Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-09-22
GENERAL H. R. JACKSON.
HIS SPEECH IN ATLANTA TUES.
DAY NIGHT.
An Eloquent Appeal for Stephens
and the Democracy Democratic
Principles - The Issues of the
CampaIgn-Mr. stephens Record.

and the Democracy Democratic
Principles - The Issues OF the
CampaIgn-Mr. stephens Record.
The following is the speech Of General h. R.
jackson, delivered at DeGive's Opera House,
Atlanta, Tuesday night. Being introduced by
Mr. E. P. Howell, he said:
FRIENDS AND FELLOW CITIZENS, LlDIEs AND
GENTLEMEN: / must confess TO Keellng or en-
barrassment in appearing before you Tonight
First because by no possibility can hope to
bring the original up to the fattering picture
which has been so gracefully PARTED by the
gallant gentleman who has introduced me-
And, secondly, because Of matter OF not the
slightest interest to the public, and yet natu-
rally of some concern to mySelr, through
mistake Of friends. who, am sure, would have
been deeply panied by the thought of causing
me the slightest embarrassment, IL has been
repeatedly announced from the Atlanta Con-
stittti0n that proposed to speak at different
points In the State upon the political
issues before the people. Now, al
though it is undoubtedly true that rarely,
Of late, have / cared to be heard upon
any political topic, vet - & "0~ally true that
am not unwillir~ ny OF my peo-
ple-I mean. O. ~ % .He people OF Georgia
who may desire to hear nae, upon any fitting
occasion. But it is clear that / cannot make
the occasion for myself, by my own appoint
meNL, as II were CauuludLc uOuluhtou ny a
political convention, or we're self-nominated
tOiler for personal preferment. am happy IN
the belief that have kind friends in Augusta
in Milledgeville, in Athens and, should the no
tice to which have referred chance to come
to their attention, l prey permission to avail
myself Of this occasion to say that L purpose
putting in print whatever l shall utter tonight
and will esteem it a work Of friendship in
them, and in any of my friends anywhere, &c
read what shall say at their leisure.
And now the question comes up In order,
what am | to say upon the pohtlcal issues pc
fore the PEOPLE ?" What political issues are be-
fore the people Of. Georgian We are repeated
ly told that men perish, but that principles
are immortal and cannot die. And we are
correctly so taught, il to be principles az ali
they must be rooted in truth. But what prln-
present political contiicfS refer to the con-
flict for Governor; for with reference TO the
Congressional contest in this district l shall
have not word to say; first, because am BOT
invited to say it; but, secondly and mainly, De-
cause your able and distinguished representa-
tive is man enough to take care or himself
[Applause1 In my judgment he needs
the assistance Of no man, and, even II ne dld,
he is closely surrounded by strong heads and
stout hearts, who will assuredlY crown with
their appreciation his success In the past, by
speeding him on to greater achievement IN ire
future. [Applausel In the Gu6ernatorlal
campaign hold that any Georgian has right
to speak anywhere in the State. And, there
fore, ! come to speak to you here, ana only
constructively, by invitation OF the Executive
Committee | sought the invitation for my
self and am here upon my own motion, to say
what l think ought to be SAID by me, once LOT
all; not, however, because l think that Mr..
Stephens needs any assistance from me, or
because / have any doubt or MS trl-
umphant election. Phenomenal indeed, and
vet more distressing, would be the bare
possibility that, at this late day In her history,
he could be defeated for anything before the
people of Georgia. [Applause:l But believe
that there are some things which, IN TINS cam
paign, ought to be said by some one; ana tnat,
looking to my own personal anCecedenIS, num-
BILE and mediocre as l know them 20 oe, am m
one of the men who can say, and who ought TO
say them. In shOrA, the candidacy OF MIR.
Stephens brings certain principles and the man
together, and perfects a theme upon Whlch l
am more than willing to be heard. PRINCIPLES
and the man, then; this will be the burden OF
the song l purpose singing tonight. would
were sweeter soDgsterI
Principles, however, which, were we con
fned to appearances simply, are not now at
issue before the people, are to be FOUND IN no
ordinary political catechism, constitute planKs
in no partisan platform, are exclusively con
nected with no government-State, Federal
Confederate. or American; but which, never
theless, lie at the very foundation Of all re.
publican liberty in all parts OF the earth ana
in all the epOchs of time, and never more living
and practical in their character, nowhere more
imperative in their claims for recognition and
application than nOW-in our day, nere-ln
our State, and by each one OF ourselves.
Familiar to us all they may seem TO De, as
they shall be unfOlded; but rest assured ChaU
here familiarity will breed no contempt.
