Newspaper Page Text
H. DWIKKfilj, Kmton.
GKO. T. STOVALL, Assort*
home, ga.
TUESDAY XOlUniWi Kov. SO,
From tin yUlMjcvlllo haninkr.
smelt OK
HON. A. II. STEPHEN*.
MvmJ i» tU Hall«/ H‘t Ilf*, d fkp-
V Gnrjic, l.scn-
...jf, Xov. J Mi 180U, ...
[nil-on,mi M ». * mmuiml.!
i.»nj$ nn \ rapturous applnuso* lie rose
Kki'I’iVw tJmzitxs:—f Appear before
you tonight i%4 the request of Member*
ol‘ the Jbegklitturo ana otlioiv, to speak
:»f mat tor* of thu deepest interest that
oi i^iblyxoncorti us nil of nn earth*
ly Qlimiictcr, Ibero iit nothing, tto
motion or Miihjuot oniinocted Willi thi*
•tie tlmt concethr a free people no inti
mately i« that of tho government un*
. which we live. \y« urn now, Indeed
t bo found to tho Inst
ending on-the deck vrtthThft
)ll of tlio l
nil its defot'
of nil coot I Gov
Constitution of tho United State# wav*
ingover our head*. (A|»plnuno.) hot
tho fanatics of tho KortJrlircnk tho Con*
Mitutiou if such i» their foil j*ur(>ose.— _
Lot tho refciHm-dbllity Ih\U(ioii them. 1 or on the Int o
shall speak presently ntoro of their Acts;
but lot not tho South, let us not.be the
oucsJp commit tbpatgWHsion^Wo went,
into tho citation With this people. The
result was different from what wo wish*
cd; but tho election has been constitu
tionally lield. Were wo to make a
point of resistance to the Government
utul go out of the Union on that no-
count, the record would be made- up
hereafter against us.
Hitt It Is said Mr. Lincoln** policy
and principle*Hrto Against the Constitu
tion, and that if ho carries thorn out
it will bo destructive of our rights.—
Lot us not nnticiiMito a threatened ovll.
If he violates the Constitution then will
AA..W. Alll. tllllf, Ill n.A 1 lit# .1.
f And
it is ho in our Government. Hut that
this Government of our fathers, with
noarer tho oV\]ccts
Ints than any oth-
.... ..y. the earth, is my set
tled conviction. Coppmst it now with
any .on tho face or the earth. (Knglund
id Mr. Tnnuih*.) Ml*. Stephen*: Kng-
land my friemTaiiys. Well, that is tliu
tvxt beat 1 grunt, hut I think wo have
improved upon Kngluud. .Statesmen
many, ppmcut.of wealth, and all the material
* ‘ ~ r rcAOurce* of national j>owor and great
ness as tho Southern States have under
the Genoial Government notwithstand
ing nil its detects!
. Mr, Toombs-p-itt spite of it*
I Mr. Stephens—-My Hop. -frli
wo have, in spite of tho Gel
eriimentftlmt without it I
thinks wo might liuva done
perhaps better than wc have done this
in spitoof it. Tills may bo, and it muy
, , 0 ._ not be, but tho great fact that wo have
tried their apprentice hand on the Gov- grown great und powerful under .the
eminent or Knghmdiaml then out? -wits, government m it exists, there Is no con*
—.do. Our* sprung from that, avoid- lecture or speculation about that, it
I many of its tlcfecfs, tnklnp most of stands out hold, high mid prominent
coiiio our time 'to
break it htofeftlltai fo,
lie does, that Is tire t !
iV. bo not lot us
Mbbolhny. If
iftffwlM (6 strike.
(Applause.) 1 think it would l»o in-
judicious und unwise to do tills sooner.
1 do not anticipate that Mr. Lincoln
will do anything to jeopard our surety
or security, whatever may bo Ids spirit
to do it; tor ho Is bound by the cousti*
tlio good and Weaving out many of its
errors, add from the whole constructing
SUd building up this model Republic—
tho best which tlio history of |lio world
gives any accouut of. Compare, my
friends, tills Government with that of
!.Spain, Mexico, the South American Ho-
1 publics) Gcimuny,Ireland.. Are there
i i wiucu wc live, w uo iv, wr iio a uwim uy vuu
surrounded by evils. Never since .l ltutlonal checks which aro thrown
i-ntorccd upon the public stage, hostile I around him, which at tlij* timo render*
•'-wintry, been so environed with Ulffi- 1 him poWfevtffas to do any great mischief,
unities and danger* that threatonud.the l’Tlils shows tlio wisdom or our system.
1> ihlic peace und the very ©xwUmoo of Tfo* President of the United State* is
./loty a* now, ; \ do.not. now appear no Kinporor, no Diotnlor—ho Is cloth
’ you at niy .oyytivlnatance. ,|t is
•- dS. Rv
•! to yn.tirv u -U-,i
1 un here, lludl
my own that
died my own
1 mi here, lladl confuUa
«.we ami pleasure I should net bo be
fore ydii; biiTboUQvihg that it fa the
duty of every good cliLcti to give his
counsels and vtotfa whenever tho coun
try is in danger, as to the best policy to
bo pursued I am here. For tli<**o rcu-
sons and fHM only do I bespeak
u calm, patient and an uttcntlvo bear
ing. . . ,
My obfect Is not Jo stir up itrifc, l*ut
to allay is; nbl to uppeul to your pas
sions,'bnt to your reason. Good gov
ernments can ne/cr bo built up or sus
tained by 'the impuUo of )«s»iou. I
wish to address myself to your good
judgment', and if after hearing you dis
agree, Ictus agree to disagree, and part
as wo mot, friends. We all iinvo tlio
►iimo oinect, thp interest. That
p<Miplo should dbagreo In republican
; >\ornmenU uuoti (iiiestioiiN ot nublio
] • >liey is uMtiinu. Tliatmon should dls-
a mm upon all mat tort, connected with
liuin.in investigation, whothor relating
t > soienWor Unman conduct, Is natu
ral. Hence, in freo governments Wi
tic* will arise. Hut a freo poonle should
express their* dlQerbnt 'mtfmons witji
liberality tmd charity, with no acrimony
toward* those of tlieir fellows when hon
estly und sincerely given. These aro
my toolings to-night.
lad us tiieroforo reason together. It
is not my purpose to say ought to wound
thu feelings of Any individual wlio may
In* present; and if in tho ardenoy with
which 1 shall express my opinions, l
shall say any thing which may bo deem
ed too strong, let it bo not down to tho
seal with which 1 advoento my own con
victions. There is with me no intention
to irritate or olUmd.
