Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-10-20
THE PEACE QUESTION IN GEORGIA.
VIEWS OF MR.. STEPHENS.

that letter hourly expected from the Vice President
of the Conederacy defining his position the question Of
peace. They also contain the following statement:
"Vce President Stephens has told gentlemen in Raleigh
that his views incline strongly to an immediate effort for
by negotiation Mr. Stephens is represented as say
ing that he thought the time had come for the people OF
the South to make known to those Of the North especial
the peace party of that section, that they are ready to
settle upon the sovereignty of the States and to restore
the old Government should the North guaranty the right
property, and the majority Of the people so declare
The gentleman who furnishes the news is man OF high
character. He saw and converted with the Vice Pres
dent and would not be likely to misrepresent; and yet
there many who can hardly credit the story Mr.
Stephens has written letter for publication and the mat
ter will soon be put at rest"
Simultaneously with the receipt of the above intell
gencs we received also the promised letter of Mr. STE
PHENs 1t discusses the peace question calmly and dis
passonatey and cannot fail to interest many of our read
ers We insert it entire:
CRAwFoRDsyILLE, (GEoRGIA,) SEPT. %, 1864.
GENTLEMEN: You will please excuse me for not an
swering your letter of the l4th instant have
been absent nearly week on visit to my brother in
Sparta who has been quite out of health for time
Your letter found here on my return home yesterday
The delay Of my reply thus occasioned regret.
Without further explanation apology allow now
say to you that person living possibly feel more
ardent desire for end to be put to this unnatural and
mercles war upon honorable and Just terms than do
But really do not that is in my power yours,
that of any number of persons in our position to naugu-
rate any movement that will even tend to aid in bringing
The movement by Legislature at its last session. at
the suggestion of the Executive, this subject by
authority properly constituted for such purpose That
movement in my judgment, timely, judcious, and in
the right direction. Nor has it been without results The
organization of that party at the North to which you refer
may Justly be claimed part of the fruits of it, These,
it is to be hoped, will be followed by others of more
marked character if all in both sections who sincerely de-
sire peace upon correct terms will give that movement
thus inaugurated all the aid in their power.
The resolutions of the Georgia Legislature, at its last
embO-
died and set forth very clearly those principles upon which
alone there be permanent peace between the different
sections of this extensive happy and but
now distracted country.
Easy and perfect solutions all present troubles and
those far grievous which loom in prospect and
portentousy threaten n the coming future nothing
than the simple recognition of the fundamental principle
and truth upon which all American constitutional liberty
founded and upon the maintenance of which alone it
be preserved-that s the sovereignty the ultimate sbso
lutte sovereignty of the States This doctrine Legis-
aue announced to the people at the North and to the
world 1t is the only keyn to peace-permanent last
with the security Of the public liberty
The old Confederation formed upon this principle.
The old Union afterwards formed upon this principle.
No league ever be formed maintained between any
State North or South securing public liberty upon any
other principle. The whole framework Of American In
sttutions which in short time had the admiration
of the world and to which we were indebted for such
unparalleled of prosperity and happiness,
formed upon this principle. All present troubles
sprung from departure from this principle from viola
ton of this essential law of our political organization
In l776 ancestors and the ancestors of those who
wagng this unboy crusade against together pro-
claimed the great and eternal truth for the maintenance of
which they Jointly pledged their lives their fortunes and
amongst deriving their just powers from the consent
of the governed and that whenever any form Of govern
becomes destructive of those ends fer which it
formed it is the right OF the people to alter abolish it
and institute Government, laying its foundations
such principles and organizing its powers in such form
to them may seem most likely to effect their safety and
happiness.
ii needless here to state that by people" and gov
erned, in this annunciaton is meant communities and
bodies Of capable of organizing and maintaining
Government not individual members Of society. The
of the governed refers to the will of the Of the
community State in its organized FORM and expressed
through its legitimate and properly constituted organs 1t
upon this principle the Colonsts stood justified before
the world in efecng their separation from the mother
country IL upon this principle that the original hr
teen coequsl and cosoveregn States formed the Federal
compact Of the old Union in 1857 Ii is upon the
principle that the present coequa and sovereign States
Of Confederacy formed their compact OF Union.
The idea that the old Union any Union between
eregn States consistently with this fundamental truth
be maintained BY force preposterous This springs
from attempt to do this preposterous thing Superior
power may compel Union of sort but 1t would not
be the Union of the old Constitution of 1t
would be that sort Of Union that results from desposm
The subjugaton of the people of the South by the peo
pie of the North would involve the destruction
Of the Constitution and the overthrow of their liberties
well The men party at the North, to whom
you refer who favor peace must be brought TO full
azaon Of this truth 10 all its bearings before their efforts
will result 10 much practical good. Any peace growing
out of union Of States established by force will be
| ruinous to them as to
The action of the Chicago Convention, far its
platform Of principles goes, presents have said
other OCCASION ray OF light which, under Providence
may prove the dawn of day to this long and cherries night
the first ray Of light have from the North since the
began This cheers the heart and towards Icoud al
most eIcam, Hail. holy light offspring OF Heaven, first
born OF the eternal coeterna beam May express thee
unbalanced, since God light" Indeed could have quite
exclaimed but for the sad reflection that whether it
shall bring healing in its beams be lost in dark and
omnous eclipse its good work be done, depends
much upon the action Of others who may not regard and
view it as do 30 at best it 10 but ray small and
emuous ray enough only to gladden. the heart and quick
en- the hope.
The prominent and leading idea Of that Convention
to have been desire to reach peaceful adjust
ment Of present difficulties and strife through the
medium of convocaton of the States. They propose
to suspend hosttes, to what be done, if any
thing, by negotiations Of sort This is step In
the right direction. To such convention of the States
should have objection peaceful conference and in
erchange Of views between equal and sovereign Powers
Just the convention of 1857 called and assembled
The proper constituted authorities at Washington and
Richmond the duly authorized representatives OF the two
confedeaces Of States at with each other might
give their assent to such proposition Good might resut
from it, 1t would be appeal on both sides from the
sword and justice All which do not result
ia the extinction determination OF side or the other
must be ended later by sort OF negotiation
From the discussion interchange of views such
Convention the history well the true nature Of
institutions and the relation of the States toward each
other and towards the Federal head would doubtless be
much better Understood generally than they now sre but
should favor such proposition only as peaceful con-
ference, the Convention Of 1857 should be OPP
IN tho ia