Familiar each one of us must be with the
Lords prayer, yet is it not wholesome TO re-
peat it every day; nay, every hour or the iu-
dividual life? Familiar to the child Is the
fathers arm, yet, if he be battling with the
waters in his early efforts to swim, how need
full to touch at times the fathers hand! Give
me, pray you, you, attention' while recall
few facts OF recent history.
More than fifth OF century has elapsed
since last addressed political assemblaRe in
Atlanta. As candidate upon an electoral
ticket, came hither TO advocate the claims OF
"BreckenridS eAnd Lane" to the support of our
people. Previously to my coming had re
paired to &he city of Augusta to witness the
opening of the Presidential campaign by Mr.
that had gone to Augusta to hear him deliver
his farewell address to his constituents upon his
retirement from public life because OF physi-
cal infIrnity. The nomination for Vice Presi-
dent upon the Douglas electoral ticket had
been rendered to him-had been pressed upon
HMM vain But. when the far humber
position Of elector for the State was
offered him, he took it, as 1 now believe i'm
PEELED by the purest dictates Of selfsacrihcing
patriotism Applause
Never can l forget a scene which occurred
upon the last. in date, of those memorable oc-
casionS. In the midst OF an appeal to the null
titude which thronged the court house square
so powerful In its peculiar eloquence that the
very night around us seemed to grow radiant
with intellectual Gght-his strength gave way;
he could no longer stand; he believed himself
TO be actually dying and exclaimed as he
sank into ia chair, gaspngly: i could not
die in a better cause" Applause The aD-
pearance Of the man. the information Of his
voice, the indescribable mesmeric surround
ngs-the lawyers would call them the res
gestae-of the occasion, left no possible room
for a doubt that we we're witnesses of
rare enactment in civil life of the death scene
on the field of battle, which has given to con-
summate patriotism, for all the ages the elias
steal words, 'Duice ct dec0T1tnI est pro pGtTtG
ntOTi"-it Is sweet and honorable for ones
country to die. Applause. Stephens, as the
boy, may have been ambitious; Stephens, the
man-nay, Stephens, even then, may have been
ambitious. But, so surely as every effect is
proof the most conclusive Of its own original
ing cause, it was not personal ambition which
gave his name to the Douglas electoral ticket;
it was not ambition which placed him upon
that stand that night, If need be, TO perish
there.
But the marvellous invalid did not die. So
far from it the fires of patriotism which burned
in his heart renewed the life of his aftenuated
frame. For hours bSequentlV at Savannah
for hours at Macon. when he was intro tucirg
his candidate, Mr.. Ducglas to the people of his
State in rapt attention l hea him; con-
strained to realize throughout my entire being
that such eloquen'e as fell from his lips, like
the ringing, Joyous laugh, like the pure and
genuine tear, is al owed by the God Of nature
alone to the true and patriot heart. zap
plausel
breckenridge
feated Lincoln carried the electoral college.
All Of US believed that the victor faction we're
attacking the Federal Constitution. Most Of
us believed in the abstract rIaht of a State to
secede. To exercise this sovereign right, or
not to exercise it then, that was the question
A question of mere political expediencY, it is
true, but rapidly developing itself into the
most gigantic issue that has ever shaken Geor
gia or the South. To be considered and de-
cided first by the General Assembly at Mil
ledgeville, the leading intellects of the State
were called thither to confer with the law
makers in her capitol halls There again
heard Mr.. Stephens. There again was con-
strained to realize that no personal ambition
had conducted him to that speakers stand.
there to antagonize no ordinary popular
breeze, but cyclone fierce from the trop-
les Tn re, too, was the great leader of the
storm, iabOTing 10 battle him. Right valiantly
did he struggle. But when it had become too
apparent even to himself that he
was struggling in vain, when to ard the close
of his effort, he said: You know,my country
men, that l do love my native Statel'' the
soul of Mr.. ToOmbs. which never
failed when touched by an adequate occasion
to rise tranScendent even above the grandeur
Of his intellect. brought him TO his feet With
the memorable words upon his lips: Eyes,
Alec, by heavens you do love your native
State" Applause Where is the man nan who
now upon this who does not accept the words
OF the chief in their fullest significance? Yes,
he does love his native STATED Like the younger
Pitt. with no wife or children OF MS own, ne
does love her with his "heart OF hearts," Zap
plause and there moves not poor and
worthy boy to-day upon her bosom whom he
would not take, IL he could. to the warm en-
brace of a fathers arms. Applause.
The sovereignty of Georgia, in convention
embodied, resolved to secede from the Federal
Union Where stood Stephens thenY His State
neutrality-suspicious. dlstempered-ha re-
iected his counsel, and elsewhere looked for
leadership. Saddened, undoubtedly. he must
have been but was he embitteredf From his
rnnirt nf view the fntnrn before US was full Of