FoUow-cUixous wo are all launched in
tho Homo barquo, wo aro all in the same
craft in tlio wide political ooeap—tile
Kimo destiny awaits us all for woal or
tor woo* Wo have been launched in
tlm goad old ship that has boon upon
tho waves for three quarters of a centu
ry, which has boon lit many tempests
and storuw, bus many times been in
peril, and patriots hnvo often feared
i hat thoy should have to give it up, yea,
had at times almost given it up, but
Mill tho gallant ship is afloaty though
new storm* now bowl, around us, and
tho temporit beats heavily against us, 1
ny to you don't give up tho ship; don't
abandon her yet* If she can possibly
he preserved, and our rights, interests
ami security b* maintained, the oljjeot
i - worth tho ollbrt. .Lot us not on ac
count of disappointment and chagrin
at tlio reverse of an election give uu all
us lost, but let us seo what can be dono
to prevent a wreck. (Home one . said
the ship lias holes in her.) And tlicro
muy.be.lcaks In hor, but let us -stop
them if wo can; many a stout old ship
. <* been savod with richest cargo, after
m uty leaks, and U may be so now,—
(i;iiQora.)j J •
I do not, on this occasion, intend to
enter into tlio history of the reasons or
causes of the embarrassment* which
l i es* so lroavlly upon us alt *t this thne.
to justice to - mysolf, hnWeyer. l uhist
barely statu upon this point, that 1 do
think much of it dopondod h|ion our-
solves. The consternation that has
• »ino upon tlio people is tkorestllt of a
•‘tioual election of a President of the
( uited Status, one whose opinion* und
ivowod principles aro in niitngoni*m to
irintorcstsuud rights, and wc boliovo
.: carri.od out, would subvert the Con-
Milution under which wo now live.—
Hut are wo entirely - blamclo&s in this
matter, my countrymen?.-.Jrgive it to
\»u a* uiy opinion! that hut for the pol
icy tlio Southern people pursued this
. -urful result wcuid not have occurred.
Mr. Lincoln has boon elected, 1 doubt
not, by a minority of the--people of the
ruited States. What will bo tlio ex
tent of that - miuority we do .not yet
know, but ibo uisciosuro when made
will show, I think, thql a majority of
i lie constitutional, conservative voters
"f tho country wero against hlui; and
ii id the South stood Urmly In tlio. Con-
wiitlon ht Charleston, on her old plat-
firm of .principles of Non-intevcntion,
i hero i* in nfy mind but little doubt that
u ho ever might have been the candidate
of tlio National Democratic Party ho
would have boon elected by a* large a ma
jority an that which elected Mr. Bachaii-
.ii or Mr. Pierco. Therefore let us not be
hasty ami null in our aotlon, especially
if tho result be attributable at all to
ourselves, before looking to extreme
measures, let us flrit see, as Georgians,
that every tying which can be done to
preserve our limits, ^ om* interest* and
o it-hondr, n? well as the noaco of tho
. mntry in flio Union, be tirst done.
(Applause#) * "
Tho* ilrst ijifestfon that presonts Itsolf,
i«. fchiHl the ppoplo of the .South secede
i: un the Union in cotiicquejice of the
. lection of Mr. Lincoln to tho Presi
dency of tho United .Stales? My conn
tvymcu, I tell yoil frankly, candidly,
und earo«atlv, that I do not think thin
thy ougl*t. In my judgment, the elec
tion of no man, constitutionally chosen
to that high ojlico, i* sulUcient cause for
any Htaio to separate from tho Union.
It ought to stand by and aid still In
maintaining the Constitution of the
country. To make a point of resistance
to the Government, to withdraw from
it becaurfa a man tuu> been constitution
al !y elected, puts u* hi thp wiong. Wo
are pledged U> ninjiitaiii the Constitu
tion. Many of us l»avo sworn to sup-
port It. Can wo therefore, for tba mere
•lection ct* a man to the Presidency,
m\ that too in accordance with the pro-
• •rihed forms of the Constitution, make
.i pointof rosistanco to^lie Government
without bucoinlng the breaker* of that
A.aored instrument ouvselvcs? Witli-
draw ourselves from it? Would we
hoc be in tho wrong? Whatever fate
is to befall tbj* country, let it never lie
laid to the charge of tho peoplo of the
iSontli, and e«pd<gidly to tho f>eoplo of
Georgia that wo jwntruo to our na
tional cngngoiivenU. the fault and
fa the .wrong r.eefc ujioii otlior*. If all our
bofioiOffl to bo blasted, If )lio Republlo
od with no absolute power, lie can
do nothing miles* lie 1* Uicked by pow
er In l/ongresj. Tho House ofilepru-
Congresj. Tlio House of Hcpru-
mtatives is largcl;
against him. In t
tooth of tlio heavy majority which ho
lias obtained in the Northern. States,
tlicro have been largo gain* tho In House
of Itepivsciitntiyo* to the Conservative
Con*tituti‘dnh1 party of the cauh'try,
which here I will call ' tlio National
Democratic party, liecnuso thut Is the
rogiiotneh It has at the North. There
aro twelve of ttitfa plTrty^ctocted from
Now York-'td ' tlio next Cfmgre**, 1
believe. In thu present House there
lire but four* 1 think, lu Pennsylvan
ia, New Jersey, Ohio and Indiana there
liqvo booh gains. Tu the present Con*
;rt*s* there were 113 Republicans, when
t take* 117 to make a minority. The
gains In tho Democratic parly in Pei\n*
sylvnnla, Ohio, New Jersoy, Now York,
lndiima apd other Staton, not\vUh«tund-
Ing it* distractions, have been enough to
make a majority of near thirty in tlio
next House against Mr. Lincoln. Kvon
Id Boston, Mr. Burlingame, one of the
noted leaders of tho fanatics of that
section, bos been defeated, and a con
servative man returned lu his stead.—
Is this tho ttmo thun to niiprohend that
Mr. Lincoln, with this largo majority
In the House of Representatives against
him, can carry out any of hi* unconsti
tutional principles In that body?
In the Senate ho will also bo power
less. There will l>o a minority of four
against him. This after the loss of
Bigler, Fitch, and others, by their un-
fortunsto dissension* of the National
Democratic jsirty in their .States. Mr.
Lincoln oannot appoint an othcer with
out the consent or the .Senate -he can-
not form a Cabinet without tho same
consent. Ho will bo In tlio condition
of George tlio Third, (tho embodiment
of Toryism,) who had to ask tho Wldgs
to appoint Id* Minister*, and was com
pelled to receive a Cabinet utterly op-
posed to his view*; and so Mr. Lincoln
will be compelled to ask of the Senate
to choose for 1dm a Cabinet, if the De
mocracy of that liody chose to put him
on snob terms. He will ho compelled
to do this or lot tha Government stop,
If the National Democratic men, (for
that i* tlieir name at the North,) the
donsprvqtivo men in tho Nutiate, should
so determine. Then how can Mr. Lin
coln obtain a Cabinet which would aid
him, or allow him to violate tlio Con
stitution ? Why then, 1 *i\y, shiiild
we disrupt the tie* of thin Union when
his liana* aro tied, when ho can do
nothing against us? I have heard It
mooted that no man In the State of
Georgia, who Is truo to hor interests,
ooulu hold rJHco Under Mr. Lincoln.—
But I o*k who appoints to office? Not
Uie President alone; tho Senate ha* to
concur.' No man can be appointed
without thd consent of tlio Senator-
Should Any man then refuse to hold of
fice that vroa given him by a Democrat-
ie Senate ? (Mr, Toombs Interrupted
and sn\d if the SenKto was DemoonxUe
it was for Mr, Breckinridge.) Well,
then, continued Mr, s” i apprrhemi
no mnn could bo juttly oornddored uh-
truo to the interests of Georgia Or incur
anydfaxnioe, iftho intc-roats of Georgia
required it, to hold an office under
which a Breckinridge Sonate hod given
him, even/though Mr. Lincoln should
bo Prealdont. (Prolonged applause,
minglod with intorruptions.)
I trust, my countrymen, you will bo
stilLand silent 1 am addressing your
8 ood sfinso. I am giving you my views
\ a etdm aod dispassionate manner,
anddf Any of you dilfor with me, you
can on any. other occasion give your
views ns 1 am doing now, and let reas
on and truo patriotism doeido between
Ufc In ir.y judgment, I -My, under
such circumstances there would ho no
possible disgrueo fora Southern man
to hold office. No tuan will he su tic red
to be appointed, 1 have no doubt, who
is not true to tlio Coustitutiou, if South
ern .Senator* are true to tlieir trusts, a*
I cannot permit uiyuclf to doubt Hint
they will bo.
