Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1860-12-26
LETTER FROM HON. A. H. STEPHENS.

We have been favored says the Journal Of CON-
merce, with the following letter from Hon. A. H.
Stephens, Of Georgia. to friend, resident of New
York:
CRAwFoRDvnLE (GA.,) Nov. 25, 1860.
DEAR SIR: Your kind and esteemed favor of the
18th instant is before me- for which you will please
accept my thanks thoroughly agree with you as
to the nature and extent of the dangers by which
we are surrounded, and the Importance of united
action on the part of our people in the line Of policy
to be pursued.
know, also, that there breathes not a man in
Georgia who is sensitively alive to her rights
interests, safety honor and glory than myself and
whatever fate belalS us | earnestly hope that We
sha. be saved from the worst Of all caamities--n-
ternal divisions. contentious and strfes The great
and leading object aimed 1T by me in Mledgevllle
was to produce harmony right line Of policy. Ii
the worst GENES to the worst. as it may, and our
State has to quit the Union, it is of the utmost i'm
portance that all our people should be united cordial
y in this course. This, feel confident, can only
be eff cted on the line of policy indicated.
But candor compcs ME to say that am not with
out hopes that our RIG ghts may be maintained and
our wrongs be redressed in the Onion. If this can
be done it is my earnest wish. l think also that it
is the wish of majority of our people. If, after
making an effort, We shall fail then all our people
will be united in making or adopting the last resort,
the 'ultima ratio reguas." Even in that case l
should look with great apprehension as to the u!i
mate result. When this Union is discovered, if of
necessity it must be. at present but little pros
pect of good government afterwards At the North
| feel confident anarchy will soon ensue. And
whether we shall be better off at the South will de-
pend upon many things that am not now satisfied
that we have any assurance Of
Revolutions are much easier started than con-
trolled, and the men who begin them, even for the
best purposes and objects, seldom end them. The
American Revolution Of 1915 was one Of the few
exceptions to this remark that the history of the
world furnishes. Human passions are like the
winds; when aroused they sweep everything before
them in their fury. The wise and the good who at.
tempt to control them will themselves most likely
become the victims. This has been the history o
the downfall of all republics The selfish the am.
btious and the bad will generally take the lead
When the moderate men who are patriotic have
gone as far as they think right and proper, and pro-
pose to reconstruct then will be found class below
them, governed by principle but personal objects
who will be for pushing matters further and further
until those who sowed the wind will find that they
have reapcd the whirlwind.
, These are my serious apprehensions. They are
! founded upon the experience Of the world and the
philosophy cf human nature, and no wise mar
! should condemn them 10 tear down and build ur
again very different things aud, before tearing
down even a bad Government. we should first see
good prospect for building up better. These art
my views candIdly given. If there is one sentimen
in my breast stronger than all Others it is earnes
desire for the peace, prosperity and happiness which
a wise and good government alone can secure.
have no object, wish, desire ambition beyond
this and if should in any respect err in endeavor
ing to attain this object it will be an error Of th'
! head and not the heart
! With great personal esteem and respect, l remail
yours, truly, .--
ALEXANDER II. STEPHENS