Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-08-03
4lniou and 9merifan.
ALEXANDER II. STEPHENS ON THE
PHILADELPHIA CONVENTION.

Hon. ALEXANDER il. STEPHENS has sent
the following letter to Hon. NJ. BLAIR. The
letter was marked private, but Mr.. BLAIR
believes he is warranted in giving it pub
licity:
TO the Editor Of the National Inte.ligencer:
GENTLEMEN beg place in your col
umns for the enclosed letter to me frcm Hon.
ALEXANDER II. STEPHENS. In committing
it to the press I am taking questionable
liberty with him, .or the letter IL marked
private, but in the present circumstances Of
the country, ] think il is so desirable that
the people should know the real temper Of
the South, that ! feel justified in publishing
this letter from one who, at the outbreak of
the war, was the representative man Of the
Union party Of se South, and is the recOg-
nized exponent of the Southern sentiment at
this moment. President LINCOLN had great
confidence in Mr. STEPHENS. lie told me
repeatedly that be had offered him a seat in
his Cabinet, and he retained great regard
for him 10 the last. Yours respectfully,
NJ BLAIR.
"CRAwFoRDsvuLE, GA, July %, 1866
Hon. MONTGOMERY BLAIR, Washington
d. C.. Dear Sir-Your letter Of the 18th
AAAHA ln UElAlE lAEa AAlAlih bA MAJ III AbA
IT, No man in the United States did or could
more cordially approve and indorse the OBJ
iects of the proposed Union Convention at
Philadelphia, as / understood them, than /
did, and yet, from considerations Of expe-
diency, ] doubted the propriety Of my taking
active part in IT, / was also in doubt, TO
some extent whether, with other views on
the part Of those who made the call, the
words were not so phrased in the call AS 10
exclude all who occupied q similar position
30 nay own, and from other considerations as
those which had occurred 10 me. Your let
ter relieves me from the last class Of doubts:
but those Of the other class still exist not
withstanding your strCng views 10 the con-
trary sIndividually my whole soul is en-
listed lIhe cause Of a speedy, full and per
feet restoration Of the Government under the
Constitution, rs il now stands. There is
nothing within my power that | am not
Willing.cheerfully 10 do, ,eiiectand accomplish
that end. Indeed, you viii excuse me
in saying it. but IL is the truth.
] would be willing 10 offer up my life itself,
If by so doing this result could be obtained,
ard peace, union, harmony, prosperity, hap
piness and constitutional liberty be thereby
secured 10 the millions now living and the
untold millions hereafter 30 live on this con-
tinent There are many personal embar-
rassments or difficulties in the way Of my
going 20 the Convention. These / alluded
10 before, but ] am resolved TO be there if |
can. In no event shall it be ever truthiully
said Of me that ] failed TO do everything in
my power 10 save the country and its iusti-
tutions. did in 1860 exert my efforts TO
their utmost extent TO avoid the late most
lamentable war, and 10 save the Union on
of arms. This / did, too, while many Of
those now SO clamorous for what they call
the Union cause, were giving encourage
ment at least to the extreme men at the
South, by clearly and decidedly intimating,
if not fully expressing, perfect willingness
on their part that the Union might slide if
the people Of the South so wiiled it. | was
even taunted for cndeavoring to hold our
people on 10 a Union that was no longer cared
for by leading men Of the dominant party at
the North. ] withstOOd these taunts even
when ] knew or was informed truly, as /
believed that there was an organized
BODY of men in Savannah TO seize |
the Cusiom-house and Fort Pulaski,
in case the State did not secede.
All this stated 10 you, aud 10 which you
allude in your letter before me; nor should
/ have any hesitancy in stating il TO the pub
lie il any public good could thereby be ei-
fected. The public good is my only object
How best 10 subserve that, consistently with
truth, honor and uprightness, is the only
question with me. Personal interests have
no influence with me whatever; at least l
thinl, So and may be excused for saying so.
Had ] been governed by personal feelings,
] should have had nothing 10 do with the
late trouble, further than entering my earn
ezt protest against them. And had been
governed by personal feelings | should not
now be in the situation ! am. fthe Union
shall be restored under the Constitution, as
earnestly desire to see IL done, and am will
ing 10 do all / can toward that end, it is my
fixed purpose 20 retire forever from all con-
nection with public affairs, so that while Il
would seem that my present efforts are tend
ing 10 a result in which have more or less
personal intcrest-that is, admission rs a
Senator in Congress yet ! assure you'll new
ar expect or intend 20 hold that position
long, even If the seat should be awarded to
me. Yours truly,
"ALENA ANpEE II. STEPHENS