My lionorablo friend who addrossod
you last night, (Mr. Toombs,) and to
whom I listened wiili tlio profouhdest
attention, asks ifwtf Would submit to
Black Republican rule? I say to you
audio him. as a Georgian, I never
would submit to any Rlauk Republican
aggreuion upon onr Constitutional rights.
1 will never consent myself, ns tnueh a*
I admiro this Union, for the glorious of
the past or the blosolngs of the present,
a* much • ns it lias done for the people
of all thoso States, as much as it has
done for civilization; as much as the
hopes of tlio world hang Upon it; 1
would nover submit to aggression upon
niy rights to maintain itlongor; and if
they cannot bo maintained in the Un
ion, standing on the Georgia Platform,
where 1 have stood from the time of
its adoption, l would bo in favor of dis
rupting every tio which binds the States
together. I will have equality for Geor
gia'and for the c itizons of Georgia in
puiuics, (.crmtiny, noinim. are lucre
any k4u* jff that down-tnxldcn nation
here (oiiiybt 7 Prussia; or jfyou travel
further Kist, to Turkey .or China.—
Where will you go, following the *un In
its circuit round our globe,, to hud a
government that better proUot* tlio lib
wilesi of it* pi*o|*lo and Hvcuic* to ilium
Uiu blessings we eujqy, (Applause.)—
I tldlik that one of the evil* that beset
us |s a *ui foil qf liberty, an exuberance
of tin priceless blessing* for ,'vhiefi we
( urc ungrateful. Wc listened to niy hon
orable fiicud who addrosed you last
night (Mr,Tpqmb») a* he.recounted the
evil* ol ‘hi* Govoruiucnt, The llrst na*
tho (idling Isninties paid mostly to tlio
Midlnr* of New K.iJlmpl, Our frieud
stated that torty eight yean qf our Gov
ern men t was under the udiinnislnitUMi
of Southern Presidents. Well, these
fishing liouiitiea begun under the rule of
a Southern President. T believe. N>
one of them during the ivhulu forty
eight years ever set hi* ndiuiiiistratioii
against the priuclglu or npltey of them.
It is not for me to say whether it wa* a
wisp policy in the hegiuiiuig; it prolio-
bly was tint, and l have nothing to say
In It* defence. But the reason given for
it wu* to encourage our ,ioung men to
,;o to soq mid learn to manage ships.—
Wu hud at that timo hut a hiiuII navy.
It was thought bust to encoutoge a class
of our people to become acquainted with
sea faring life; to become sailors; to
mm our naval sld|i9. It requires pine-
tico Jo walk the deck or a ship, to pull
tlie rojies, to furl the sails, to £o ulolt.to
climb the mast ; and it was tlimiglit by
otl'eriug this bounty, n nursery might In
formed in which young men would be
come perfected In th.-se arts, und it ap
plied to olio soetion of the conntry as
well as to any other. The result of tills
was that iu tho war of ifil'J, our sailors,
many of whom came from this nursery,
wore equal to uny that Knglund brought
against u*. At any rate, iio small part
ol the glories of thut war wero gained
by the veteran tars of America, and the
oljeel of those imnntios was to foster
that branch of the national defence.—
My opinion is, that whatever may have
been tlio reason at iirst, this bounty
ought to bo discontlulled— the reason
for It at first no longer oxists. A hill
for thi* object did |nis* thu Senate the
lost Congress 1 was In, to which my hon
orable friend contributed greatly, but it
was not renuhod in the House of Repre
sentatives. I trust that he will yet see
Glut ho tuay with honor coiitiuue hi*
connection with the Government, ami
that Id* eloquence, unrivaled In the
Satiate, may hereafter, a* heretofore, he
displayed in having this bounty, so ob
noxious to him, repealed and wiped oft'
thu statute book.
Tin* next evil that my friend com
plained of wa* the Tarill*. Well, let us
look at that for a moment. About tho
tiipe I commenced noticing public mat
tors this question tviis agitating I Iio conn
try almost as fearfully iim the -lave ques
tion noiv i*. In 1832 when I w.ih in col
lege, .South Carolina was ready to nulli
fy or secede from tho Union on this ac
count. And what have wo seen? The
Turjir no longer distracts the public
councils. Reason has triumphed! The
last Turill was voted for by Massachu
setts and South Carolina. Tho lion and
tho lamb lay down together—every man
in the Semite and House from Alassn-
oliusettH and South Garolina 1 think v
ted for it as did my. honorable friend
hinuelf. And if it bo true, to use.the
figure of speech of my honoramu friend,
that ovory man in tho North that work*
in iron and biass und wood )ia«his mus
cle strengthened by tho piotectioll of
the Government, Unit stimulant was
given by Id* voto and I boliovo by eve
ry other Southern 'mail. Ho wo ought
not to complain of that.
Mr. Tooiius. That tarift' reduced the
duties;' ^ :* • •
Mr. S. Yes and Massachusetts with
unanimity voted with the South to les
sen them, mid they were made just n*
low a* Southern men asked them to be,
and that i* tho rate* they uro now at.—
If reason and argument withsuph expe
rience produce:! such change* in the
sentiment* from 1H32 to L8*>7, on Vho
sulyect of the Tariff,may not like chan-
genjie cftectriil tlicro by the sum* means,
reason and argument, nml appeal* to
patriotism on tho present vexed ques
tion. und who can say that by l87o or
ltfDU, Massachusetts may not vote witli
.South Carolina and Georgia 11(1011 all
liko your Htone Mountain Id which the
goutleuiun alluded iu illustrating homo
fuels In his icoordr— this great fact of
our unrivaled prosperity in the Union
a* it is admitted- whether all this Is In
spite of tho government—whether wo
of the Mouth would have been better
off without, tbc government U to say
the least problematical. Ou the one
sido We* cati only put tlio farit against
civilisation. -Have'we' any tuwarnnco property, or (lint or their citizens ing all the qucstlonr to them whether
that had *ve regarded tho earnest but > wherever found. - Tlio Slates of this I they will go out of the Union, or what
misguivlfid patriotic advice, as I think I Union stand upon tlio. samo footing emu so ^ they
T»Miiiwbf that day, and disrupted tlio with foreign nation* in' this respect, may
l*s which bind u* to tho Union, wo j But by tho law • of nations wo aro
Would .have advanced a* i\# liuva? I
think not. Well then, let us.be
fttl novrjbcforo we attempt nn;
fieriintnt of this sort. Ik
there aro friend* whose patriotism I do
not intend to question, who think this
Union a curse, and that wo would lie
better otf without it. I do not so think;
it ,we con bring about a correction Of
these evils which threaten—dind I am*
not wltUouc 1101hi that this may yet be
Uom—this nppcul to uoout with all tho
provisions for good tlmt nceonipany it,
I look upon as a great, and l fear n fa
tal (emulation.
