less revolutionist !?
tApplause.V
Mr.. Stephens then took up the re-
cent disturbances in Alabama and
Louisiana, and said:
Notwithstanding the result OF the
late election, notwithstanding the
result of the Alabama muddle, and
notwithstanding the present Lonsi-
ana troubles, the signs OF the times
bear less ominoGs aspect to MY
mind than they have for the last fif-
teen years. The Alabama difficulty
did. indeed. for while present the
most alarming ASPECT. 1t was the
first time, since the Rhode Island
troubles of 1912, that civil war,
proper. in any one of the States OF
this Union was certain. Two an
tagonist parties claimed each for it
self the rightlul absolute power. The
Alabama case was more alarming
) than that Of Rhode Island. In this
z case the Federal Government had nc
rightful power 10 interfere, and in
! my Judgment did not interfere ex.
cept SO far as 10 offer. by way ol
! suggestion, basis on which COM
] promise might be effected. This wa.
happily accepted by both parties
e This very alarming trouble has beer
S peacefully adjusted. In this act the
Government rendered its advice only
a as friendly mediator, Just as Vir.
z ginia rendered her similar kind nc
in the notification imbroglio in 1888
!, which resulted most happily in the
0 preservation of the peace Of the coun
try. The other more portentiou III
!. cloud that hangs over the southwes
o tern horizon in the Louisiana trouble
is still dark and threatening.
" This morning, for the first time,
n have seen what l am inclined tt
consider reliable account of an ex
G act and true posture OF affairs ii
:. Louisiana. This is the report by th'
9 Associated Press of an interview
!. which took place yesterday betwee,
Judge Cambell, at the head of
It Louisiana delegation and Presiden
j. Grant upon the subject. From
l. this it seems that General Grant ha
S not assumed any illegal or unconsti
s tutional executive power in the in
ternal affairs of Louisiana. He rs
serts he has authorized the employ
ment of the military forces there il
o the enforcement of judicial process
70 This has greatly relieved my mind
= The trouble in louisiana seems t
10 have grown out of powers elaine,
= under the Civil Rights bill, or som
10 other one of the reconstructed
20 measures, SO called. These meas
a ures, I need not assure you, 1 hol'
10 and ever shall hold to be utterly un
Il constitutional. But in accordanc
10 with the views I have given you, s
= long as they are held to be laws the
Is should be obeyed as they are expound
: ed by those clothed with judicial pow
.6 ers over them. No violent resistanc
= should be made to them. The
Il should be assailedvonly through th
- peaceful instrumentalities of the Cor
IS stitution. No earthly power coul
3 over make me say that they are eth
er right, just, or Constitutions
loud applause.) My mode of as
sailing them, however, is not by vic
10 lence or forcible resistance, but b
- appeals, first to the courts-jus
10 where the appeal it seems, in TIL
case. has been made. My mode fo
,8 assailing is in the forum of reaso
= and justice and if General Grar
)7 shall never do anything worse tina
to see to it, that the mandates an
DEGREES of the Federal Judiciary al
l. e 4 L.