The New York herald., 1864-10-17
Alexander HI. Steahens' Let
ter in Full.
What He Thinks Of the Chi
cago Platform.
Is in Favor Of a Convention Of States, hut
viii Not Abide Its Decision,
CrAwFoRbsvlLLr, Ca. Sept. %, 1876

10 say 10 YOU ths person liv ny possibly leei
do. But realty do not sec tnat ii Is IN my power Or
yours or .nat OF my nnmoes q persons 10 our position
in bringing about result that we and so many more dc
sire
tho suggestion of the Executive or this slDcct hy
aut horily properly constituted Tor such purpose
The movement, in my Judgment wastimely, juiicious
and in the right direction Nor has it been without
suits The organization OF that party AZ Tho North 10
fruits OF IT, These. is 70 be hoped, VIII be followed by
others o. more marked character all 10 botn sections
who sincerely desire peace upon correct terms viii give
that movement thus inalsuraedr oil the aid IN their
power.
The resolutions Of the Georgia legislature at the last
session upou The subject OF pea1e. n my Judgment,
bodied and set forth very ceary those principles upon
which alone there can be permanent peace between the
different sections OF bs gtensve once b. ppy and pros
porous. bnt now distracted, country.
Easy and perfect solutions 10 all present troubles and
those la more grerous onos witch Dom ID pros nect and
porentousy threaten IN the coming future nothing
more th u tuo simple recognition Of the fundamental
priocipe an truth uuon waich all American constta
tioral liberty - founded and upon the maintenance OF
which alone II can be preservedha' is The soerilQB
tts ultimate absolute soursiaaq Of he states THIS doc
trne legislature TO the peopeat the Norr
aud 20 the wcri. 1t is Toe only keynote 10 peaceper
maneai lasting peaco-ccnsisent with the securlty u
the public liberty.
The old confederation was formed upon this principe
Tie old Union afterwards forged upon this principle
No league can ever be formed or " enalned between
state, North or South securing public liberty upou any
other principle.
Tho whole framework OF American institutions which
In short tuo bad tho admiration Of the world
aad TO which we're indebted for sncb unparalleled
career or prosperity and happ!aess formed upon his
principle All eur present troubles spruqg from de
parture from ,hs principle avioa,iou this
tiai law OF ocr political organization
In IT6 our ancestors ard tue ancestors OF those who
are waging this uphoy de against together
claimed the great and etern truth the
OF which they onty pledged their lives their fortunes
amongs, men, deriving their jGsi powers tie con.
sent OF the governed and that wherever any o,
government becomes destructive OF those ends or which
~ was iormedt Is the right Of the people to alter or
abolish IL, and institute government laying It's
foundations such principles and organizing powers
10 such forr TO them may likely to elect
their safety and happness.'
it is needless here to state that by people and gov
erncd" 10 this nuuciatoo, is meant communities and
bodies OF men carable OF organizing and msinainng
government, not individual members OF society
o. the mass OF the conmuni,y or state in us
organized form, and expressed through its legitimate
aud properly constituted organs, j. was upon this
world in eiectng their separation from the mother
try II was upon this prucple thai the gnal thirteen
pact OF the old Union u 1887 II upon the princlpe
tat the present coequa and cosoveregn States OF
confederacy formed their new compact OF union
The idea thst the old Union any Union between
sovereign States, consistently with this iuud dmental
war springs from an attempt to do this prerosterous
thing superior power compel Union of some sort,
but 1t would lot be the Union OF the old constitution or
OF our new would be that sort Of union tina. results
from despotism.
The subugton Of the people Of the South by the pco.
pie Of the North would necessarily involve the desruc
ton OF the constitution ana the overthrow Of their
ties as well ours The party At the North
whom you refer who favor peace be brought to
full realization Of this truth all us bearings before
their efforts viii result IN much practical good. Any
force will be Us ruinous to them as to US.