When I look aroUtid and secour pros
perity In everything, agriculture, com
merce, art, science ana every depart
ment of education, physical and men
tal, ns well at moral advancement, and
our colleges, 1 think In tho face of such
nn exhibition if wo (fan without the toss
speculation and eoi(jeeturouii theother. of power, or any essential right or inter-
But even s* a question of speculation 11 est tcumin in the Union, it is our duty
differ with my distinguished friend —
What wo would Jiavo lost in Inirder
war* without the Union, nr what wo
have* gained simply by the peace it has
this Union, or I will look for now wife- { styled the mistress of tho seas. "What
guard* elsewhere. This l* my (>o*itioii. ‘ American is not proud of the result 7—
secured no estimate .can be made of.—
Our foreign trade which is the founda
tion of all our prdsjvmty ha* tho pro
tection of the Navy, which drove the
pirate* from tlio water* near our coast
where they hud been buccaneering for
centuries la-fore, ami might have bucu
still had it not Ih.h'ii fir tlio American
Navy under the commnud of such
spirit* u* Uon11110.hu e Porter. Now
that the coast is dear, that our com
merce flows freely outwardly and in*
wardly ive enuiot Wdl estimate how it
would have' been under other circum
stance*. The intluciico of the govern
ment on 11* is like that of the utmos-
phc.ro around us. Us bcudiu aru so
silent and unseen that they uro seldom
thought of or appreciated.
We seldom think of tho single ele
ment of oxygen in tho air ivo breathe,
mid yet let this simple unseen and
unfult agent he withdrawn, this life-
giving element he taken away from till*
nll-pcrvading fluid around u», and what
instant and nii|Milling changes would
take place (11 all organic creation 1
It may he that we are all that we are
in "spite nl the General Government,
hut it may he that without it wi
have been far difleretit from '
are now. It 1* true thru* 1* 1
part of. the earth with fiat 111 al 1
superior poi-lmps to ours. That portion ! L
of this oouiitry known as the .Southern
States *tretelling from thu Uhosa|»eukc
to tlio Rio Grande i* fully equal to tlio
picture drawn by the lion, and elo
quent Senator last night, in till nutmnl
capacities. But how many age* amt
conturic* passed before these eapaeitie*
wero developed to reach this advanced
stngo ol civilization? These same
hills, rieli in ore, samo rivers, sumo val
leys, mid plaiu*, are a* they have been
filice they eauic from the hand or tho
Creator, uneducated mid uncivilized
man roamed over them lor bow long no
history inform* it*.
U was only under our institution*
that they could bo developed. Their
development i* the rci-ult of tlie eu-
terprize of our people under operations
of the Government and institution*
under which wo huve lived. Kven our
ticoplo without tlieso nover would
have done It. Tlio organization of so
ciety has much to do With the devel
opment of tho natural resource* of
any country, or any laud. The in
stitutions ol a people, (Kiliticul and mo
ral, aro tlio matrix iu which the germ of
tlieir orgaido struoturo quickens into
life—take* root mid develop* in form,
nature und character. Our institutions
constitute Hie basis—tho matrix from
which spring all our characteristics of
development mid great ness. Look at
Greece, tlicro is the snmo fertile soil,
the sumo blue sky, the same inlet* and
harbors, thu sauio Kgean, the same
Olympus, there is tho same laud wbero
Homer sung, where Pericles sjmkc: it
is in nature the same old Greece; but
it i* living Gfecco 110 more. (Applause.)
Descendant* of thu sauio people in
habit the country; yet what is the rea
son of this mighty diflcrciicuj In
tho midst of present degradation wo
see tho glorious fragments of ancient
works bf art—temple* with ornament*
and inscription* that excite wonder
and adniirntinn—the remain* of a once
high order of civiliizntlon which have
outlived tho htugungo tiny spoke—
uprill them nil lohiibod 1* written—
tlieir glory lia* departed. Why‘lathi*
so? 1 answer tlieir institutions liavo
been destroyed. 1 These wore but the
fruits of their forms of government,
the matrix from which their grand de
velopment sprung, and when once tho
institution* ofqvperiplo'lmvo been des
troyed, there is no earthly power that
can bnrtg back the Promethean spark
to kindle them here again, any more
than in that ancient la fttl of eloquence,
poetry und song. )Applause, f The
same may bo said of Italy. Whero
is Rome, once ilio uii*tu«s of the
world ? There are the same seven hill*
now, tho Mime soil, tlio mi mo natural
1 resource*; nature is tho same, hut
hat a ruin of human greatness meet*
to ourselves mid to posterity to—let us
not too readily yield to this temptation
—do *0. (Jur first parents, tho groat
projenitot* of the human race were nbt
without a liko temutation when In the
K rden dr Kdcn. Tlioy were led to he-
we that their condition would bo bet
tered—that their eye* would be opened
—nml that they would become hk Ood*.
They in an evil hour yielded—instead of
becoming Gods, they only saw I heir own
nakedness. 1
1 look upon thi* country with nur in
slit 11 tiotis ns the Kdcn of the world, tlio
(siradise of tho universe. It may ho
thiit*out of it we may become greater
and more prosperous, but I am candid
mid sincere in telling you that I fear if
we Tastily evince |ta*»ioii mid without
sufficient cuuVt shall take that step that
instead of becoming greater or more
|M>m*cfiil, prOstHMOti* and happy—in
stead of becoming Go<K we will become
demon* and at no distant day cotiv
inenoe cutting one another* throats.— ,
Thi* i« my apprehension. L. t us there
fore, whatever we do. meet the*n tliffi-
mtltlcK, great as they are, like wise mid
sen*ihlo men, and consider them ill
the light r f all the consis|uences
which limy attend our action. Let 11*
seo first clearly wheio tha path of duty
leadN mid then ivo may not fear to tread
lion!.! • liicre n.
.•1 w. L’* " ,,v t° the main question pul
equal 11 Mm . and « n which my counsel no*
a-'ketl. That Is wliat the present
w l.ittliu should do iu view of tho
dangers that thremeutis.nndthe wrongs
that have been done 11* by several of
our confederate .States in the Union, by
tlio net* of tlieir Legislature* nullifying
the Fugitive .Slave Law, and in direct
disregard of their constitutional obliga
tion*; W hut 1 shall say will not I o in
the spirit of dictation.* li will ho sim
ply my own Judgment for what it Is
worth. It proceeds from a strong con
viction that according to it our right*,
interests and honor—our present safety
and future sconrity can he maintained
without yet Idoking to the last resort,
the “ultima ratio regum." That should
not bo looked to until all elso fails. That
may come. O11 this point I mn hopeful
but not sanguine. But let u* uho every
patriotic eflbrt to prcvAn* it while there
s ground for hope.
If any view that I tiny present, in
your judgment, bo inconsistent with
the best interest ot Georgia. 1 ask yon
iv* patriots not to regard it. After
hearing mo and others whom you have
advised with, act in the premise* ac
cording to your own conviction of duty
a* patriots. I speak now particularly
to the members of tho Legislature
present. There are ns I have said great
danger* ahead. Great danger* may
coiiio from tho election 1 have spoken
of. If the policy of. Mr. Lincoln and
hi* lb-publican associate* shall 1k» car
ried out, or attempted to bo carried
out, no mnn In Georgia will bo more
willing or ready than myself, to defend
bur light*, interest and honor at every
luizznid and to the last extremity.—
(Applause.) Whut is this policy? It
is ill the first place to exclude 11* by an
act of Congress # fconi tho Territories
with our slave property. He is for
using the power oi tlio General Govern
ment against the extension or our insti
tutions. Ihir position on this point is
arid ought to bn, at all hazards for per
fect equality between all the States mid
the Citizens of all the States in tho Ter
ritories. tinder the Constitution of .tho
United .State*, if Congress should rxcr-
«i*o it* power ngaitlst this,* then I am
fur Rtmiding where Georgia planted her-
Ulllf 111 lUAll r PlliUik .tl.lll atHMtA.'
