The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-07-04
WORDS THAT RING
ALEX. sTEPHEES GIVES AN ACCOUNT OF
HIS STEWARDSHIP.


The Atlanta special to the New York
Times gives the following report OF the
speech made by the Hon. Alex. II. Ste.
phens, on Wednesday.
MIR, Alexander H. Stephens addressed crowd
of $500 people in Augusta this evening. He said
he came before them to answer certain charges
preferred against him, and he did so in no spirit
OF unkindness. He was accused of FORGETTING the
confidence Of the Democratic Party in his course
on the Potter resolution The truth was that
Mr.. Potter, wltho ut any general conference with
his party, intro duced a resolution during my
absence inquiring into alleged Republican
frauds. Who doesn't know there were frauds I?
But my opinion that so rotten an egg had
better be buried than broken II the object of
investigation was to guide future legislation by
massing this evidence, why conine the scope OF
the investigation to one side? II Republicans
retorted that we, too, had stolen goods, wanted
as bold as a lion. also thought we should in
corporate the declaration that there OBJ
iect to unseat the President. | wrote to Mr..
Potter urging these points. 1t is said 1 am to
be ruled out of the party because made con-
cessions to the Republicans, and l was called a
deserter and betrayer OF party principles. l
have. however, been amply vindicated, for in
less than three weeks after Potter passed his
resolution, when the voice of the people made
itself heard, was gratiied to see the triumph
OF truth in the passage OF these notifications.
but mortified to see it done in the trail and I'M
der the lead of a Republican. tell you the
House howled me down, but m not to be howl
ed down, and / venture to say now that nine
tenthS OF my constituents sanction my courS e.
have no business in Congress if do not know
your interests even better than you do your
selves The dangers OF opening up the Presi-
Dental question were great. for had the real
course OF the projectors of the Potter resolution
been adopted, a war would have swept the coun-
try compared to which the recent civil war would
have been as breeze to cyclone. 1t would
not have been organized or sectional warfare, but
the battles Of the Commune and the cut-throats.
The same causes and the same influences were
at work as in 1860 saw danger ahead when the
Potter.
at peace, and the South had gained the
principles for which she longed. We were re-
ceiving fro n Hayes more than Tilden could have
given, and we wished to secure good govern
ment. Am to be ruled out of the Democracy,
then WHEN say support Hayes wise ad-
portance than whether this man or that be In
power !; and now am charged with having in
suited the Democratic Party of this district No
such intention was ever in my mind AS soon
would have insulted my mother, whose image
1 love, or my father whose memory revere.
meant no insult to any one, save to low
class of thimble-riggers and tricksters who sup
posed had hardly sensibillty enough to be insult
ed
neither seek nor decline the nomination OF
your party convention. have never asked Of
fee. When l am asked if will submit my
claims to a convention, answer, II have no
claims here is my life. II the people want it,
take it, Will lender my name Why my
strife or quarrel, but if Tor my course in Con-
gress the Democratic District Convention repu-
dates me will appeal to the people-the true
OF what said in my recent letter to the district
never eat my.wordS. have never Offended any
true Democrats. 1t tricksters try to kick me out
OF the house OF my fathers they'll find out it cant
be : they'll be kicked out themselves. I wish to
preserve harmony. and am willing to be conser
vative, but as Washington said: when bad
men conSpire, good men must combine" l shall
never be bound by caucus. A representative
Government can't be carried on under any such
principles. am willing to consult with MEM
bers of the party, but the idea of bringing i'll a
rope and lasso is but French Jacobinism revived.
/ belong to the old school of Jeffersonian De-
mocracy, which holds that principles, not men
nor organizations, make parties. These princi-
pies are broad as the earth, and as high as the
universe and embrace all races and colors; they
are catholic as the Christian religion, and are
founded on liberty, equality, and right. In the
darkest hours OF the Republic, seem to have
ganisn. yet mysteriously linked together each
spirit following with others, as wheels within
wheels, and the movement, as Ezekiel said, was as
the sound of mighty waters ana their voice as the
voice OF the Almighty. So the States have rights
mysteriOuSly working, yet connected with GER
tai nunion so that all move together and the East
ern world and the crowned heads OF Europe would
be amazed at the harmony OF our nation. have ev-
er had an abiding faith in Providence in this
matter, and believed that people must be bound
by the Union and that it would be preserved. 1
was brought up i'll the school of Jetfersonan
principles, and in that temple shall die. ! have
only to say, then, that if any of you are offended
at my words, let the dead past bury its dead;
let us live to perpetuate that great party which
has built up our state, and must eventually save
the nation.
Mr.. Stephens speech occupied an hour and
half in its delivery and the strength Of the speak
er lasted him WELL The speech had profound
effect, but fail ed to heal the breach between him
will probably oppose him in the convention. 1t
is thought he will sweep the field at all events,