New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-10-17
ALEXANDER i. STEPHENS on PEACE
The Dostrine Of State Sovereignty
THE GE0RGM RES0LuilCNS'
A "Ray Of Light from Chicago
WASHINGTON. Friday, Oct. II, ls64.

Dan. the Fon. Alex. IL stephens, GIVING his
,ieV,, upon the peace movement, was written IN
.rsrer 10 letter addressed TO him by sevcrai of his
selow-eitaons Of Georgia:
CRAwfonDsynIR Ga Sept q, 1868.
sFsuJ,ES, You will phase excuse me for not an
sverne your letter OF the 18th inst. have been
absent nearly veek a visit N by brother in Sparta,
xhe ba. been quite cnt Of health or some time Your
,s,ter found here my return home yesterday. The
csiay Of my reply thus occasioned regret
Without further explanation apology allow me
pov 10 say 70 you iha; no living can possibly feel
pcre ardent desire for an end be put TO this Unnat
srsl and mcrcless upon honorable and just terms
thsn do. But really do not see that it is in my
power yours that OF any number o: persons IN onf
coTtioD, 70 inangurate any movement that viii even
tsnd to aid IN Bringing about result lhat and
psny more desire.
The movement by our Legislature at IT'S let session
Of the suggestion Of the Executive ibis subject
vas by authority properly constituted for such pur
poe
That movement, in ny Judgment. was finely judi
eo0s and in the right direction. Nor has il been with
out results. The organization oftha p0ry az the North
70 which You refer may justly be claimed part tie
huts oft. These Il is 10 be hoped will be followed oy
others of marked ehAycor, If all in both sec
sons who sincerely cesire peace rpon correct terms
VIII give that movement thus inGusuraed all he ad IN
sheiT power.
The resolutions OF the Georgia Legislature at rs last
session, upon the subject Of peace ny judgment en-
bodied and set forth very clearly those principles upon
which slone there can be permanent peace between the
different sections OF this extensive once happy and
prosperous but now distracted country.
Essy and perfect solutions al preseu, troubles and
sose FAR moro efioyops which boom in prospect
and tremendously threaten in The coming future Is
rcthng moro than the simple recognition OF the f1rdo
r,sn:a principle and truth upon which all American
constitutional liberty founded. and upon The mainte
ssnce Of which alone il be presefyedhat Is, the
sovereignty the ultimate absolute sovereignty OF the
STATES This doctrine legislature anrounce-to the
people 20 the North ard 10 the world II Is the only
iey.note 10 peace-permsuent. lasting peacs-con-
,htent with the security Of the public liberty
The old confederation formed upon this principle.
5be old Union WINS afterwards formed upon this pTirci
re. No leaguc can ever be formed OF maintained be.
tween any State, North or South securing public lib
srfy upon any other principle.
TIE whole framework OF mericsn institutions which
b, 40 short time bad the admiration Of the world.
and TO which we were indebted for such unparalleled
rarecr u prosperity and happiness formed upon
rlss principle. All our present troubles sprung from
departure from this principle FROM violation Of file
essential law OF our political organization.
In lsi6 our ancestors and the ancestors Of those who
s,e waging this unhoy crusade against together pro
claimed the great and eternal truth for the maintenance
a. which they jointly pledged their lives their fortunes
and their sacred honor that Governments are Instituted
amongst men, deriving their just powers from the con
sen Of the governed and that whenever any form oi
Goyernment becomes destructive Of those ends Cor
which it was formed Il "a the right Of the peop TO alter
or abolish and institute Government laying Its
nd
az in such form as TO themNany secm most likely u
eject their safety and bsPpines.
II is needless here to state that by "peopie' n'd
governed IA this annnnciston is meant communi
It's and bodies Of capable Of organizing and main
tanning government not individual members Of 80
sy The consent Of the governed reiers 10 The VIII 81
,ie mass a. the community State in rs organized
e,n and expressed through its legitimate and properly
constituted organs. It WIS upon this principle The
Cosonsts stood Justified before the world IN efectng
their separation from the mother country II was upon
ss pfnepc that the original thirteen cc-eqr" ana CD
sNereen States formed the Federal compact Of The Oh
Union in l,s7 It ia upon the principle that tie
present co-equol and oosOvereign States Of OH Con
sederaey formed their compact OF union.
The idea that the old Onion or any Union between
soyeleign States, consistently with this Fundamental
sruth ecu be maintained by force is prpcscrcus This
VIZ springs from an attempt 70 Go this preposterous
thing Superior power may compel Union OF some
sor but Il would not be the Union Of the old Constiu
Son or Of our new.
The sotGga;ion Of the people Of the Scnb by The PEG
BE OF The Ncrh would necessarily involve tho desfTuo
ton of the Co1sttut aud tie overthrow Of then lib
critics as vel The party at the Moth
60 BON you rccr who favor peace Jaust be brought o
zen realization OF this truth in az ITS bearings. before
tteir efforts will result in much practical good Any
r.oce growing Of union Of States established by
force will be as runouG 10 them os % u.s.
lie action Of Tie Chicago Convention. 10 far as It's
Platform OF principles goes presents, have sd on
another occasion q ray Of light which under Proyi.
eence nov prove the dawn Of the day TO this long and
sbeoress night tho first ray OF hglII have een from
a. North since ;le began. This cheers tho heart
ald towards II could almost e1claim. HAL holy
light Offspring Of Heaven. frst born Of The eternal
soeterna beam. May express thee Unbalanced since
SOD is light"
Indeed could have quite exclaimed but ior the sad
rtnection that whether it shsl bring healing in II.
hans or be lest in dark and ou6nou eclipse Gro It's
good work be done depends much upon the action Of
tther. who may not regard 1t and view it as do So
bet II IS but o ray sma and trcmulous rag. enough
trly to gladden. the hear, Dad quicken tho hope.
Tie prominent and leading idea OF ihat Convention
sens u have been desire % reach peaceful edjnt-
rent OF prosen, diAculties and ssfe through the
medium Of convention Of tie s.ats They propose TO
SGspend hostihes 20 what be done i,enythinG
BY negotiations Of sort This II one step in the
r.gh, direction. 10 such Convention Of The States
have 10 objection. peaceful conference and inter
change Of views between equal and sovereign Powers,
g.. az the Convention OF i5s7 called and assembled
one,ftutcd auth sfiiee a,