equally bound,be&N pifeMeding to vio
lent miastftn tank forth our griev
ances beforp tho ottemling government
to'give tnem mvripportunity to redress
tlio wrong. Has our 8tnto yot done
this ? I tliink not. ,
Hup|M!se it wore Great Britain that
had violated sonic conqiact of agree-
mont witli tho General Government;
wliat would l>o first done? In that
case our Minister would be directed in
tho first instance to bring the mutter
to tlio attention or that government, or
a commissioner Iks sent to that country
to open negotist ions with her, a»k for
redress, and it would only bo after ar
gument and reason hud been exhausted
in vuiti that wo would take tlio last re
sort of Hallfois. That would ho the
course towari* a foreign g«>verntn»*nt,
and towards a member of this Uuiled-
eracy 1 would recomuivlld the same
course. Let ns. therefore not net has
tily In this limiter. I**t your Commit
tee on tho Htntn of thu Repuhllu m ike
out a bill of grievance* j let it be sent
by the Governor to those faithless Hiatus
and If reason and argument shall Ih»
tried in vain—all shall fail to induce
them to return to tlmir enustitutiotnd
obligation*, I would be for retaliatory
measure*, such a* the Governor has
suggested to you. Tin's mode of re*!*-
tiuv'o in tho Union 1* itf nhr jiower.—
It might lie ett'ectual, and ill tho last
resort we would tsi ju*idled in the
eyes of nations, not only 1« separating
from them, hut by usin^ force.
iature act, jplifett tha j
* 0 heard, mwl
tanoo to tear this Governing .
\ ou wore not sent U*ro o P , °^l
roso. 1 would wlnll iho ° 1, •'“l I 1
*0 united, ir tl.u i. to ft 1 " *•
! boll « v « If WO |>ut.uo tlio : *
I have indicated, this
*8 -J
(Some ono said the nrgulnelij was
already exliaiistetl.)
Mr.* .Stephims continued.*—Some
Iriuqd say* that, the argument> alrea
dy exhausted. No, my friend, it i*
not. You have novel tilled the atten
tion* of the Legislature* of tlirise State?
to.this siitjpHM, thut lam aware-nl'.—
Nothing lius ever bc« n dj
year. The attention of uur own \u:o-
.pie ha* been called to the subjec lately.
Now then my recouinieitdriti-ili to
y«Ki would Ihi tins, liv view ot all these
question* of difficulty, let a convention
ol the people of Georgia be cubed, to
which they may be all refeired. Lot
the sovereignty of the people speak.—
.Soma think that the election of Mr
Lincoln is cause sufficient to dissolve
tlio Union. 8o(uu think thoso other
grievance* are sufficieiit to dissolve the
same, nnd that tho legislature ha*
thu (tower thus to set and ought thu*
to act. I have 110 hesitancy iu saying
that the Legislature is not the proper
body to sever our Federal relations, if
that necessity should arise. An hon
orable and distinguished gentleman
the other, night (Mr. T. 1L It. Cobb)
advised you to take tb*« course—not
to wait to hear from the cross road*
and groceries. 1 say to yon, you have
no (Haver so to net. You must refer
this question to the people and you
iuii*t wait to hear from the men at the
cross road* and even Hie groceries; ba
ilie people in thi* country, whether
at the crus* loads or tho groceries,
whether 111 cottage* or palaces, are ail
equal, and they urn the sovereign* in
this country. .Sovereignty is not 111 tlio
Legislature. Wu, the people, are the
sovereigns. 1 am one of them and have
a right to lie heard, und so ha* any
other citizen of the State. You legis
lators, I speak it respect fully, aro but
our servant*. You are tlio servants of
the (ample, and not tlieir nuwters.--
Power reside* with the peoplo in this
country. Tlio groat difference between
our country mid all others, such as
Franco and Kngluud, and Ireland, is
that hero there i* popular sovereignty,
while there sovereignty is exorcised by
kings uud favored classes. Tlds prir.-
ciplo of popular sovereignty, however
much derided lately, 1* the foundation
of our constitution. Constitutions ore
but tlio channel* through winch the
popular will may be expressed. Our
Constitution came from tup people.—
They made it and they alone cun right
fully unmake it.
Mr. Toombs. I am afraid of cotiv
tious. „ ,. „
Mr. Stephen*. I am not afraid of any
convention l*g»dly cIumuii bv the pim
ple. 1 know 110 way to decide great
questions affecting fundamental laws
except by representative* of tbc people.
The constitution or -thw Uuited State*
was made by tfro representative* of tho
people. Tho constitution of the State
of Georgia wa* made by tho representa
tive* of tlio people chosen at the bnllot
box. But do not let the question which
comes before the people lie put to I belli
in liiu language of my Honorable friend
who addressed you last night. Will
you submit to abolUlon rulb or will you
resist?
Mr. Toombs. I do not wish tho peo
pie to lie cheated.
Mr. Stephen*. Now, my friends, how
aie wo going to cheat tlio people by call-
ingou them to elect delegate* to a con
mm% iv ,»v» i , mi; iv „ UH , ,, w „ u .,,- volition to decide all these que*tiou«
coin's policy should he carried out, I without any dictation or ditec ion.—
have toldyou-that Ido not think his Who proposes Uf client the people by
self in 183(1. These were plain propo
sitions which were then laid down in
her celebrated IMntfomi n* sufficient for
the disruption of the Union if tlio oc
casion should ever come; 011 these
Georgia has declared tliat she will go
out of the Union; nud for those suri
would l*e jusffth d by tlio nation* of the
earth in so doing. Isay thu same; I
said it then ; 1 say |t nriiv, if Mr. Lin-
with th e earn pit desire* to nreservo tho
|M.>ace and harmony of the State. 1
should dislike ubovo nil thing* to see
violent tueasu: es adopted or a dispo
sition to take the sword in hand,
by individuals without the authority of
law. '•* ^ ^
My ho.nornblo friend said last • night.
I ask you to give mu the sword, Ibr if
you do not give it tc me, nut God lives,
1 will take it mysclfr"
Mr. TiHimb*. I will. [Applause 011
the other side.) '
Mr. Stephens- I have no doubt that
my honorable friend lecU as he says.—
It i* only UU vx«Ms*tau*ntof thu! makes
him use such all expression; but this
will (mss off' with tlie excitement of tho
hour. When the people Ih tlieir majes
ty shall nptsik, I have no doubt he will
bow to tlieir will, wliatever it may bo,
upon a "sobur leooud thought," (Ap
plause.]
Should Goorgin determine to go out
of the Union, 1 *(H?sk lor one, tuoiigh
my view* might uot agree with them,
Whatever thu ip*mU may bo, 1 wliult bow
to the will of her iH-uplu. Their cause
i* tny ciiu*e, and their destiny is my des
tiny ; and 1 trust this will be' the ulti-
mule course of all. Tho greatest curse
that can bkiidl a free people is a civil
war.
But as 1 said let us call a convention
of the people. Let nil thtse matters lie
submitted to it, slid when the will of u
majority of the people li.s thus been
expc.-sMil, thu whole State will prcreui
one ttiianimmt* voice in favor ol what
ever may bo demanded, fur I believe in
the (lower ol the people to govern tlu-m-
selves, wucii.wisdiuii preVHiis and p*».
kioii is Kilcut. Lain at wliat ha> aliea-
i.V bceii ilolie by them tui* tlieir ud-
aiicenn-nt tit ati tliat enoliles m.tti 7—
is nothing tike it m the history
uf the world. Look abroad tr*»iu one
xtent of the country 10 the other, cun
tenl)>lateour gieatuos, we are tiqw
among.Vho first nations of tho earth.—
.Shall it lie said thut our institutions
founded ii|hjii tho principles 01 sell-gov-
eminent are a failure?
