The Van Buren press., 1866-08-18
CrAwroRDvILLE. Ca, July %, 1866.

bNN i'hDN ilsisfs' " 'tl. i''''
Hon. Montgomery Blair, Washington, d. c.;
DEAR SIR 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 endorse the objects of
the proposed Union Convention ut Pliladcl-
phia laS | understood thcm) than did, and yet.
from considerations of cXpcdicncy, doubted
the propriety OF my taking mn active part in
it. | WAS also i'm doubt. to some extent. Whcth-
or. with other views on thcpart of those who
made the call, the words were NO, phra>cd in
the call as to exclude all who occupied SINH
lar position to my own, and from other con-
SilCrtiOnS a. those which had occurred to
me.
Your letter relieves me from the last class
of doubts but those of the other ,till exist not
withstand ing your views to the contrary. In
diyiduaily my whole soul j. enlisted in the
cause Of speedy. full and perfect restoration
of the Government under the Constitution.
and it, permanency under that Constitution
H. it now stands. There il nothing within my
power that | am not willing chccriully to
do to cfrc, and accomplish thatend. Indeed,
you will excuse me in SAYING it, but it is the
truth would he willing to offer mp my life
itself, il, by so doing, this result could be OBJ
tanned. and peace, union. harmony, prosperity.
happiness and constitutional liberty be there
by >ecurcdto the millions now living, and the
untold millions hereafter To live on this con-
tincnt.
There are many personal cmharrasSments
or difficulties in the way OF my going to the
Conventions these alluded to befUre-but |
am rcSoirrd tp be there il / can. In no event
shall it ever be truthfully said of me that
failed to do everything in my power to save
the country and il Institutions.
did, i'll 1862, exert my efforts to their ut
most extent to avoid the late most lamcnta-
bic Warand to save the uion OF constitutions
al principles, without conflict of arms. This
did, too. while many OF those now so clam
orous for what they call " the Union cause y
were giving cncOura cement. at least TO the
extreme men of the South by clearly and de-
cidcdly mtimating. if not expressing. per-
feet Willingness. on their part. that the Union
might slide" if the people of the South so
Wlllcd it. was even taunted with trying To
hold our people on to Il Union that was no lon
ger cared for ny the North. with>tood these
tallntS even when knew Cor was informed
truly, as belcved) that there was an organ-
zed body of men at Savannah to seize the Gus
tom House, Fort Pulaski. etc.. in ease the State
did not >cccdc All this stated to you. and TO
Which yon alludc in YOUR letter before me
nor should have any hcsitanoy in stating il
10 the publIc. II any public good could there
ny effected. The public good is my only oh
lect. How best TO subserve that with truth
honor and uprightness is the only question
with me. Personal interest has no influence
with me Whatever-at least | think so. and
may be excused for saying so. Had been
| governed by personal feelings. should have
had nothing to do with the late troubles fur
ther than entering my protest against them.
Ana had been governed by personal feeling
should not now be in the situation am
If the Union shall be restored under the
Constitution, as | earnestly desire to see it
done (and am willing to do all | can toward
that end it is my fixed purpose to retire for
ever from all connection with public affairs.
80 that while it would seem that my present
efforts are tending to a result i'm which have
more or less personal interest-that is my adj
mission as Senator to CongrcSs-vet | as
sure You nevereXpcct or intend tohold that
position long, even If the seat should be awar-
ded to me.
Yours truly, ALEX. II. STEPHENS.