Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-10-20

and the relation of the States toward each
other and toward the federal head, would
doubtless be much better understood gen,
orally, than they now are; but ! should
favor such a proposition only as peaceful
conference, as the Convention Of l7S7 was.
should be opposed to leaving the ques,,
tions at issue to the absolute decision OF
such body.
Delegates might be Clothed with powers
to consult and agree, If they could, upon
some plan of adjustment, to be submitted
for subsequent ratification by the sovereign
States whom it affected, before it should be
obligatory or binding, and then binding
only on such as should so ratify it. 1t be-
comes the people of the South, as well as
the people of the North, to be quite as
watchfnl and jealous of their rights as their
common ancestors were.
The maintenance of liberty in all ages,
times and countries, when and where it has
existed, has required not only constant Wig
lance and jealousy, but it has often required
the greatest privations and sufferings and
sacrifices that people or States are ever sub
iected to. Through such an ordeal we are
now passing. Through like and even
severer ordeal our ancestors passed, In
their struggle for the principles which it
has devolyed upon us thus to defend and
maiutain.
But great as our sufferings and sacrifices
have been and are, to which you allude,
they are as yet far short of the like suffer-
ings and sacrifices, which our fathers bore
with patience, courage and tortitude, in
the crisis that tried mems souls, in their
day. These are the virtues that sustained
them in their hour of need. Their illus
trious and glorious example bids us not to
underestimate the priceless inheritance they
achieved for us at such a cost of treasure
and blood.
Great as are the odds we are struggling
against they are not greater than those
against which they successfully struggled.
In point of reverses, our condition is not
to be compared with theirs. Should Mobile,
Savannah, Charleston, Augusta, Macon,
Montgomery, and even Petersburg. and
Richmond fall, our condition would not
then be worse or less hopeful than theirs
was in the darkest hour that rested Oh their
fortunes.
With wisdom on the part of those who
control our destiny in the cabinet and in
the field, in outstanding and properly WELD
ing our resources at their command, and in
securing the hearts and affections of sthe
people in the great cause of rightand liber-
ty for which we are struggling, we could
suffer all these losses and calamities, and
greater even, and still triumph in the end.
At present, however, do not see, as
stated in the outset, that you or l, or any
number of persons in our position, can do
anything toward inaugurating any new
movement looking to peaceful solution of
the present strife. The war on our part Is
fairly and entirely defensive in its charac-
ter. How long it will continue to be thus
wickedly and m rcilessly waged against us
depends upon the people of the North.
Georgia, our own State, to whom we owe
allegiance, has with great unanimity pro-
claimed the principles upon which just
and permanent peace ought TO De soughC
and obtained. The Congress of the Con-
federate States has followed with an in
dorsement of these principles. All lyou and
/, and others in our position, therefore, can
do on that line at this time, is to sustain the
movement already inaugurated, and to the
utmost of our ability, to hold up these prin-
ciples as the surest hope of restoring sound
ness to the public mind of the North, as the
brazen serpent was held up for the healing
of Israel in the wilderness.
The chief aid and encouragement we can
give the Peace Party at the North, is to keep
before them these great fundamental prin-
ciples and truths, which alone will lead
them and us to permanent and lasting
peace, with possession and enjoyment OF
constitutional liberty. With these princi-
piles once recognized, the future would take
care of itself, and there would be no more.
war so long as they should be adhered to.
All questions of boundaries, confederacies
and Union or Unions would naturally and
easily adjust themselves, according to the
interest of the parties and the exigencies of
the times. Herein lies the true law of the
balance of power and theharmony of States.
ours respectfully,
ALEXANDER III. STEPHENS.