The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1866-08-01
The Philadelphia Conventisn-Lef'
ter from the Hon. Alexander III. Ste
phens.
To the Editors Of the National Intelligeneer;

ter from tne kAOns AAOA"nuSA ~ CIV
phens. 49,
To the Editors of the National Intelhgeneer;
GENTLEMEN. I ask place in your col
umns for the enclosed letter to me from the
Hon. Alexander 81. Stephens. In COM
hitting it to the press am taking a cues
tionable liberty with him. Tor tne lee1et
| ia marked private. But IN the Plesent
| circumstances of the country tnihh ~
50 desirable that the people should know
The real temper of the South, that feel
;nst;f;ed in publishing this letter from
one who, at the outbreak OF the war;
was the representative man OF the Union
marty of the South, and is the recognized
exponent of the Southern sentlment at
this moment. 30 -. ~.
President Lincoln had great conf
denee in Mr. Stephens. He told me re-
nsatedlv that he had offered him seat
in the Cabinet, and he retained great
regard for him 10 the last. D.
Yours, respectfully, NJ BLAIR.
MONTGOMERY Co., MD, July % 1866.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, GA, July %, 1866.
Hon. Montgomery Blair, Washington, II u;
DEAR Sir: Your letter of the 18th
inst, is before me. thauk you heartily
for it. No man in the United States did,
or could, more cordially approve and
endorse the objects of the proposed
Union Convention at Philadelphia Gas l
understood them) than I did; and yet,
from considerations of expediency, /
doubted the propriety Of my taking &C
tive part in it. Twas also in doubt, to
some extent, whether, with other views
On the part of those who made the call,
tue words were not so phrased in the
call as to exclude all who occupied sim.
liar position TO my own, aud from other
considerations than those which had &C
CURED TO me
Your letter relieves me from the last
class of doubts, but those OF the other
class still exist, notwithstanding your
strong views to the contrary. Individu-
ally nv whole soul is enlisted in the
cause of a speedy, full and perfect restor
alton of the government under the con.
stitution, and its permapency under the
constitution as it now stands, There is
nothing within my power that am not
willing cheerfully to do to effect and &C
complish that end, Indeed, (you will
excuse me in saying it, but it is the
truth l would be willing to offer up my
life itselfif by so doing this great result
could be obtained, and peace, union, har-
mony, prosperity, happiness and consti-
tutional liberty be thereby secured to the
millions now living, and the untold mil,
| lions hereafter to live on this continent.
There are many personal embarrass-
ments or difficulties in the way of my
going to the convention-these alluded
to before but am resolved to be there
if can. In no event shall it be ever
truthfully said OIL me that failed to do
everything in my power to save the
country and its institutions,
did in 1860 exert my efforts to their
utmost extent to avoid the late most
lamentable war, and save the Union On
| constitutional principles without con-
fict of arms This did, too, while many
of those now so clamorous for what they
call 1.-The Union cause" were giving en-
| "nnragement, at least, to the extreme
| men at the oUu!' ~ -,"Trlv and decided.
ly intimatipg, if not fully expressing q
perfect willingness, on their part, that
"the Union might slide" if the people of
the South so witled it, l was even tauRt-
ed with endeavoring to hold Our people
on to d Union that was no longer cared
for by leading men OF the domin-
ant party at the North. withstoJd these
taunts even when ] knew (or was in
formed truly, as believed,) that there
was an organized body of men in Savan
nah 70 seize the Custom House, Fort
| Pulaski, &c, in case the State did not
secede ALI this l stated to you, and to
which you allude III your letter before
me; nor should have any hesitaucy in
stating it to the public if any public
good could thereby be effected, The
public good is my only object How
best tosubseTve that. consistently with
truth, honor, and uprightness, is the
only question with me. Personal inter
| ests have no Influence wi me whatever
at least think so, andll " be excused
for saying so. Had | been governed by
personal feelings, / should have had
nothing to do with the late troubles,
further than entering my earnest protest
against them. And had been governed
by personal feeling l should oCt ''ow 70
III the situation am
II tiIe Union shall be restored Hud,r
the Constitution, as l earnestly desire to
SEQ IT done, (and am willing 10 90 all
can toward that end } ii is my Fix. d
purpose tu retire forever from all c uutC
ton with public affairs. So that While
it would seem that my present efforts
are tending to a result in which have
more or less PERSONAL interest-th&t is,
my admission as Senator in Congress
yet l assure you never expect or in.
tend to hold that position long, even if
the seat should be awarded to me
Yours, truly,
ALEXANDER II. SrEPnr Ms.