The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1864-10-26
TERMS. $3.50 PER AMNUM.


the principles which it has devolved upon
US thus to defend and maintain.
But great as our sufferings and sacrii-
ces have been and are, to which you al
lude, they are as yet far short of the like
sufferings, and sacrifices which our faith
ers bore with patience, courage and forti-
tpde in the crisis that tried mems souls,
in their day These are the virtues that
sustained them in their hour of need.
Their illustrious and glorious example
bids us not to under estimate the priceless
Inheritance they achieved for US at such
a cost of treasure and blood. fF
Great as are the odds we are struggling
against, they are not greater than those
against which they successfully struggled.
In point of reverscs our condition is NOT
to be compared with theirs. Should Mo-
bile, Savannah, Charleston, Augusta,
Macon, Montgomery, and even Peters
burg and Richmond fall, our condition
would not then be worse or less hopeful
than theirs was i'll the darkest hour that
rested on their fortunes.
With wisdom on the part of those who
control our destiny in the cabinet aud in
the field, in Outstanding and properly
welding our resources at their command,
and in securing the hearts and affections
of the people in the great cause of right
and liberty for which we are struggling,
we could suffer all these losses and CO.
lamities, and greater even, and still tri-
umph in the end.
AT preseut, however, do not see, as
stated in the outset, that you or |, or any
number Of persons in our position, can do
anything towards inausurating any new
movement looking to a peaceful solution
Of the present strife. The war on our
part is fairly and entirely defensive in i.s
character. How long it will continue to
be thus wickedly and mercilessIy waged
against US depends upon the people of the
North. ..I t-.atF
Georgia, orr own state, to whom VIC
owe allegiance, has with great unaaimity
proclaimed the principles upon which
just and permanent peace ought 20 bq
sought and obtained The Congress Of
the Confederate States has followed gith
on endorsement of these principles. All
you and I, and others in our position,
therefore, can do on that line at this time,
is to sustain the movement already inau-
gurated, and to the utmost of otr ability.
to hold up these principles as The snress
hope of restoring soundness to the public
mind of the North, as the brazcn serpent
was held up for the healing of 1srae! in
the wilderness.
The chief aid and encouragement we
can give the peace party at the North Is
to keep before them these great fnnda-
mental principles and truths, which alohs
will lead them and US to permanent ami
lasting peace, with possession and enjoy
ment of constitutional liberty. With
these principles once recognized, the fu-
ture would take care of itself, and there
would be no more war so long as they
should be adhered to. i.J
All questions of boundaries. confedera-
cies and union or unions would naturally
and easily adjust themselves, according
to the interests of parties and the exigen-
cies of the times. Herein lies the true
law of TIE balance of power and the har-
nony Of states. Yours respectfully.
ALEXANDER Il. STEPHENS.