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

ALEXANDER H. STEPHENS.
HIS VIEWS OF PEACE AND 4 NATIONAL
CONVENTION.
The following letter from "Vice Presi'
dent" Stephens was written in answer tc
a letter addressed to him by citizens Of
Georgia:
CRAwFCRDsvlLLE, Ga. Sept. %, '64.
Gentlemen You will please excure me
for not answering your letter of the 18th
instant sooner haze been absent nearly
a week on visit to 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 my
reply thus occasloned l regret.
Without further explanion or apology
ALLOW me now to say to you that no per-
son living can possibly feel more ardent
desire for an eud to be put to this unuat-
urzl and 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 even tend to aid in bringing about a
result that we and so many more desire.
The movement by our Legislature at its
last session, at the suggestion of the Ex-
ecutive, on this subject, was by authority
properly constituted for such purpose.
That movement, in my judgment, was
timely, judicious and in the right direc-
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 clearl y 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-
tious!y threaten in the coming future, is
nothing more than the simple recognition
Of the fundamental principle and truth
upon which all American constitutional
liberty is foundsd, and upon the mainteu-
ence of which alone it can be preserved
that is, the sovereignty, the ultimate,
absolute sovereignty of the states. This
loctFine onr legislature announced to the
people at the North and to the world
It is the Only keynote to peace-perma-
1ent, 1asting peace--consistent with the
security Of the public liberty.
The old confederation was formed upon
his principle. The old Union was after
wards formed upon this principle. No
eague can ever be formed or maintained
between any state, north or south securing
public liberty upon any other principle.
The whole framework of American ia-
titutions, which in so short a time had
Won the admiration Of the world, and to
which we were indebted for such an un.
career of prosperity and happi-
less, was formed upon this principle. Az
'ur present troubles sprung from a de-
'arture from this principle, from viola.
ion of this essential law Of our political
organization.
In IT'S our ancestors and the ances-
ors of these who are waging this unholY
;rusade against US together proclaimed
be great and eternal truth for the main
euance of which they jointly pledged
heir lives, their fortunes and their sacred }
lonor, that governments are Instituted
.mcngst men, deriving their just powers
rom the consent Of the governed, and
hat whenever any form Of government
destructive of those ends for
which 1t was formed, it is the right of
he people to alter or abolish it and in
tltute new government, laying its
oundatio1s on such principles, and Or
its powess 10 such form as to
hem may seem most likely to effect :heir
afety and happiness.