The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-10-15
A. ~. str rmHNs' IDEA OF PEACE.

The Letter which we publish in another
column from the Vice-President Of the so
called Coniederacy, Is Que which will attract
general attention. AS an elcctioneerng docu-
ment for the Union party, II is Invaluable, and
comes at the right time.
According 10 SrEPuESs' logic, there can
be no peace until "the sovereignty-the ulti-
mate, absolute sovereignty Of the States" is ac-
knowledged. This he considers as the keynote,
"the only keynote 10 peace-permanent, last
Ing peace-consistent with the security of the
public liberty" This is the idea, the principle
concerning which he writes at such length,
and for which he pleads In so specious a man
ner THAT the States are sovereignues In
themselves--that whenever any one, or two,
or more, feel aggrieyed or become discon-
tented with the General Government, they
have the right to seek redress by withdraw
ing IL necessary, from the Union or Confede-
ration.
His whole argument amounts simply to
this. 1t is the one grand idea OF the Southern
leaders In this Rebellion. 1t is the Cundamen-
tai principle which lies at the base of tho
great movement lnaugurated to overthrow
our institutions and destroy the country.
To acknowledge this right is to recognize
the right to dissolve the National Govern
ment, whenever refractory State deems 1t
proper to renounce her allegiance ts that
Government Can there be anything moro
destructive to the existence of law, order, and
governmental rule, than this abhorrcnt prin-
cipleS And where, in the history of the
world, has ever such dislntegrating doctrine
for a moment been entertained
STEPHENS is happy TO see ray Of Hghl
from Chicago. The principles there enun-
ciated send a beam Of gladness to his heart.
BE discovers In 1t something akin to his own
feelings. He realizes that there Is party in
the North In sympathy with tho doctrine OF
secession, and ho breaks out in this semi
pious and semi-Mitonlc expressIon:-
"Hail. holy light offspring of Heaven, first
" born Of the eternal coetcTnal beam. May ex-
| press thee uDbamed, since God Is light"
No doubt STEPHENS Is encouraged to hope
that the people Of the free North may listen
TO his abominable ideas Of State sovereignty,
when he knows how similar to his own are
the principles of those advocating the Chicago
platform. That platform accords with his
own uOCtT1n65 anu JnObe OF MS partners IN
their treason against the Union, and hence
his jubilation and cheer Of heart.
But Mr.. STEPHENS Is in error. The people
of the free States look on this "idea" as In
surrectonsry, as encouraging that insubordl-
nation which has plunged the country in civil
war, and they will have none of it; they scorn
and repudiate it as heresy begotteu of the
frst great seoeder, when he reyolted and
attempted to overthrow the high authorities
of Heaven.
1t is certainly fiat tering to the Northern
people when Mr.. STEPHENS urges upon his
rebeliious followers to bear in mind that they
should instruct the peace party in the Union
"in these great fundamental principles and
truths." Taken altogether, this letter, If ii
was Intended to aid and comfort the peace
men In the free States, will tall short Of Its
aim. With all its cleyerly-worked phrases
the fact cannot be concealed that SrEPHENs
Is advocating the very doctrine which for foul
years has caused the nation to pass through
an ordeal of FIRE and blood unequaled in tht
annals of time,