The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-02-26
The Union Party In Georgia.
LETTER FROM MR. STEPHENS

from the hon ~ H. stephens, IN reply 10 one
from gentleman in tho interior of the State, aud
which we are authorized to publish, affords US sin
cere qualification.
1t is just such letter as we expected from him,
on the question which it discusses with so much
point force and ability and cannot fail to and
the respect Of if il SHOULD not carry conviction to,
all classes Of reS 1 =, %.
My DEAR SIR Your esteemed favor, of the I'd
inst was received yesterday. You ask what
think Of the late movement of our friends in Mil
ledgeville In reply, | say, briefly and plainly,
that so far as it may be considered as Indicating
the expression of an opinion in favor Of sending
delegates to the Baltimore Convention, am ut
terly opposed to it.
The FIRST and second eff the resolutions of that
meeting have my cordial approval. The frss re-
affrms the principles of the constitutional Union
party, and reiterates determination to adhere to
them. The second provides for the call OF q con-
venton in the State, at some suitable time here
after, to take into consideration the subject of the
relation to it duty and patriotism may then dIs
tate as proper. This is all right. And while
cannot concur with some in believing that the
third resolution was intended by those who adopted
ito wit, that its object to commit the party,
in advance, to send delegates to the Balti more
Convention-still mean simply to say, that If
such was the intention, am unqaalifetly opposed
to IT,
The new organization in Georgia was called into
existence upon an extraordinary crisis in 1r pub
lie affairs. That crisis has not yetpassed by. They
who think so, draw different conclusions from
the signs of the times from what do. The pre-
tent (apparent) calm is but temporary suspen.
sion of the dangerous clements which then ragged
so furiously. That party was formed upon the
principles set forth and embodied in the action Of
principles need no. repeat to you They were
such as a large majority of the people Of Georgia
then thought and as still think, essential to the
maintenance Of the rights Of her people and the
1r Al Ck.Azn
ctonal either in their character objects They
we're, and are, as broad as the Union, aud as wide
as the limits OF the jurisdiction OF the constitution;
and in the very organization of that party, which
was formedby an abjuration and renuuciation of
all old party names and affiliations by all who en-
tered into it, offered to unite with any and ell
men, irrespective of past party distinctions, in
every section Of the country, whether in the South
dinal point in their creed. The Same position we
still hold AS yet no party at the North has given
any such assurance. The Baltimore Convention
has not been called with any such view or bject;
30 far from II, many OF eur b.terest assaiants, at
the South as well as at the North, have already
been duly appointed members of it. Could any
idea DO more preposterous than the project OF send
ing delegates to convention Of our opponents. for
fear that they may not conduct their proceedings
according to our liking! Such would certainly be
anovel course in political ta,tcs
If those members Of that convention from the
South, who were lately SO loud in their denunca-
~
ticuary censorious Of our position at home, shall
acknowledge their errors, and put themselves upon
our principles, and shall purge that body of its
free soil elements, and shall also present to the
country q good candidate for the Presidency, it
will be time enough for us to connect ourselves
with their action after they shall have given us
these evidences of their being entitled to our conf
dence and cooperation good candidate, stand
ing on our principles, and put forward by an or
ganzation standing upon the same principles, is
all We want.
Whether that convention will come up to these
requistions is OF the problems that future de-
that it will not. Upon what Indications others
found more favorable expectations, am at loss
to conjecture. Is it frem the fact that Colonel
Folks resolution was rejected IN the congressional
it from the fact that Mr. Bartlett, whose name
appe ared as one of the committee who called that
convention was elected to the seat he now holds 10
the Heuse Of Representatives as an open and
avowed free soiler! Is it from the fact that Mr.
Rantoul, the champion and defender OF that most
unprincipled Of all coalitions in the annals of
political profigacy in Massachusetts,, is one of the
members Of that convention! Or is it from the
fact that the Union newspaper in this city puts
down the most ultra men of the South, and
the most rabid free sellers at the North, now
in Congress, as all good democrats, and equally
entitled to membership and fellowship ia the great
party Of which it processes to be the sole organ!
If so, have only TO say that these and other in
dications which might mention, have quite a con
trary effect on me. That convention, therefore, so
called and 60 constituted as well as all other ma,
tiopsl conventions, whether democratic or whg,
must be put right on the record as condition pre-
cedent, before looking to me Tor any support or
countenance. speak only for myself. The con-
stitutional Union party can speak for itself whom
that the neral power and influence of our position
upon the action Of the Baltimore Convention would
be much greater outside than inside Of its deibera
tons! Would they be less likely to comply with
md fr0rn fpa IF nur in of
REFUSAL than to DC controlled by our wishes after
voluntary surrender! IL we 60 into their organi-
zation without the condition precedent of recogn
tion and endorsement of our principles, shall we
not be in the condition of veteran troops beguiled
and betrayed unarmed into the camp Of the enemy!
The idea Of Eaen thus situated insisting on terms
Is simply ridiculous; captives may be allowed to
beg for quarters, but who ever heard of them de-
mandiDg concessions And is this the time for our
party to put itself in such Illuminating position!
The extraordinary effort that is now being made
to inculcate tho opinion that nothing can be done
by a separate organization upon the principles Of
that formed in Georgia, am perfectly aware of.
But does it not come with bad grace from those
who, in thus speaking, are but repeating their
croakipgs OF twelve months ago! Then We were
told, as now that the new organization was fail
ure, because it did not meet with favor from the
political intrguers Of this city Some went SO far
to soy that the party was sead, and could not be
galvanized into existence.
But what have we not accomplished since then!
georgia mss SPOKEN, Win MdJolity ucVoI ueloIo
known So has Mississippi And Alabama has
shown that her people are not to be bound by the
shackles Of party when principles are at stake.
Has single election been lost where the issue was
madel But not only this; last winter the Georgia
organization met with nothing bat opposition from
the two great parties, as they are called here.
These parties have both since been brought to
pause. They want nothing now SO much as truce:
Their opposition has been changed to modest
request that "bygone may be bygone" Snal we
Grant them even trucel Will they not thereby
DO enabled to rally their disorganized forces.
is this the time, then, for us to dsband! should
we desert our standard when the enemy everywhere
is in fight before us. Should we not rather noid
our ground until our triumph is complete
forcing an acknowledgment Of our principless !nls
attempt to create the impression that the new
organization has failed in its objects, and that
every body must fall back into one or the other OF
the ior mer lines of division, Is but the last appeal
az the old priests of the deiled temples OF party,
who feel that they about to lose their livelihood
In making images Of false desies for the people to
worship. Hence their lusty shouts OF Great is
nj. &c kba Enhasiansv sspreat IL tho power Of