Tims far it is a noble example, wor
thy of imitation. Hie gentleman, Mr.
Cobb, the other night said it h ul prov
en u failure. A tailure in Wliat? lit
Look ul our expanse in nation
al power. Look at our' (Hj(iu)alioii and
mciease hi ail that makes a people
great, A failure, why we are the ad
miration 01' tiie civilized world, and
present the brightest hopes of man
kind.
Some of nur public men have failed
ill tlieir aspirations; that is true, and
from that come* tv great part of
troubles, [l'rolonged applause.]
No, there is no failure «r thi* gov
ernment yet. We have made great
(vaiiccmeiit under the Uuiistitiu
ud 1 eaniiot tail hope that we «hau
advance inglier still, i.ei us be trm-
tr trust.
Now when this Convention usseiubli
if it slialt tie called, us 1 hope it may,
would say iu my judgment, witlioiit dic
tion, fur i am cotiU-mug witli you free
ly und frankly, and it is thu* that 1
give my views, it should take into ct-n-
sidcitvliim all thoso questions which dis
tract the public mind ; should • iew all
the ground* of secession so far us the
election of Mr. Lincoln is concerned,
and I have 110 doubt that they would
say that thu Comtitutioniil election of
no nun i* a sufficient cause to break up
the Union, hut that, the Statu should
watt until bo does some uiicoustitution
al aet.
Mr. Toombs. Commit some overt
act. -• * I
Mr. Stephens. No, I did not say that
The word overt is a sort of technical
term connected with treason, which ha*
couio to u* from tlie mother country,
and it means an open act ol rebellion.
1 do t.nt ace how Mr, Lincoln can do
tlda unlesH he should levy war ti)*>n u*.
I do not therefore u*e the word overt.
I do not intend to wait for that. But I
use the word unconstitutional uct which
air peopleuhdori<tnnd much better, and
which expresses jtm what 1 mean. But
us long as he conform* to the Uhnstitii-
limi he Hiottld he let to oxeroise the du
ties or his office.
In giving this adriro lam hut sus
taining tlio Constitution ofmy oountlrv,
and I do nut thereby become u Lincoln
Aid man uither, (Applause,) but a Uon-
A l.l ....... 11... .I.. . ... ...
1110*0 questions that now distract the the eye of the traveler throughout the
country Iind threaten it* (»e«ce nml ex- ] length 11ml hrendth of that most down
htenco. I believo hi the power and ef
ficiency of truth, in the ouiui|Kiteuoe
of truth, aud its ultimate triumph when
propofly wielded. (Applause.)
Another mattoi* of grievance alluded
to by my Hon. friend, was the naviga
tion laws. This policy was also com
menced under thendmiuisliatioii of one
of these Southern Presidents who ruled
so writ, and has boon continued through
all of them since. The gentleman’*
views or the policy of these laws and
my own do not disagree. We occupied
the same ground in relation to them in
Congress. It i* not my 1 urposc to de
fend them now. But it is proper to
state some matter*connected with their
origiu. . .
One of the objects was to build up a
commercial American Murine by giving
American -IotUouih the exclusive carry
ing trade between our own (Hirts. This
is a great arm of nutionul iMiwer. This
olgoct wus accomplished. We have now
on amount of shipping not only coast
wise but to foroigh countries which puts
us in tho front niuks of tho nutlous of
the world. Kngluud can no longer lie
The only question now is, can they be
secured in tho Union. J'hat is what I
am counseling witli you to tiiglit about.
Can it be secured? In my judgment it
may bo, but it limy uoPbo; but lot us do
all wa can, so tlint*in thefrituro, if the
worst come, it may never bo said we
wero negligent in doing our duty to the
last.
My countrymen, 1 am not ono of
those who believo this Union bus been
ft curse up to this Gmo. Truo men,
Mien of integrity entertain different
views from me on this subject. 1 do
not question their right to do so; 1
would wot impugn their motives in so
doing. Nor will I undertake to say that
thi* Government of our father* is per
fect. .There is nothing port'oet in this
world of a human origin. Nothing eon.
uectod with human nature from man
himself to any of his works. You muy
seL-ct the wisest and best men for your
judges, and yet how many defects aro
there in tho administration of justice?
You may select tho wisest ami best men
Whether those laws shuidd be continu
ed is another question. But ono thing
is certain, no President, Northern or
Southern, 1ms ever yet recommended
tlieir repeal. And my friend'* effort to
get them icpcah-d was met with little
favor North or South.
These then were tin* true main griov-
•mice* or ground* of cnuipluiiit against
the (jeiier.d system of our government
and it* working*, 1 mean the aduiinis-
tiatioiiof the Federal Government.—
As to tho Acts of several of the'fttutcs,
i shall s(H?ak presently, but these three
were tho main ones used against the
common head. Now *up(>oM) it 1 o ad
mitted thut all of tlieso are evil* ill the
system, do they cver-bulohce and out
weigh the advantages and great good
which this same government afford* in
a thousand ir.mimeri.ble ways that
not be estimated ? Have wo not at tho
South as well iih tho North grown great,
prosperous and happy Under its opera
tion 7 Has any part of tho world ever
shown such rapid progress in tho dovci-
trodden land! Why have not the peo
ple of that Jicaven-fivoied clline tlie
spirit that animated tlieir father*?—
Why this sad difference? It is the
destruction of licr institutions that ha*
caused it; and, iuv country-men, if
wo shall in an evil hour rashly pull
down nml de&trcy those institutions
which thu putiiutic l and of our futhers
labored so long, and so hard to build
up, uud which have (lotto so much for
u* and the world, who can venture
thp prediction that similar result* will
not ensue? Lotus avoid it if we can.
1 trust the sp.rit is amongst us that will
enable us to do it. Let in not rashly
try the experiment, for if ii fails a* it
did in Greece aiid Italy ami in -In 1
South American Republics, ami ni' V-
ory other, place, wherever liberty a-
once destroyed, it uuy never he re
stored to hs iigniu. [Applause.]
There arc defects in our Government,
error* iu administration, uud short
coming* oi many kiuds, but ill spite
of these defects and 'errors Georgia bus
grown to be a great State. Let us pause
hero u moment. 111 1850 there wus a
great crisis, hut not so fearful us thi*,
for of ail 1 have over passed through
this i* the most perilous and requires to
Ik? met with the greatest calmness and
delibcratipi).
There were many amongst us in 1850
zealous to go at once out of the Union,
to disrupt every lie that bind us, to
gether. Now tio you believe bad that
(Milicy been carried out at thut timo,
wo would have been the same great
people tlull wo arc lo-duy? It111uy.be
tliat wo would, blit have you any as
surance of thut fact? Would ivo huve
made tho same advancement, improve
ment nnd progress in all that consti
tutes material wealth and prosperity
that wo huve?
1 notice in the Comptroller General's
report that tho taxable property of
Georgia is$070,000,000, and upwards, uu
amount not far from douhlo that it was
in 1850. 1 think 1 may venture to say
that for tlm last 10years tho material
wealth of tlio peoplo of Georgia ‘bus
been nearly if not quite doubled.. Tlio
same may bo said ot our advauco In ed
ucation, and everything that marks our
hear election sufficient cause ; but If
his (Kilicy should be curried out in vio
lation of any of the principles set forth
in the Georgia Platform, Hint would be
such un act of nggre.viloii, which ought
to be met as I herein provided for. If
his (Milicy kIiuII be carried out iu repeal
ing or modifying the Fugitive .Slave
Law so as to Weaken its efficacy, Geor
gia has declared that she will in tlie last
resort disrupt the tics of the Union and
1 say s > too, I stand upon the Georgia
platform, and u|nmi every phuik, and
say If these aggressions therein provided
for, take place, I say to you and to tho
people or Georgia, keep your powder
dry and let your assailants then have
lead if need be. (Applause.) I would
wait for an act of aggression. This is
my position.
