The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1864-11-16
Vice-Prcsident Stephens,
Letter i'm Full.

The following letter from Vies-Prssi-
dent, Hsa. Alexander H. Stephens, Civ
ing his views upon the peace movement,
North and South, was written in answer
to a letter addressed to him by several Of
his fellow citizens of Georgia:
CRAwFoRDsvILLE, Georgia, Sept. %.
You will please excuse
me fer not answering your letter of the
l4th inst sooner | have been abseLt
nearly week on . visit to my brother at
Sparta, who has been quite out OF health
for some time. Yosr letter found here
on my return home yesterday. The delay
of my reply thus occasionsd l regret.
Without further explanation or apollo
gy, allow me now to say to ysu that ne
person living can possibly feel a more
ardent desire tor an end to be put to this
unnatural and mereiless war upon honor
able and just terms, than l do. But
really do not see that it is in my power or
yours, or that Of any number of persons
in eur position, to inaugurate any move
meat that will even tend to aid in bring
ing about a result that We and so many
more desire.
The movement by our Legislature at
its last session, at the suggestion Of the
Executive, on this su bject, was by author
ity properly constituted for such a pur.
pose.
That movement, in my Judgment, was
timely, judicious aud in the right dirsc-
ton. Nor has it been without results.
The organization Of that party at the
North to which you refer may justly be
claimed as part Of the fruits Of it.
These, it is to Be hoped, will be followed
by others of . more marked character, #
all in both sections whs sincerely desire
peace upon correct terms will give that
movement thus inaugurated all the aid
in their power.
The resolutions of the Georgia Lsgis-
lature, at its last session, upon the subject
of peace, in my Judgment, embodied and
set fourth very clearly these principles
upon which alone there can be peraa-
nent peace between the different sections
Of this extensive, once happy and pros
persus, but now distracted country.
Easy and perfect solutions to all pres
ent troubles, and those far more grisvous
ones which loom in prospect, and porten-
tentously threaten in the coming future,
is nothing more than the simple recogni-
ton of the fundamental principle and
truth upon which all American senstitu-
tional liberty is founded, .and upon the
maintenance of which alone it can be
preserved-that is, the sovereignty the
ultimate, absolute sovereignty OF the
States. This doctrine our Legislature
announced to the people Of the North
and to the wsrld 1t is the only key note
to peace-permanept, lasting peacs-con'
sistent with the security of the public
liberty.
The cid dConfedsration was formed upor
this priciple. The old Union was after
wards formed upon this principle. NJ
league can ever be formed or maintained
between any States, North or South, Sc
curing public liberty, upon any sthe1
principle.
The whole frame work of Americal
institutions, which, in a short time. hs,
won the admiration of the world, and t,
which we were indebted for such an un
paralleled career of prosperity and hap
piness, was formed upon this principle
All our present troubles sprung from
departure from this principle. from VIC
lation of this essential law of our politica
organization.
Il In 1776 our ancestors, and the ances
tors of those who are wagiBg this uDhol.
. crusade against US, together proclaine'
the great and eternal truth for the main
tenancs of which they jointly pledgs'
lthsir lives, their fortunes, and their sacrst