Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-01-02
j. II. STEPHENS XOPEEEL.


Il. II. STEPHENS HOPEFUL.
Although Alexander H. Stephens is not
the man he was before the rebellion, and
his speeches and writings of recent date
have not been such as to commend him
to popular attention, his lxest speech, the
first since the election, is of very hope
full character and contains many sensible
things. While Mr.. Stephens is devo-
ted champion Of State rights, and opposed
to the freeing of the blacks and bestowing
upon them equal civil and political rights
with the whites, he does not believe that
the general government has become des-
potism or that the people are not to be
trusted to govern themselves. He also
takes more generous view for the adj
ministration of the troubles in Louisiana
and Alabama than the leaders OF the OPP
position do. While they indulge in
gloomy talk about States being wiped
out of existence by the administration and
the federal court at New Orleans, he con-
sders it q good omen that the Executive
is disposed to carry out the orders of the
Judiciary. In his opinion there is no dan
ger to popular rights so long as the Presi-
dent is wiling to be guided by the courts.
If there We're more of this kind of Ian
guage in the South and less of Ku-Klux-
ism; more OF confidence in the President
and the republican party and less Of hope
In the re-establishment of the old politi-
cal regime that led the southern States In.
to rebellion; there would soon be q bet
ter state Of things in that section We
copy the following from Mr.. Stephens
speech. so that our readers may see for
4 themselves what he has to say The
'peeGh was made at Atlanta few DAYS
Ergo.
This morning, 1or the first tine, l have
zen what ! am inclined to consider relia-
Die account Of an exact and true posture Of
affairs in Louisiana. This Is the report by
a The Associated Press of an interview which
EAtook place yesterday between Judge Camp
bell, at the head Of q Louisiana delegation,
and President Grant upon the subject =
From this it seems that General Grant has
not assumed any illegal or unconstitutional
executive power in the internal affairs Of
Louisiana. He asserts lie has authorized tile
employment of the military forces there in
the enforcement of judicial process. This
has greatly relieved my mind. The troable
in Louisiapa seems to have grown out Of pow
ers claimed under the civil rights bill, or
some other one of the reconstruction meas
ures, SO called. These measures. need not
hol1 H.. l.tl
be utterly unconstitutional But in accord
ance with the views l have given you, so
long as they are held to be laws they should
be obeyed as they are expounded by those
clothed with judicial powers over them. No
violent resistance should be made to them.
They should be assailed only through the
peaceful instrumentalities of the Constitu-
ton. No earthly power could ever make me
say that they are either right, Just, or Con-
stitutional. lApplause.l My mode ofasssil-
ing them, however, is not by violence or for
chile resistance. but by appeals, first to the
courts-just where the appeal, it seems, in
this case, has been made. My mode of as
sailing is in the forum of reason and Justice,
and if General Grant shall never do anything
worse than to see to it that the mandates and
DEGREES of the Federal Judiciary are properly
executed in any part OF the country, l shall
have no quarrel with him. If the judge in
New Orleans has made an erroneous decis-
ion, it is subject to reversal by the Supreme
Court of the United States. In the mean
time my advice TO the people of Louisiana
would be to patiently bear the ills incident TO
that decision, just as we in Georgia have
borne ills Of e much more grieyous nature,
until their redemption, as ours has beer,
shall be effected by the peaceful workings of
the established instrumentalities of the Con-
sttution. First let the issue be met in the
courts below and above. If the decision
should be against them in both, then let them
appeal to the ballot box, not only in Louisi-
ana, bnt throughout all the States. y
There is general awakening in the public
mind throughout the entire country as to the
nature and character OF the Government, its
origin, objects. history, and powers. Now
that the peculiar Southern Institutions have
been removed, which were the thorn in the
fash of tile Federal body polite all the time,
and gave sectional character to all discus
sions of questions pertaining to the reserved
rights of the States under the Constitution !;
now that the doctrine of ecession, as prac-
ticable remedy against Federal aggressions
of any sort has been abandoned in good faith
forever, there is nothing to prevent the friends
of the Constitution under the Union from
Maine to California, from the Lakes to the
Gulf from tremendously uniting in a grand rail-
ly for the rescue and perpetuaton of the COM
mon liberties of all. Fos-
sill though l may be considered of the past
little as may be thought to know of what Is
going on in the great centers-I have not as
yet lost confidence in the intelligence, yir-
tue, and patriotism of the toiling millions
the hottest masses-cf the people in all parts
of this vast country. There are hearts ready
in Georgia and Louisiana, as in California
New Hampshire, and Maine, to respond to
the music of the Union under the Federal
Constitution Of our fathers.
U4SHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.
The Chronicle announces that Senator
Pomeroy has started for Kansas with proof