Benson J. Lossing, Pictorial Field Book of the Civil War. Volume 1.

“ [55] its defects, comes nearer the objects of all good governments than any other on the face of the earth, is my settled conviction. . . . Where will you go, following the sun in its circuit round our globe, to find a government that better protects the liberties of the people, and secures to them the blessings we enjoy? I think that one of the evils that beset us is a surfeit of liberty, an exuberance of priceless blessings for which we are ungrateful.”

Mr. Stephens then proceeded to expose the misstatements and dissipate the fallacies uttered by Toombs the previous evening, and was frequently applauded. Toombs was present, and felt the scourge most keenly. With ill-concealed rage and disappointment, he frequently interrupted the speaker, sometimes with tones of anger, and sometimes with those of scorn. These did not disturb the equanimity of his competitor in the least. With perfect coolness, courtesy, and even gentleness, he .went forward in his work of apparently endeavoring to stay the rising tide of revolution against the Government he professed to love so well, defending its claim to justice and beneficence. “The great difference between our country and all others, such as France, and England, and Ireland, is,” he said, “that here there is popular sovereignty,

Robert Toombs.

while there sovereignty is exercised by kings and favored classes. This principle of popular sovereignty, however much derided lately, is the foundation of our institutions. Constitutions are but the channels through which the popular will may be expressed. Our Constitution came from the people. They made it, and they alone may rightfully unmake it.” . . . “I believe in the power of the people to govern themselves, when wisdom prevails and passion is silent. Look at what has already been done by them for their advancement in all that ennobles man. There is nothing like it in the history of the world. Look abroad from one extent of the country to the other; contemplate our greatness. We are now among the first nations of the earth. Shall it be said, then, that our institutions, founded upon principles of self-government, are a failure? Thus far, our Government is a noble example, worthy of imitation. The gentleman (Mr. Cobb),¹ the other night, said it had proven a failure. A failure in what? In growth? Look at our expanse in national power. Look at our population, and increase in all that makes a people great. A failure? Why, we are the admiration of the civilized world, and present to it the brightest hopes of mankind.” With an appropriateness, armed with a peculiar sting for both Toombs and Cobb, and for other demagogues, he added:--“Some of our public men have failed in their aspirations; that is true, and from that comes a great part of our troubles.” As soon as prolonged applause ended, Mr. Stephens said:--“No, there is no failure of this Government yet. We have made great advancement under the Constitution, ”