The action o. the Chicago Convention, so fer MS Its
platform OF principles goes presents as have sad
another occasion. ray orght which under Prov dencc
may prove the dawn OF the day TO this long and cheer
less ngnttD first rag Of light hare from The North
This
II could almost excaiu, "iia holy light, offspring of
hesven, frs born OF the eternal co-etera beam May
lexpress thee unbamed, siace God IS light"
indeed could quite exclaimed but Tor the sad
reflection that whether shall bring heating beams
DO done depends so uch upon the acton OF Others who
may not regard II and view do 50, at best but
ray-a small and tremnlous ray-enough only glad.
den the heart and quicken the hope
TIE prominent and leading idea OF that convention
10 have been desire peacefc I'D Just.
OF present difficulties and strife through the
medium OF eonvocatcn of the States. Theypropos
suspend hostiliies 10 be DONE If anything
by uegotations OF some sort This Is one step in tue
right direction 10 such convention OF the states |
should have 90 ecti1n. peaceful conference aud
Interchange of views between equal and sovereIgn
I0Hers ust az the convention oil 1871 called and
assemoled
Ghe properly constituted authorities Washington and
Richmond the duly authorized representatives Of the
two cOnederscles oi states with each other
might give their assent 10 such proposition. Good
might result from II II would be an appeal on both
sides from the sword 10 reason and Justice Ali wars
which do rot result IN the extinction extermnatou o.
some sort OF neg tiiti3n.
From the discussion or interchange OF views in such
Convention tie history az well AZ the true nature OF
institutions aud the relation OF the states toward
other aud toward the federal head would doubtless be
mucn better understood generally thin they
but should favor sscn proposition only rs "A peaceful
conference, as tie convention of 1857 be
opposed 70 !eaaagd 2aeisns al issue 70 DE obsO'ae aec
SION ~ such q tofy.
delegates might be clothed with powers TO consult and
agree, they could, upon pan OF sdustmet be
submitted for subsequent ratification by tine sovereign
who n-rnr be NH
bnd1g, and then binding only such should raii
It, Il becomes the PEOPLE OF the SOUTH at vel es tue
people o. the NORTH TO be quite as wachiu aud Jealous
Of Their rights rs their common ancestors were
The maintenance o; liberty IN all ages, times and
tries, when and where 1t has existed has required
only constant vigilance aud jealousy, but has often
CURED the greatest privsons and euerines ad sacr
nces tnat people or states are ever subjected To- Through
such ordeal We are passing Through like aud
ordeal passed their struggle
for the principles which has deyoyed upon thus
But great a cur suherngs and sacridces have been
and are 10 which you aude they yet tar short IL
the ike suierings and sacrices which fathers bpe
with patience courage and forndo in the that
tried mons souls ia their day. These the vrinos
that sustained them in their hour or nood Their Illus.
uIous and glorious example bids Us not 10 under estimate
the priceless Inheritance th achieved Tor US at such
cvst OF treasure and blood
Great are the odds struggling inst they are
not greater than those against which they successfully
Erugsied 10 point Of reveres our condition not to be
compared with theirs should Aobti Sardnsdh, Charles
ton augusta, Macon, Montgomery, and Petersburg and
chmond, fa or coad,on wouid not 1,n G moiss % lcss
hp1nt nan Oers iods n e ddrhet hour thnt restea on
their fortunss.
With wisdom the part n those who control our dcs
tiny In tho Cabinet and n the hcd 10 busbanding and
properly welding ,urcce at Their command aud
10 securing the hearts affections OF the people 10 the
great Of right and liberty for which We GRE srug
gnng, We could suer all these losses end caamtes and
greater even, and stiil triumph in the end.
Az present however, do sc, as ISdfsd "a The oH-
s udi You any nprsby Of persons IA or position,
can do anything towuvd inausrdiino any ne,0 nopcneu
took,ro peaceful soiuin Of TIE pressnl arrc The war
part fairly and entirely defensive In is oharac.
tor Houv A irgp tfnup IA
mercessy waged against depenes upon the people Of
tho North.
Georgia, our own State, 10 whom we owe allegiance,
has with great unanmity proclaimed the prncpes upon
which Just and permanent poace oufht 20 be sought ana
obtued Tie Congress OF the Confederate states ms foi
lowed with enforcement OF these principles All you and
and others In position therefore, can do 90 tpai line
NJ the trnc s 10 sustain tho movement already neugu.
rtd and To the utmost % onr ability 70 hold up these
principles the sures hope cf restoring soundness TO
the public mndbf the North Ms the brayen SERPENT was