The daily clarion. [volume] (Meridian, Miss.) 1863-1866, 1865-10-13
Letter from Alex. II. Stephens.

To the Editor of tie World: l have
read with great interest the remarks OF
the Louisville Journal and the World,
concerning the long imprisonment OF
Mr.. A. IL. Stephens. l happen to be
able to bear testimony to the efforts
made by him, in the autumn of 1860, to
prevent a disruption of the Union. AZ
ter reading the very able and courageou.
speech which he had made to dissuade
the Legislature of Georgia from calling
a Convention of the State, | wrote to him
from Boston, where | then resided, ex
pressing my sympathy in his efforts, and
my desire to do everything in my power
to assist him. His answer | now publish.
beng unwilling longer to keep private
letter which does him so much credit,
although ii painfully reminds me of the
vain exertions made in the North and il,
the South to save the country from the
disasters prepared for it by the extre-
mists of both sections. Yours respect
fully, GEO. T. CURTIS.
New York, Sept. 90.
CRAwFoRDsvILLE, Ga. Nov. 80, 1860
Ny Dear Slr-Your kind and esteemed
favor of the Odd instant, is before me. ]
was truly glad to receive it, and to know
/ that the general line of policy indicated
in the speech made by me before oul
Legislature, met your approval. The
times are indeed perilous, and nothing
but the prompt and most energetic action
on the part of the patriots in all sections
of the country, can save the republic. OF
this am confident but | am not con
6dent, or even sanguine, in my hopes
that even this can do it. Still the effort
should be made. South Carolina, ] sup
pose, will certainly go out of the Union
| forthwith-just as soon as her conven
ton meets and can act: My apprehen
| sion is that Georgia, Alabama, Florida
oliua would wait to see whether the
their position and resume their consti
tutional obligations, l have but little
doubt that Georgia. would aIso. Blu
| when South Carolina takes the lead
hare but little hope of either of the
other:named States holding back. Thi.
l assure you may be looked for.
What sort of an adjustment can after
ward be made to restore union or effec
reconciliation, do not know. am Ger
tain, however, that nothing short o
what was indicated in my speech, Il
which you refer, can. Should the seced
ing States be left alone, no force uset
against them, perhaps an amicable -un
derstanding and settlement Of the mat
ter in controversy might be made at NJ
distant day. But if resort to arms i
once had, all prospect of peace and union
in my judgment, will be gone forever
write freely and frankly to you. What
say is intended for yourself only, and no
for the public, in any sense of the word
When tell you what apprehend will
be the course of the Georgia Convention
| it is only to apprise you Of the real stat
of things here.
There are large number of our peopl
who will sustain my position, but l fee
that the odds are ag inst as. We will d.
all we can, and should any decided de
monstration be made in Massachusetts,
or other Northern States, on the part @
any lesding Republicans tonight, on tn
wrongs Of which our people so justly com
plain, il would greatly aid US in our pa
triotic endeavors to save the Constitution
aud the Union under it. This is m
earnest dtsre Thanking you again 70
your letter, and hoping to hear from yo
again as to the prospect in Massachusetts,
remain, yours truly.
A. III. STEPHENS.
GEoRoE r. CURTIs. Boston. Mass s.