Now upon another point, an l that
the most difficult nnd deserving your
most serious consideration, I will speak.
That i« the course which this Stato
slmiiid i»ur-iie towards, these Northern'
S- ii. > v\ iiiri, by tlieir Legislative acts
have-/it tempted to nullify the Fugitive
Slave Liw. 1 know that iu some of
llie.-e States their nets pretended to be
based U|*on the principle* set forth in
the decision of the Supreme Court of
the United States in thu case Prigg
against Pennsylvania; thut decision
did proclaim tlio doctrino that the
State officers atc not bound to curry out
the provisions of a law of Congress—
that the Federal Government cannot
impose duties upon Stato officials—that
letting them speak tlieir own untram
melled views ill the choice of tlieii*
ablest und best men, to determine U|»-
011 nil these mailers involving their
peace ?
I think the proposition of my honora
ble friend had a considerable smack of
unfairness, not tu say cheat. He wish
ed to Imve 110 convention, hut for the
Legislature to submit their vote to the
people, submission to abolition rule or
resistance? Now who in Georgia would , un » ™
yolu -.ubmUiuu to abolition rub 4 - biW goUin to miicui. urnir, txitli
tu tlnywayour >i,t erSoill | _
ran bo htUuco to „ ct
lutvo but little tlmibt Ut.t iK.^j,^ ll
New York nml Penn.VlV^fc.^f
.ltd the Western
3llt. W IUJ
i.sA 11,0 *“fombly. W. .
J<irik them out. * We »l
Mr. Hte(dion*— I would k . . i
tboitrnui. Hut If ll„,
nut tbey uiigUt. I tliinli J° ,u l
tlint tlira. Nortl.eriiSu.tJS iL i .™ or !?’«
inlly f.igntrnl In Minmiraoturwif
Inti that tbry luul u tuttcb iSL!!*
Ibr Uninn iintlrr tlio UnutltiMlP* >
nml tliht Ihoy would return
tori?tHulinnnl duty—tills wmiiSV!**
Iio|io. Il'tlmy ilinuld not,
Middle.-Hutu..nnd Wo.l«n St,'
not join on wu .limikl nt leut i... '*
undivided Soulb, I .nraTL i "
iwrc.lv. Tor inninlninina Ih,
i. u ir iKMiido, i wnf„hUi
tnrant thn« to malntnin it .iiid
ciun'lty lo It. JJy |,rinri|0«C**
Kirnt, tlio muini.iinnc.of H.«l~
tlio rlgl.tn, tlio minnlily, ||,» w®"
nnd tU. glory of my itntiv. gut, |,T
Union; but il tlimn raimot b, aZ
Ininml in tlio’ Union, tlirn I ,«T,
tli.ir midnt.mvnw; nt nil IiuahI, "
of it. Next to tlio Honor nml .Inn j
(li-oritin, the land or my birth, |
tho honor nml glory or our cnj.
country. In Suvnmiuh I ■.
«iy hy Iho lt.|nirt.n, who v«n
ninko mo nay thiuu. which 1
thut I »* lirnt lor Ih. glory ^ n,
wind, country, nnd nbxt fofti>«,
th-orgbl. I nnitl tli. exact rrvtro r
thi*; I Jint |,mhd of lior lii.tory; 0
hru'cnt hiju’i. I> Hji I .tin.|'t(jud c.,-,'
tier iiiott*, wiuuli I Ul luw.
moduli nt the |•.- »,-i. t Urn. r,,;;
—Wraluni. Uu.iicc ,mi koio*
l noild hnvu her rtgi.n n|
Unit of tlio S.mtnuui.tatuic* utuuou.
now H|..n them, |>rincitilo. Il«
lion nmr in just wlmt It ivm in
with tTwiicoi to ' tho other South,,
State*. Hor plntlorm then hu W n
.aM&fc'Aw
but one additional .plank to thatplu-
form, whieh I have stated, imi o-,
whieli time ha« »m wu to be neccuvi
If oil this tails, we shall at l«et fa*
the satisfaction of knowing that wtlfa
done our duty and all that parks*
could require.
Mr. Stephen* continued far mm
time-oft other matters, whiult art figd
ted, and then took fais *eatauiiditpul
Ilpplause. I
On hmd call* for Henry U. 4atW-, 1
tliat gentleman nro*o un’d nddn-awtlthl
as«enihly ;fi»r about nn hour, tnunljal
oiqttt-ilum to *4.mu of the (Mj»iiion««tI
Mr. S. He wi* Ruiiiiy Hpplnuthill;ki|
side.- When he got tiKnugh Mr.So-1
pbeii* ug.iin 1*0*0 and ivj '-meU iimVI
staliee as follows;
Ha Hud Imped Glut u hu
might have bet-n permitted to la'coow-l
del ed and relleelctl in on liy (Iiok a I
whom it had been addvelled in Uutl
spirit of coolness with which U haftbml
delivered, lie laid come to do ninth I
could to allay excitement audio ItUkI
di.-(sc<isiomrir judgment of the inrmUn I
of the Legislature have il* own eoum V
One or two point* only would he reply I
to tha uciitleniaii on. j[
He, Mr. Jack son, ha*l said that th* I
ivople of ancient Grecue nml Homtlui I
hut tlieir liberties when they refusedt* I
tight for them. No, my eounujnu*, I
said Mr. Stephens, they bwt their like?
tie* when they felt a nrcy to intereil I
dissension#muangst (jieunclvi-s. 'Ail
long us thoy were unite 1, *« Ionia I
Adieu*,tUorinth and Sparta, andothm I
of tho Aniphyutionic league acted hu* I
moqfou*|y,they wwe more than snizuk I
for Any enemy that >ver note apitA I
them, 'lids, Phillip of Macedon wa I
aware of, and hi* |m>1 Joy toward* tbm I
was, to sow strife amongst tlistn. il* I
motto wa* to divide and eonqiikr. Gd I
strife wn* the eattso of Urasaa'a «rcr.l
throw; no it wa* with Romau ft *a I
tho *tvUo Uiiwocn Marius n«*8jlk |
Poinjiey and Cmsur, and tlio eivil *»* I
that ensued that oaused tho* avtrtkfW I
ol that Great Uepnblie. to Wat wh* 1
there were parties for Mnriqs and Sylk. I
nnd for t'n»<nr and Ponipoy, and now I
lor Rome, biiUbtiiosOfifarure gol lo fighv I
ing amongst theuisolve*, that th* liber-1
tie* of tho people wero lost—that (fair I
coiistitntlon was destroy«1. It lisdbns P
so in Frune^ nml all other Republic*- I
1 Mexico is in this m»d condition now.*-I
Tliri hlaekest |>agc in tlio I
world was that on wltieli wer# rrv^eW I
the butcherie* iu tho French Heroiatka I
committed by each faction on the other I
ns they »uece**ively triumphed in tura I
Desmoulins, Dnnton, Robespkre, *" I
went to the Guillotine. So it may B I
in tlds country. Our peoplo are, hf I
turo, no heMer than others. Whcntfa L
human (tnKsions.nre o.nco unbridW |
men In-como 11 ttlo hotter than
Liberty was novor the^miU of w*
strifcKj . Ue iTtado an enrnost spi^JJ
nil widl-wislrers'rif iho prihoe or soo»v
—tqjiRJnw and order juon to I* ee P
andW foti ‘ *
Nitiitionnl Aid limn," But .this matter
the Con vet ion can determine.
