The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1866-08-22
Alexander E. Stephens and the
Philadelphia Convention.

The following private letter from Alexan-
der Fl. Stephens appears in the Washing
ton Inteligencer:
| CRAwFoRDvlLLE, Ca, July 20, 1866.
The Hon. Montgomery Blair, Washing
ton, D. c.
DEAR SIR: Your letter ofthe 18th in
slant is before me. thank you heartily for
| it. No man in the United States did, or
could, more cordially approve or indorse
the objects of the proposed Union Conven-
ton at Philadelphia, as I understood them,
than did and yet, from consideration OF
expediency, l doubted the propriety of my
taking active part in it. l was also in
doubt to some extent, whether, with other
views on the part Of those who made the
call, the words were not phrased in the call
so as to exclude all who occupied a similar
position to my own, ard from other con-
sideration than those which had occurred
to me. Your letter relieves me from the
last class of doubts, but those ofthe other
class still exist, notwithstanding your strong
views to the contrary.
individually, my whole soul is enlisted
in the cause of speedy, full and perfect
restoration of the Government under the
Constitution, and its permamanency under
that Constitution as it now stands. There
is nothing within my power that am not
willing cheerfully to do to effect and accom-.
plish that end. Indeed, you will excuse
me in saying it, but it is the truth, I would
be willing to offer up my life itself, ifby
doing so this great result could be obtained
and peace, union, harmony, prosperity
happiness, and constitutional liberty be
thereby secured to the millions now living
and the untold millions hereafter to live on
this continent. There are many personal
embarrassments or difficulties in the way
of my going to the convention; these |
alluded tp before, but l am resolved to be
there if | can. In no event shall it be eve,
truthfully said of me that l 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 to save
the Union on constitutional principles with
out a conflict of arms. This [ did, too
while many ofthose now so clamorous fol
what they call the Union cause, were giving
encouragement. OF least, to the extreme
men at the South, by clearly and decidedly
intimating, if not fnlly expressing, a perfect
willingness on their part that the Union
might slide if the people of the South
SO willed it. was even tainted with en-,
deavoring to hold our people on to a
Union that was no longer cared for by lead
ing men of the dominant party at the
North. I withstood these taunts ever
when | knew, or was informed truly, as
believed, that there was an organized body
of men in Savannah to seize the Custom
House, Fort Pulaski, etc., in case the State
did not eecede. All this I stated to you
and to which you allude in your letter before
me. Nor should have any hesitancy in
stating it to the public if any public good
could thereby be effected. The public good
is my only object. How best to subserve
that consistently with truth, honor and up
rlghtness, is the only question with me
Personal interests have no influence with
me whatever at least. l think so, and may
be excused for saying so. Had / beer
governed by personal feeling 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 should not now be in the
situation | am.
i "If the Union shall be restored under
the Constitution, as l earnestly desire te
see it done, and [ am willing to do all
can towards that end. it is NY fixed pur
pose to retire from all connection with pnb
lie affairs SO that while it would seem that
my present efforts are tending to result
in which have more or less personal in
erest, that is, my admission into Congress
yet assure you | never expect or inteni
to hold that position long, ever if the seat
should be awarded to me.
i Yours truly,