The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1864-10-12
Vice, President Stephens's Views upon
Peace Movements.


ments," will be read with interest. Itwas written
in answer to letter addressed to him by several
gentlemen In the interior Of the State:
Crawfordville, Ga, Sept. 22d, 1864. \
GENTLEMEN You will please excuse
me ior not answering your letter of the
l4th instant, sooner. have been absent
nearly week on visit To my brotl,er,in
Sparta, who has been quite out M health
for some time. Your letter found here on
my return home yesterday. The delay Of
my Icply thus occasioned regret.
Without further explanation or apology,
allow me now 70 say TO YOU that no person
living can possibly feel mole ardent de-
sire Tor an end To be put to Mis- unnatural
and merciless war upon honorsbl, and just
terms than do. But | really do not see
hat Y IS 10 my power, or yours, or that of
anv number Of persons in our position, 10
inaugurate any movement that will even
tend to aid in bringing about a result that
We and 50 many more so much desire. The
movement by our Legislature at It's last
session, AZ the suggestion Of the Executive,
nn this subject, was BY authority properly
constituted Tor such purpose. That
movement in my judgment was timely,
judicious, and in The right direction. Nor
has il been without results. The organi
2ation Of that party az the North to which
you refer may justly be claimed asa part
OF the fruits of u. These il is to be hoped
will be followed by others Of mora mark
ed character. if all in both sections who
sincerely desire peace upon correct terms
will give that movement thus iRaugurated
all the aid in their power.
The Resolutions of the Georgia Legis-
lature AZ us last session, upon the subject
II prace. in my judgment embodled and
set forth very clearly those principles up
an which alone there can be permanent
peace between the different sections of this
extensive, once happy and prosperous, but
now distracted country. The easy aud
perfect solution 10 all eur present troubles
and those far more grievOas ones which
loom up in prospect and porlentously
threaten IN the coming future, is nothing
more than the simple recognition of the
fundamental principle and truth upon which
all American Constitutional liberty is
founded and upon the maintenance oi
which alone il can be preserved that is,
The snseresnty--the ultimate absolute so.
yerelgnty ol the States. This doctrine our
Legislature announced to the people Of the
North and TO the world. Il is the only
key y-note 70 reace--permanent, lastin.
peace--cohsis'ent with the security q
public liberty. The old Conle federation wa.
formed upon this principle. The old Uni.
on vas afterwards formed upon this prin'
ciple and no Union or League can ever b,
formed or maintained between any States
Nsrth or South. securing public libert,
upon any other principle. The Who'll,
frame work Of American Institutions whicl
in so short time had won the admiration
81 the werld and 20 which we we're indebt
cd ior such an unparalleled career Of prcs
prrity and happiness, was furmed upnl
this principle. All our present trouble
spring IRON departure IRON tins prlnci
ple-frnm violation of this essential vita
law u our political organism.
In 1876 uur ancestors and those who ar
wsging this unholy crusade against US, Ia
gether proclaimed the great and eterna
truth Tor the maintenance Of which the
jointly pledged their lives, their fortune
and their sacred honor. that " Govern rnent
are instituted amongst men deriving sthei
just powers from The consent OF the 20
yerned;' ! and that "whenever any form ,
Government becomes destructive OF thes
ends (ihose for which il was formed il
,he right Of the people TO altar or abolisl
Il and to institute new Government lay.
Ing a new foundation on sach principle
and organizing its powers in such form |
10 them shall seem most likely TO cfe,
their safety and happiness"
II is needless here TO state chat The "pe