Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1878-06-06
THE HERALD.
LANCASTER
ThursdaY,.June, 6, ISIS.
EDWARD POLLOCK. Editor.
Alexander Stephens.

L
letter In which he, a southern Demo-
crat, denoIlnces the Potter business.
Stephens was always statesman. He
despissss the tricks of demagogues and
is not. slow to warn the people against
them. Though radically a pro slav-
cry man and resident Of the radi.
caAly pro-slavory and southern State
OF Georgia, he labored in the Legisla-
ture, and State Convention and with
the people to convince them of the
error of secession. When South Car
DINA passed the secession ordinance
be was a member of the Georgia
Legislature. When the subject of se-
cession was before that body he ad-
monished his people in the following
considerate and truthful language:
"The first thing that presents itself
is, Shall the people of the South Sc
cede from the Union in consequence
of the election of Mr.. Lincoln to the
Presidency of the United States ?
My countrymen, l tell you frankly,
candidly, and earnestly, that no not
think that they ought. In my iudg-
ment, the election of no man, consti.
tutionally chosen to that high office,is
sufficient cause for any State to sepa-
rate from the Union. 1t ought to
stand by and aid still in maintaining
the Constitution of the country. To
make a point of resistance to the Gov.
ernment-to withdraw from it, be.
cause man has been constitutionally
elected puts us in the wrong. We
are pledged to maintain the Constltu-
ton. Many of us have sworn to sup
port 1T. Can we, therefore, for the
mere election of man to the Presi-
dency-and that, too, in accordance
with the prescribed forms of the Con-
stitution-make a point of resistance
to the Government, and, without be-
coming the breakers of that sacred
instrument ourselves, withdraw our
selves from it? Would we not be in
The wrong? Whatever fate is to be-
fall this country, let it never he laid
to the charge of the people of the
South, and especially of the people of
Georgia, that we were untrue TO our
National engagements. Let the fault
and the wrong rest upon others. If
all our hopes are to be blasted, if the
Republic is to 60 down, let us be
found to the last moment standing on
the deck, with the Constitution of the
United States waving over our heads.
(Applause.) Let the fanatics of the
North break the Constitution, if such
is their fell purpose. Let the respon-
slblllty be upon them. | shall speak
presently more of their acts; but let
not the South, let us not be the ones
to commit the aggression, We went
into the election with this people
the result was different from what we
wished but the election has been
constltntionally held. Were we to
make point of resistance to the Gov
eminent, and go out of the Union on
that account, the record would be
made up hereafter against us.
| "But, it is said, Mr.. Lincoln's pol
| icy and principles are against the
| Constitution, and that, if he carries
them out, it will be destructive of our
rights. Let us anticipate threatened
evil. 1T he violates the Constitution,
then will come our time to act. Do
not let us break it, because, forsooth,
he may. If he does, that is the time
for us to strike. (Applause.) | think
it would be injudicious and unwise
to do this sooner. I do not antici-
pate that Mr.. Lincoln will do any
thing to jeopardize our safety or secu
rity, whatever may be his spirit to do
it; for he is bound by the constitu-
tional checks which are thrown
around him, which at this time, rem
der him powerless to do any great
mischief. This shows the wisdom of
our system. The President of the
United States is no Emperor, no Die.
tator-he is clothed with no absolute
power. He can do nothing unless he
is backed by power in Congress- The
! House of Representatives is largely in
the majority against him. In the
Senate, he will also be powerless.
There will be majority of four
against him. This, after the loss of
Bigler, Fitch, and others, by the I'M
fortunate discussions of the Demo-
cratic party in their States. Mr.. Lin.
coin cannot appoint an officer with
out the consent of the Senate-he
cannot form Cabinet without the
same consent. He will be in the
condition of George Ill 1.-THE embodi.
ment of Toryism), who had to ask the
Wings to appoint his Ministers, and
was compelled to receive a Cabinet
utterly opposed to his views; and SO
Mr. Lincoln will be compelled to ask
OF the Senate TO choose for him a
Cabinet, if the Democracy of that
body choose to put him on such terms.
lie will be compelled to do this, or
let the Government stop, if the Ma
tlonal Democratic mentor that is
their name at the North-the con-
sentative men in the Senate-should
SO determine. Then, how can Mr..
Lincoln obtain Cabinet which
would aid him, or allow him, to vio-
late the Constitution
"Why, then, say, should we dis.
rupt the bonds of this Union, when
his hands are tied--when he can do
nothing against us
How clearly we can now see what the
South would have saved if her people
had listened to the wisest of her
statesmen. But these were not the
boldest words of warning by Mr..
Stephens His State called a Con.
vention to consider the question of
secession. He was member of that
Convention. In January, 1861, ia
the Convention he made the follow.
ing speech:
"This step, once taken, can never
be recalled and all .he baleful and
whitening consequences that must fol-
low will rest on. the Convention for