Baton Rouge tri-weekly gazette & comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1865-18??, 1866-08-14
N' Ob q hs
MONTGOMERY Co., Nd, July 90, 1865.
CRAwroRDv1LLE, Ca, July 90, 1856


CRAwFoRDvILLE, GA, July 90, 1865.
Hon. Montgomery Plair, Washington, DO:
DEAR s1E-Your letter Of the 18th inst.
is before me. | thank you heartily for it.
No man in the United States did, or could,
more cordially approve and indorse The
objects of the proposed Union Convention
at Philadelphia as | underatood them)
than | did: and vet, from considerations
of expediency. ! doubted the propriety Of
my taking active part in 1T. I was slso in
doubt to some extent. whether, with other
views on the part of those who made the
call. the words were not so phraaed in the
call ss to exclude all who occupied simi-
lar position to my own, and from other
considerations aB those which had oc-
cnrred to me. .raa...f.
Your letter relieves me from the last
class of doubts, bnt those of the other class
still exist, notwithstanding your views to
the contrary. Individually my whole soul
is enlisted in the cause of speedy, full
and perfect restoration of the Government
nnder the Constitution. and it's perma-
neucy under that Constitution an 1t now
stands. There ia nothing within my
power that ] am not wiling cheerfully to
do to effect and accomplish that end. In
deed, (yOu will excuse me in saying il,
but it is the truth J, | would be willing to
offer up my life itself. if by so doing this
great result could be obtained, and peace,
union, harmony, prosperity, happiness,
and constitutional liberty be thereby Sc
cured to the millions now living, and the
untold millions hereafter to live on this
continent. a0ga
There are many personal embarrass-
ments or difficulties in the way Of my 60
ing to the Conyention-these / alluded to
before-but I am resolUed to be there If 7
can. In no event shall it be ever truth
fully said of me that failed to do every
thing in my power to save the country
and its institutions. @5 .sTg 30
l did in 1850 exert my efforts to their
utmost extent to avoid the late most Ia
mentable war, and to 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 "the Union causen were giving en-
couragement at least. to the extreme men
OF the South by clearly and decidedly in
timating, If not fully expressing. perfect
willingness. on their part, that "the Union
might slide" if the people of the South 90
willed it. i was even tiunted with en-
deavoring to hold our people on to Union
that was no longer cared for by leading
men of the dominant party at the North.
I withstood these taunts even when l
knew (or was informed truly, a. be-
lieved) that there was an organized body
of men in Savannah to aeize the Custom
House, Fort Pulaski. etc., in Gaze the State
did not secede. All this | stated to You,
and to which you allude in your letter
before me; nor should | have any hesi-
fancy in stating it to the public if any
public good could thereby be effected.
The public good is my only object. How
best to aubserve that with truth, honor
and uprightness, ia the only question with
me. Personal interests have no influence
with me whatever ct least / think so,
and may be excused for saying so. Had /
been governed by personal feelings, i
should have had nothing to do with the
late trouble. further than entering my
earnest protest against them. And had I
been governed by personal feelings I
shf uld not now be in The situation am.
II the Union shall be restored under the
Constitution, az ] earnestly desire to ace it
done (and / am willing to do all can to-
wards that end J, it il my fixed purpose TO
retire forever from all connection with
public affairs. So that while il would
seem that my present efforts are tending
to result IN which | have more or less
personal interest that is, my admission
az Senator in Congress yet assure you +
] never expect or intend to hold that poai-
ton long, even if the seat should bs
awarded to me.
Yours, truly, ....s ..,.s
ALEX. Il. STEPHENS.