Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1864-10-15
Highly Interesting Letter from
Wee President Stephens.
patch to the Cincinnati Gazette

WAsHIsGToN, October IA.
The Riohmond Whig Of yesterday contains
a highly important letter from Alexander II
Stephens, to sundry citizens of Georgia, who
had written to him about the peace move
ment, He begins by maguiying his desire
for peace, aud then says but | really do
not see that it is in my power, or yours, or
that of any number of perrons in our position,
to lnauguraie any movement that will even
tend to aid in bringing about Il result that we
and so many more desire" lie then praises
the action of the Georgia Legislature of last
year, and says the organization of "A Peace
party at the North may be traced to it, and
proceeds thus TO give what he regards as the
only basis of peace; "The easy and perfect So
luton of all the present troubles, and OF those
far more grievous ones which loom up if pros
pect, and portentously threaten us 10 the
coming future, is nothing more than the sim.
Pile recognition of the fundamental principles
upon which all American constitutional liber-
ty is founded, aud, by the maintenance of
which alone it can be preserved That is the
sovereignty, the ultimate absolute sovereign
" of the States This is the only key note TO
peace, permanent, lasting peace, consistent
with the security of public liberty"
Vice President Stephens then nroceeds to
argue the State Rights doctrine thus enunca-
ted, in its historical and constitutional bear.
nga, and contaues
The action Of the Chicago Convention. so
far as it is a platform of principles does pre-
sent, as have said on another occasion,
ray OF light, which under Providence, may
prove the dawn OF day to this long and cheer
less night The prominent and leading idea
OF that Convention seems to have been a de.
sire to reach peaceful adjustment of our pres
ent difficulties through Convention of the
States. They propose to suspend hosliliies
to see what can be done, If anything. in the
way OF negotiation This is step in the right
direction. After srguing in favor Of this
plank OF the Chicago platform, the Vice Presl-
dent continues; "But | should favor such a
proposition only as u peaceful conference,
such as the convention Of 1887 was | should
be opposed to leaving the question at issue to
| the absolute decision Of such body. The
plan OF adjustment should be submitted for
subsequent ratification by the sovereign
States whom it affected before il should be
binding only on such as should ratifiy it,"
Mr., Stephens then exhorts his friends to
keep watchful care for their liberties, and
proceeds to compare the present rebel situa-
| ton with that OF our revolutionary forefathers,
thus In point of reverses our condition is
not to be compared with theirs Should Mo
bile, Savannah, Charleston, Augusta, Macon,
Montgomery, aud even Petersburg aud Rich.
mOnd fall our condition would not then be
no worse or less hopeful than theirs was in the
darkest hour that rested on their fortunes.
With wisdom on the part of those who con
troll our destinies in the Cabinet and field, in
outstanding and properly welding the resour
ces at their command, aud in securing the
hearta and affections of the people, we could
suffer all these losses and calamties and still
triumph in the end
After continuing further in this strain the
Vice President concludes as follows: "The
chief aid and encouragement we can give the
Peace party at the North is to keep before
them these greatiundAmental principles which
alone will lead them on to permanent and
lasting peace with the enjoyment of constitu
tional liberty. With these principles once
recognized the fntnre would take care ofitself
There would be no war so long as they should
be adhered to. All questions of boundaries
eoniederaeies and Union, or Unions, would
naturally and easily adjust themselves accord
ing to the interests of the parties and the exi
gencies of the times Herein lies the true
law of the balance Of power and the harmony
OF the States
/ Yours respectfully,
"ALExASDER II, STEPHENS.