Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-10-19

,ra1l as the true nature OF our lnBtud0ns
snd the relation of the States toward each
otbar and toward the + edersl head, would
doubtless be much better understood gener-
allv than they are now; but I should favor
such a proposition only as peaceful con-
ference, as the convention of 1887 was.
would be opposed to leaving the questions
at issue 10 the absolute decision of such
body ii
Delegates might be clothed with powers
to consult and agree, if they could, upon
soma plsn of adjustment, TO be submitted
for sibseouent ratification by the sovereign
Statae whom it affected, before it could be
ohligetory or binding, and then binding
onIy on such as should so ratify it. 1t be-
COMES the people Of the South, as well as
the people of the North, to be quiet, and
watchful and Jealous of their rights as their
common ancestors were.
The maintenance of liberty in all ages,
times and countries, when and where It
has existed, has required not only constant
vigilance and Jealousy, but has often re-
ouired the greatest privations and suffer-
ings and sacrifices that people or States are
ever subjected to. Through such an ordeal
we are now passing. Through like and
even severer ordeal our ancestors passed
in their struggle for the principles which it
has devolved upon us thus to defend and
maintain. af ....-s- -- .-.,, ,.s-.-
But great as our suferings and sacrlHces
have beeo and are, TO which you allude,
thew are as vet far short of the like suffer-
mos aud sacrifices which our fathers bore
with patience, courage and fortitude 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
l.aehieysd for US st such cost of treasure
and blood.
Great as are the odds We are struggling
sgainst. thew are not greater than those
against which they s-.ccessfuly struggled,
TT, ro;nt of reverses our condition is not to
he comnared with theirs. Should Mobile,
liSavannah, Charleston, Augusta! Macon,
Montgomery, and even fetersba[g ana
Richmond fall, our condition would not
then be worse or less hopeful than theirs
was in the darkest hour that rested on
their fortunes.
control our destiny in the Cabinet and IN
the field, in husbanding and properly
welding our resources at their command,
and in securing the heart 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 ealamltles,
and greater even, and still triumph In the
end. r,
At present, however, I do not see, as
| stated in the outset, that you or /, or any
number of persons in our position, can &c
ANYTHING toward inaugurating any new
j movement looking to peaceful solution
of the present strife. The war on our pari
! is fairly and entirely defensive in Its char
acter. How long it will continue to bt
thus wickedly and mercilesSly Wsged
against US depends upon the people oil the
North. -
Georgia. our own State, to whom we owe
allegiance, has with great unanmity pro
claimed the principles upon which a Jus
and perrnanent peace ought to be sough
and obtained. The Congress OF the Con
federste States has followed with an en-
dorsement of these principles All you
and l, and others in our position therefore
1 can do on that line at this time, IS TO sus
tain the movement already inaugurated
and to the utmost of our ability to nolc
up those principles as the surest hope OF re
! sforipg soundness to the public mind o
the North, as the brazen serpent was helC
up for the healing Of Israel IN the wilder
ness.
The chief aid and encouragement we cal
4 g.---.ba peace party in the North, is u
keep before them those great fundamental
| principles and TRUTHS winch aiUIIo vii
lead them and us to permanent and lasting
peace, with possession and constitutions
liberty. With those principles once recog
nized, the future would AXE care OF itself
and there would be no more war so long al
they should be adhered to.
All questions OF boundaries, eontedera
eies and union or unions would naturally
and easily adjust themselves, according Il
the interest of parties and the exigencie
of the times. Herein lies the true law 0
the balance of power and the harmony o
the States.
Yours respectfully,
ALEX Il. STEPHENS