Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1864-10-26
HIGHLY IMPORTANT PAPER.
Vice President Stephens Address to tht
People Of Georgia
Tue WAY To PEACE AND UNION

The following letter from the rebel Vice
President, Hon. Alexander II. Stephens,
giving his views upon the prospects Of
peace, was written in answer 10 letter
addressed to him by several Of his fellow
citizens of Georgia:
CRAwPORpsynLE, GA, Sept. 22d, 1854
Gentlemen: You will please excuse me
for not answering your letter OF the l4th
instant sooner. | have been absent for
nearly week on visit to my brother in
Sparta, who has been out of health for
some time. Your letter found here on
my return home yesterday. The delay Of
my reply thus occasioped | regret.
Without further explanation or apology
allow me now TO say to you that no per-
son living can feel more ardent desire
merciless war upon honorable and just
terms than do. But really do not see
that it is in my power or yours, or that OF
any number of persons in our position, to
inaugurate any movement that will aid in
bring ging about a result that we and SO ma
ny more, desire.
The movement by our Legislature Mt its
last session, at the suggestion of the Exec
utive, on this subject, was by authority
e properly constituted for such purpose.
That moxement, in my judgment, va:
timely, ,judicous and in the right direction
Nor has it been without results. The or
ganization of that party at the North tc
which you refer may Justly be claimed a;
part of the fruits of it. These, it is &c
be hoped, will be followed by others of {
more marked character, if all in both sec
tions who sincerely desire peace upon cor
rect terms will give that movement, thu
inaugurated, all the aid in their power.
The resolutions of the Georgia Legisla
ture, at its last session. upon the subjec
ofpeace, in my judgment, embodied anc
set forth very clearly those principles up
on which alone there can DO permanen
peace between the different sections o
this extensive once happy and prosperous
but now distracted country.
Easy and perfect solutions Of all presen
troubles, and those far more grieyous one
which loom in prospect, and portentious
ly threaten in the coming future is moth
ing more than the simple recognition o
the fundamental principle and truth mp
on which all American constitutional lib
erty is founded, and upon the mainte
nance Of which alone it can be preserve,
that is, the sovereignty, the ultimate
absolute sovereignty of the States. Thi
doctrine our Legislature announced to tn
people at the North and TO the world. !
is the only keynote TO peace permanent
lasting peace-consiston with the seour
ty Of the public liberty. .......
The old Confederation was formed upol
this principle. The old Union was after
wards formed upon this principle y,
league can ever be formed or main taineC
between any State, North or South, seouI
ing public liberty upon any other prime
pie. ...
The whole framework of American ir
stitutions, which 10 SO short time ha
= won the admiration OF the world, and t
d., which we were indebted for such an ur
3, paralleled carer of prosperity and happ
>. ness, was formed upon this principle A
is7our present troubles sprang from a depaj
! tyre from, this principle, from a violatio
aof this essential law Of our political organ
,. Ratlolhss ~ oG...s ss per-
"a - Jp- l3l6sony, ancestors and the ancestor
,of thosg who aIewagipg ihis unholy crl
4 sada agaipst. u.s. together proclaimed In
/ great and eternal truth. for the maintt
I, nance Of Mksch they ipipt " pledged the
/, lives, theE Eorlupts, and their, sacred hol
i: sor, that gey yegnmeats Is ere instituted anon
: men deriying thsN jpstpowers' from Y
/, consent oftge goyerned, and thatwhe
,, any form -of, overnment becomes destru
tive Of those ends for ! Which, it's forme,
:. it is the right of the people to alter or a
olish it and jnstitrte q. new goyernmen
laying the foundations on such principle
aud organEing it's powers in such form
o.them may. secip most likely TO etie,
/, their, sfeiy3and happiness. -
II is needless bore TO, state that by 'ps
. pie" and ''goyerasd Siirthis annunciaiiol
is meant communities and bodies Of me
capable of organizing, apd, maintaining
government, not indiyidual members =
society. The consent OF the goveri{ed r.
fers to the will of the mass OF the comm,
ity or State in It's organized form, and e!
pressed through its legitimate and prope