The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-08-09
TIE POLITICAL WORLD.
Letter fIom MOntgomerv Blair.
PRATsE OF ALEXANDER sTEPHENs-REBKLL1oN NOT
TREASON, BUT HONORABLE,

PRATsE OF ALEXANDER NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. NOT
TREASON, BUT HONORABLE.
To the Editors OF the EUening Post:-A writer IN
your paper makes some severe animadverslons on
the Hon Alexander ii. Stephens. provoked bY
letter written by him to me. Hts assuasve tone, the
patriotic feeIInO, the resigned sen-denyinR devoted
ness with which he acquesces in the fortune meted
out TO himself common with mis- telloW.cltizens OF
the south and would now inrn aaVerlY tseI, 70
cordial and secure Unon than that which preceded
it, finds NJ iole at ON. -,
our kindred OF All the states have b.en decinated,
that any one should nov be found unwilling to be
apDeascd, and to renew tTaterna teelng
Mr.. stephens great crime, in the eye OF the
Evepiag IOstS cor esponden', IS that tho same
spirit now animates HIN that made that most eo-
quent OF appeals = his speech to the peope of
GeoTga-to avert the royoiuuonorY conflict at the
oIenn- 6y preventing the secession OF Georgia
from the Union. which now pleads iOr her restora-
tion, having the interval stood by his State and
the SCUM. But j. there anything unnatural or un-
pai dOl able in thlsY Do moi the highest IN.
tslligeI ce and nOblest sensi5lty that adOrn our
nature o. avn 10 Il slde OF those VINO have fallen
into err or from honorable motives although these
motives have been instled into the community
by artful, intriguing ambitious men, for selfish
ends, at war with the pubic goOdf Does not any
thirty years history OF SECESSION that 1t was war
of sections, gradually brought to the Issue and
heat of battle by the ambition OF q few political
leaders, who availed them,eves of the differences
in great interests North and South, which had pre-
van nP sway over the minds OF the masses III the
two sectons to produce the beet taat there was an
iIreconci aDe ncOmpalglty between them, rem
derng 81 parauon i. eVI ableI
Every BODY knows that there were multltudas of
wei meanI enthusiasts on both sides, who urged
on TINS quarrel under the de uslon that it was
mere matter OF discussion, which would be termi-
mated by peaceful secession, or pass off ike other
political questions, by col apse the intilmmatOry
feeling excited b debPte Allsu dlspUtants and
the grea body OF the people were taken by surprise
on the outbreak OF the war organized by secret
caba Of consOIratOrs. But when the war came, in
spite oi ali appeals 70 sober minded patriots to stay
it's fury, when the thunder of cannon had begun,
what could the lovers OF peace IN e her section do
rounded lin the sta TO wh, ,chthe, belOngedI Gen.
Lee SAID to my father when sounded by him, at the
request OF President Lincoln, about taking the COM
maDd 0i our army against the Rebel ion, then hang
ing upon the uecison OF the Virginia Conventlon:-
"Mr Bair, look upon secession as anarchy II
owned the four millions OF slaves the South
would sacrifice them all to the Unon--but now can
draw my sword upon Virginia, my native StateY'
he could not determine then; SAID he would consult
with Lis friend, General scout and went on the
same day to Richmond, probaOy to arDltrate olti-
Gu tes-and we see The result. Ii Is nard for
noble mind to tear itself from home kindred
fnends, and native soil, and go INTO opposite ranks
to C: Ush them |.
This was the case Of stephens as well as Lee. 1t
was the case of nearly every elevated soul in the
south when the Government OF the United States,
delinquent III all Its dules had lailed to make pre-.
paratIons to arrest violence al the outbreak and
cure The f1enzv by binding in the beginning, and
prevent 1t runniDO Oh until 1t became sectional
war, and, in effect, national war; III its influence
on the teenngs of the people OF both sections, who
were brought to consider me success OF one tue sub
jugahon OF the her. As the south grew weaker,
anO began to staQger under the heavy bows of the
gigantic No tn, ali he brave spirits rallied to man
in her support Even the slaves we're moved Dy the
natural inst net, tor when al the white men, young
anu old, had lett their homes, their women and chill
dren, TO be protected and fed by Their superior
strength they wOuio not desert to our conquering
army as it marched through ihe shrinking South
but 1eu with the panic stricken tami les aud gave
them and and comfort. In this, did not the b acks
prove themselves q loyal people! Woui1 not the
white man have proved himself recreant it, under
such circumstances, he mad gone over to the in
Wnen the affairs of the South were absolutely
desperate, ana President Linco Il had sent mas-
sage invoking peace on terms That Mr. Davis at one
time emed inclined 10 rake, the commissioners
appointed by him, Stephens. Hunter, aud Campbell,
WI re all anxious to conclude the war on the terms
umon and peace. Mr. Davis, wno had in charge
the cause OF the South insisted on independence.
Could the commissioners voia,e the trust which,
according tn 'hape 0lven BY events to the cause
they represented, and which they were bound to
consider that of whole people committed to Mr.;
DaVs-couid they ia upon themselves 70 say 1t
was treason and commit al that concerned IL to the
arbitration OF Pre- iden: Lincoln?
The aspects 10 Which thus alludo show that the
spread and continuance war puts a new face on
that wi ich at its inception was treason Inc war
upon King Char ga the FIRST In its inception was
treason. It ceased to be treason long before the
EnglIsh common wealth was established. Our war
for Independence, when the hrst blood was sHed at
Lexington, was held in Eng aud to be treason. 1t
ceased to be thought long before our rebubnc was
recognized as a nation History IS iull OF examples
showing The distinction between violence and wrong
proceeding from the heart of community, ana that
without such warrant, though spTingng from the
impu OF multitude; and the history oil oil nations
proves SO, that this singular alchemy by whIoh
great wars convert great crimes INTO pardOnable
oenses, sonnet into bessln as, IL we'll under
stood by the common mind OF every Oner people as
well as by our own.
That Providence will bring good out OF the oivi
war of our unhappy conflict most sincerely hope
but this devoutly wished for con ummation car
never be accomplished If the patriotic beneVolen
men who sought 10 prevent the severance OF thu
Union and avert the war, and even those wht
passed through IT, and whose only guilt in de
lending tier homes and families from It's caami
ties and now seek to restore the Union and Dertec
concord, are TO be deemed unpardonabe Offenders
l am, with great respect.
Your obedient servant,
NJ. BLAIR.