The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1864-10-12

sovereign States whom it affected, before it
should be obligatory or binding, and then
binding only on such as should so ratity.
Il becomes the people Of the South as we'll
as the people of the North to be quite as
watchful and jealous Of their rights as their
c0mmen ancestors we're. Fhe maintenance
Of Liberty in all ages, times and countries.
when and where it has existed, has requir.
ed not only constant vigilance, and jeal-
ousy but has often required the greatest
privations and suferings and sacrifices that
people or States are ever subjected to.
Through such an ordeal we are now pass
ling. Through like and even severer or
deal our ancestors passed in their struggle
for the principles which it has deyolved
upon sthus to defend and maintain. But
great as our sufferings and sacrifices have
been and are to which you allude, they are
as yet far short of the like snfferings and
sacrifices which our fathers bore with pa
thence, 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
achieved for US al such a cost of treasure and
i blood. Great as are the odds we are strug-
4 glingag they are not greater than those
4 against which they successfully struggled.
Il In point of reyerses, our condition is no
TO be compared with theirs. Should Mo
bile, Savannah. Charleston. Augusta, Ma
con, Montgomery, and even Petersburg
and Richmond fall, our condition would moi
then be worse or less hopeful than theirs
! was in the darkest hour that rested OF
|. their fartunes. With wisdom on the par
i Of those who control our destiny in tn,
cabinet and in the field. in outstanding an,
|. properly welding our resources at thei
] command and in securing the hearts an,
! the affections OF the people in the grea
! cause Of Right and Liberty for which w
are struggling, we csuld suffer all thes
losses and calamities, and greater even
anj still triumph in the end. At presest
however, do not see, as I stated in III
outset, that you, or |, or any number 0
persons in our position, can do anything TO
/ wards inauguratiDg any new moyenen
/ locking to peaceful solution Of the pres
eat strife.
The war On our part is fairly and entire
ly defensive in its character. How lon
il viii continue to be thus wickedly an
mercilessly waged against Us, depends up
n'the people Of the North. Georgia, ou
own State TO whom We owe allegiance, la
with great unanimity proclaimed the prin
ciples upon WHICH just and permaaen
peace ought TO be sought and obtained
: The Congress Of the Confederate State
: has followed with an endorsement of thes
principles. All you, and |, and others il
our position, therefore can do on that lin
at this time, is 10 sustain the mOvemen
thus inaugurated, and TO tie utmost of ou
ability TO hold up their principles as tn
surest hope Of restoring soundness to tn
public mind North, as the brazen serpeE
: was held up for the healing Of Israel in th
: Wilderness.
The chief aid and encouragement "
I can give the Peace Party az the North
: to keep before them these great fundamen
tai principles aud truths which alone wi
y cad them and US to permanent and last
! ing peace, with the possession and enjoy
y ment OF Constitutional Liberty. Wit
e these principles once recognized the futur
7 would take care Of itself. There would J
e no more war 50 long as they should be az
n hered 70. All questions OF boundarie
IS Confederacies and Union or Unions woul
e naturally and easily adjust themselves az
II cording TO the interests Of the parties az
q the exigencies Of the times. Herein Ii,
!. the true law Of the balance Of power an
d the harmony Of States.
u Yours respectfully,
). ALEXANDER ii. STEPHENS,
j..