Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1877-01-24
Alexander stevens speech in
1850

AsSAss"uSh SPGGShb
1860.
Alexander Stevens, the vice presi-
dent OF tho confederate States was
regarded before the war rs true
patriot and it may interest our read
ers TO know how he talked before
he was forced to accept secession as n
fact. The following remarks were
made by him ut the Georgia Conven-
ton, which met In MiiIedgeville, i'm
November, 1860, TO consider the
question ofseceding from the Union.
His arguments against secession are
valuable as matter of history.
"When we and our posterity shall
see our loved South desolated by the
demons of war, which this act of
yours will inevitably invite and call
forth; when our green fields of wa
wing harvest shall be trodden down
by the murderous aoldiery and fiery
car of war sweeping over our land;
our temples ofiustice laid in ashes;
all the horrors and desolations Of
war upon us; who but this conven-
tion will be held responsible for it9
and who but him who shall have
given his vote for this unwise and ILL
timed measure shall be held TO strict
account for this suicidal act by the
present generation, aud probably
cursed and execrated by posterity
for all coming time, for the wide and
desolating ruin that will inevitably
follow this act that you may propose
to- perpetuate?
"Pause, entreat you, and consid-
er for moment what reasons you
can give that will even satisfy your
selves in calmer moments what
reason can you give to your fellow
sufferers In the calamity that II will
bring upon us? What reason can
you give to the natious Of the earth
to justify ii? They will be the calm
and deliberate judges in this case!
and to what cause or one overt act
can you point, on which to rest the
plea classification? What right has
the north assailed? What interest
of the south has been invaded"
What justice has been denied? and
what claim founded In justice aud
right has been withheld? Can either
of you to-day name one government
al act of wrong deliberately and pur-
posely done by the government at
Washington, OF which the South has
a right to complain? ] challenge the
answer. While on the other hand,
let me show the facts land believe
me, gentlemen, / am not hero the
advocate of the north, but j am here
the friend, the firm friend OF the
south and her institutions, and for
this reason speak thus plainly and
faithfully to yours, mine, and every
other mans interest, the words OF
truth and soberness), Of which ] wish
you to Judge, and | will only state
facts which are clear and undeniable,
and which now stand rs records au-
lhentic in the history Of our coun-
try.
"When we OF the South demanded
the slave trade or the importation OF
Africans tor the cultivation Of our
lands, did they not yield the right
for twenty years? When we asked
three-fifths representation in Con-
gress for our slaves, was II not gran
ted? When we asked and deman-
ded the return OF any fugitive from
Justice, or the recovery Of those per-
sons owing labor or allegiance, was
it not incorporated in the constitu-
ton? and again ratified and strength
ened In the Fugitive Slave law OF
1850?
"Do you reply that In many in
stances they have violated this COM
pact, and have not been faithful TO
their engagements. AS individuals
aud local individuaIE and local COM
munities they may have done so;
but not by the sanction OF the gov
eminent, for that has always been
true TO southern interests. Again,
gentlemea, look at another fact;
when we have asked that more ter
ritory DO added, that we might
spread the institution OF slavery,
have they not yielded to our de-
mands, and given US Louisiana,
Florida aud Texas, out Of which
four States have been carved, and
ample territory for four more To be
added In time, IL you by this unwise
and impolitie act do not destroy this
hope, and, perhaps, by 1t lose all and
have your last slave wrenciied from
you by stern military rule, as South
America and Mexico were; or by the
vindictiye decree OF universal einan-
cipation, which inay reasonably be
expected to follow?
But, again, gentlemen, what have
we TO gain by this proposed change
OF our relation to the general govern
msnt? We have always had the
control, and can yet, II we remain IL
1t, aud are as united a. We have been,