As to the other matter, I think w« i v-vt*
have a right to pas*-, retaliatory meiw- Mexieq is it, this sad condition now/-
ures, provided they bo in accordnneo
with the Constitution of tho Uuited
States nnd I think they can bo mndo
such. But whether it would !>o wise
for this legislature to do thi* now, is
the question. To the convention, in
my judgment, tins matter ought to be
referred. Before we committed repris
als on Kngland wo should exhaust ev
ery means of bringing about u peaceful
solution of the question. Thus did
UcH. .laekson in the case of the trench.
He did not recommend reprisals until
lie had treated with Franco and got
hor to promise to make indemnifica
tion, and it wus only oil her refusal- to
(my the money which she had proud*-
wl that ho recommended reprisals. It
wu* ufter negotiatian had failed. I do
thiuk there lore tliat it would ito best
[Laugh ter. J
Is putting such a question to tlie I
people to vote on, a fair way of* gel
ling an expression oi the popular will
on all iliere questions? I think not.
Now who In Georgia is going to submit
to the abolition rule?
Mr. Toombs. The convention will.
Mr. Stephen*. No, uiy friend, Geor
gia will nut ur do it. The convention
will nover secede from the Georgia plat
form. Under Hint there can be no abo
lition rulo in tho General Government.
1 am not afraid to trust the people in
convention upon thi* and all question*.
Besides, the Legislature were not elect
ed for such a purpose. Thoy cumohcre
to do tlieir duly as Legislator*. They
havuswoni to support the constitution
of tlie United .Stale*. They did not
come here to disrupt tins Government.
1 am therefore, for submitting all these
question* to a convention of tho people
Submit the question to tho people,
whether they would submit to abolition
they must execute tlieir own law* by rule or resist, and then let the Lcgislu-
their'own officers. And this tuny bo turo act upon that vote? Such a course
true. But still it 1* the duty of tlio
State* lo deliver fugitive slaves as well
as tho duty of the General Government
to hoc that it is douo.
Northern States on entering into tho
Federal Compact pledged themselves to
surrender siieh fugitives ; and it 1* in
disregard of their constitutional obliga
tions that they have passed laws whudi
even tend to hiuder or impedo the ful
filment of tliat obligation, Thoy have
violated their plighted faith; what
ought wo to do in view of this? That
is tho question. Wliat is to bo done?
By tho law of nations you would have
a right to demand tho carrying out of
this article of agreement, and l do not
soo that it should bo Qtlionvfae with
respect to tho States of this Union, and
in caso it be not done wo would by
tlieso principles have tbo right to com
mit acts of reprisal on thoso folUiloss
governments, and acute upon their
would be an insult to the peoplo. Tlioy
ivould have to eat tlieir platform. Ignore
their past histoty. bi«»t out their record*
and take steps backward*, if they should
do this. 1 have never eat my record or
words, und never will.
But how will it be under this arrange
ment if they should vote to resist, and
the Legislature should ro-RMomhlo with
this voto ns their instructions? Can
any man tell wliat sort of resistance
will he meant? Ono mnn would say se
cede; another pass retaliatory measures
tlie.M* are measures of resistance nguinst
wrong-rlogitimate nnd right—nnd there
would be os many different ideas as
there are member* on the floor. Resis
tance don’t mean secession—that is no
nropor mmso of the terra' of resisjunce.
Believing that tin) times require action,
I am for presenting the' questfdn fairly
to the people, for calling together an
un trammeled convention, and present]
our confederate Slates to make tlio
present Minn ol onr demand, to «p*
p al to tlieir reason and judgment to * l °l
give us our right*. Then if reason
should r.oi triumph it will be time
enough to commit reprisals and wu
should he justilh-d in the eyes of a civ
ilized world. At least left the States
know wliat your grievance* are, and if
they refuse, as 1 said, to give u* our
rights under tlie Constitution of our
country, I should ho willing a* a last re
sort to sever the ties of this Union.—
[Applause.] My own opinion is that
if this course bo pursed, and they are
informed of the consequences of refusal,
these States will recede, but if tiles
should not, then let the consequeneey
lie with them, and let the responsibility
of thccoiirequqncus rest upon them.—
Another thing 1 would huve that Con
vention to do. Reaffirm tho Georgia
Platform with nn additional plank in
it. Let that (dank he the fulfilment of
the obligation us the part of those State*
to rc|H>ul these obnoxious luws on a
condition of our remaining in the Un
ion. Uive them timo fo cinisider it,
"°Home idfiwiou^wasmndo to Mr. Breck-
inridge. Mr.Stepliens *nid that hewj
seen it stated that Iiq was coming w*
to addre*4 thfc prop!© in bcfidfo* fr,
dug the Union If it could bedosaj
Oid*! “
Ue did*i>ut know whether it *'a» t* iw< *
Mr. Toombs said it was not trur.
Mr. Stephen* hhuI ho did vwtkwj*
whether it wasor.uot. jSuch atelegni?
ie dispatch had been published. -
Home question was uwked about Ju
Dougins' answer to the Norfolk q**
lion*. . j
Mr-Stephen* said Mr. Dougin
said iu-substance, tliatThe bare swdj
of any man to the Presidency,
a cause for a State to secede; *nd U
Lincoln should ho elected, he ouiM"
lie inaugurated and sustained in «] JJ
constitutional act*, But if If®
the Constitution, then he wonW
bunging him higher than the Virgin 1 *
hung John Brown. Mr. Breckwridg
had not answered thogc ffi ,c rij°. , !‘',y
Mr. Stephens took It for granted tow
agreed with Mr. Douglas; for hecoMJ
ored In Ills Lexington speech, a
clou of his entertaining disunion
inunts, an imputation c*n his chsjj**
Hot routed with indignity such
mn. uive mem timo to consuter it, and his suppnrfrrf* in Georgia
and 1 would ask all State. .Smith to do • foinly run him up*.m rim #vojrw-? #
tlie same thiug.
1 am Ihr exhausting all tfod (.atHol
ism enn demand before taking the last
step. 1 would Invite therefore South
Carolina to a conference. 1 would ask
the Maine of ul! thu other Southern
States, so tliat if tl.o evil had got be
yond our control, which God in his
mercy grant muy not he tho case, lot
us not be divided among ourselves,
[cheers.] But if potwibfo soaure tho
united co-operation of all tlio Southern
State* and then in the face of the civil
ized world we may justify our action,
and with the wrong all on tho other
sido wo can appeal to the God. of bat-
gr*gV
tles to aid us Iu our cause. [Loud ap
plause.] But lot us not do anything tn
which any portion ot our people may
charge u« with rash or hasty notion.-—
il b certainly a matter of great impor-
where, tlmriiu'wu- i Union u) an * ,
Mr. Stephens spoke abmil
uteji, t* m bracing some other l"/ 1 " * . in- I
ply to Mr. Jackson, and againi
ded amidst great applause- i
enoo then dispersed orderly iu* 1 ’ 1
ally,
Maryland.—The Baltimore
Saturday, gives full returns of th® ^
lion I • • lh ‘ '
BUll
Bull
2,198. The majority in |
bf.il
tST Qov. Brown brt « t ,
of. the preent month,
htmUSMottwi^pnyo