The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1864-10-26
ALEXANDER iii. STEPHENS.

ALEXANDER iii. STEPHENS.
HIS VIEWS or PEACE AND NATIONAL
CONVENTION.
The following letter from "Vice Presi-
dent" Stephens was written in answer to
letter addressed to him by citizens of
Georgia:
CRAwFCRDsvlLLE, Ga. Sept. %, 81.
Gentlemen: You will please excure me
for not answering your letter of the 14th
instant sooner. haze been absent nearly
a week on a visit to a brother in Sparta,
who has been cutie out of health for some
time. Your letter [ found here on my
return home yesterday. The delay of ny
reply thus occaslOned I regret
Without further e1planion or apology
allow NE IoW to say to you that no per-
so2 living can possibly feel more ardent
desire for an eud to be put to this unnat-
urzl aud merciless war upon honorable
and just terms than | DO But really
do not see that it is in ny power or yours,
or that of any number of persons IN our
position, to inaugurateany movement that
will even tend to aid in bringing about q
result that we and so many more desire.
The movement by orr Legislature at its
last session, at the suggestion of the Ex-
ecutive, on this subject, vas by authority
properly constituted for such purpose.
That movement, in my judgment, was
timely, judicious and in the right di1ec-
ton. Nor has it been without results.
The organization of that party at the
North, to which you refer, may justly be
claimed as part of the fruits Of it. These,
it is to be hoped, will be followed by
others Of a more marked character. If all
in both sections who sincerely desire
peace upon correct terms will give that
movement thus inaugurated all the aid in
their power.
The resolutions of the Georgia legisla-
ture, at its last session, upon the subject
of peace, in my judgment embodied and
set forth very clearly those principles
upon which alone there can be permanent
peace between the different sections of
this extensive, once happy and prosper
Gus, but now distracted country.
Easy and perfect solutions to all pres
ent troubles and those far more grievous
ones which loom in prospect, and porten-
tiouslF threaten in the coming future, is
nothiEg more than the simple recognition
Of the fundamental principle and truth
upon which all American constitutional
liberty is fcundsd, and upon the mainten-
ence Of which alone it can be preserved.
that is, the sovereignty, the ultimate,
absolute sovereignty of the states This
loctEine onr legislature announced to the
people at the North and to the world /
1t is the on5y keynote to peace-perma-
1ent, fasting peacs-copsistent with the
security Of the pEblic liberty.
The old confederation wao formed upon
his principle. The old Union was after
wards formed upon this principle. No
eague can ever be formed or maintained
any state, north orsouth securing
public liberty upon anY other principle.
The whole framework Of American IL
'titutions, which il 50 short time had
Won the admiration Of the world, and to
which We were indebted FOR such an un.
1aralleled career of prosperity and happi-
less, was formed upon this principle. Az
'Ur present troubles sprung from a de-
9arture from this principle. from a viola
ion of this essential law Of our political
organization.
In l77G our ancestors and the ances-
ors of these who are Eagi0g this unholY
crusade against US together proclaimed
he great and eternal truth for the main
euance of which they Jointly pledged
helr lives, their fortunes and their sacred
lonor, that governments are instituted
amongst men, deriving their jast powers
rom the consent of the governed, and
hat whenever any fern Of government
becomes destructive of those ends for
which it was formed, it is the right of
he people to alter or abolish it and in-
'titute new government, laying its
foundations on such principles, and or
yaniziug its powess 10 such form as to
hem may seem most likely to effect .heir /.
'afety and happiness.