Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1866-08-16

Ny DEAR SIR & A writer In your paper makes
severe ani1nadversions on the Hon Alexander Ell.
Stephens, provoked, it seems, by q letter written
by him to me. His assuaslve tone, the patriotic
feeling, the resigned seif-denging devotedness
with which he acquiesces in the fortune melted
out to himself in common with his fellow-citizens
of the South, and would now turn adversely itself
to good account by making it rebound to more
close, more cordial and secure Union, than that
which preceded hostilities, finds no federation. =
It is amazing, after the horrid struggle IN which
our kindred of ali the States have been declmated,
that any one should now be found unwilling to be
appeased and to renew fraternal feeling. Mr.
Stephens great crime, in the eye of the PoSt S
contributor, is, that the spirit anlmates
him that made that most eloquent of all appeals
his speech to the people of Georgia to arrest the
revolutionary conflict at the opening, by prevent
ing the secession of Georgia from the Union, and
which now pleads for its restoration, having, III
the interval, stood by the State and the South.
But is there anything unnatural or unpardOna-
BILE in this Do we not see the highest inteli-
gence and noblest sensibilfy that adorn our ma
ture drawn to the side of those who have fallen
into from honorable motives, although these
motives may have been instilled into the commu-
nifty by artful intriguing selfish men for selfish
ends, at with the public good? Does not
every candid mind now perceive, that looks back
to the thirty years history of secession that it
a of sections, that gradually brought to the
issue and trial OF battle, by the ambition OF Jew
political leaders who awaited themselves OF the diff
ference i'll the great common interests, North and
South, which had prevailing sway over the minds
OF masses IN the two sections, to produce the be-
lief that there was rreconcilable Incompatible
lily between them, rendering separation ineyita-
bic? Everybody knows that there multi
tudes of enthusiasts on both sides who urged on
this quarrel under the deusion that it was a mere
matter of discussion, which would be terminated
by peaceable separation, pass off like other po-
litica questions by collapse of the nfiammatory
feeling melted by debate. All such disputants
and the great body Of the people were taken by
surprise on the outbreak of the war, organized by
the secret cabal of conspirators but when the
came, III spite OF all appeals OF soher-minded
patriots to stay its fury, when the thun-
der of cannon had begun, what could the
lovers Of peace in either section do but
submit to the force with which they sur
rounded in the States to which they belonged p
General Lee said to my father, when he was
sounded by him, at the request Of President Lin
coin, about taking command of our army against
the rebellion, then hanging upon the decision of
the Virginia Convention, g Mr.. Blair, look upon
secession anarchy. If l owned the four mil
lions Of slaves in the South would sacrifice them
all to the Union but how can [ draw my sword
upon Virginia, my native State 90 He could not
determine then ; said he would consult with his
friend General Scott and went on the same day
to Richmond, probably to arbitrate difficulties
and we see the result. It is hard for a noble mind
to tear itself from home kindred, friends and na-
tive soil, and go into opposite ranks to crush them
all. This was the case of Stephens well as Lee.
1t was the case of nearly every elevated soul in
the South, when the Government Of the United
States, delinquent in all its Duties had failed to
make preparation to arrest violence at the out |
break, and cure the phrenzy by binding it in the
beginning, and prevent its running until it |
became sectional war, and in effect, q National
War; in its influences on the people of both sec |
tons, who were brought to consider the success !
OF the one the sublugatlon of the other.
AS the South grew weaker and began to stagGer
under the heavy blows of the gigantic North, all |
haT lad hans
slaves were moved by the natural instinct for
when all the white men, young and old, had left
their homes, their women and children to be pro-
tected and fed by their superior strength, they
would not desert to our cOnquering army as it |
marched through the shrinking South, but fed
with It's panic stricken families and gave them aid
and comfort. In this did not the blacks prove
themselves loyal people would not the white
man have proved himself u recreant if under
such circumstances, he had gone over to the in
vaders ? When the affairs Of the South were alb
solutely desperate, and President Lincoln had /
sent message inviting peace, terms that Mr..
Davis at one time seemed inclined to take, the
appointed by him, Hunter, Ste
phens, and Campbell, were all anxious to con-
Glide the war on the terms President proposed.
These gentlemen were for Union and peace.
Mr. Davis, who had i'll charge the cause of the
South insisted Oh independence. Could the COM
violate the trust which, according to
the shape given by events to the cause they re-
presented, and which they were bound to consider
that OF whole people, committed 20 Nh 4
Davis Could they take upon themselves to say
it was treason, and commit all that concerned it
TO the 01'6tTuR of Mr. Lincoln The aspects to +
which thus aude show that the spread and con- Il
5lnuance OF wal puts face that which, +
1t Its inception, was treason. The upon King
Charles l. III It's inception treason 1t ceased i
TO be treason long before the English Common i
wealth established. Our war for independ- /
7nce, when the first blood was shed at Iexinoton
vas held i'll England to be treason 1t ceased to
De thought SO long before our Republic was re- Y
;ognlzed as nation History is full Of explana- &c
ion showing the distinction between violence and
wrong proceedings from the heart of Il commu-
atty, and that without such warrant though spring
ng from the impulse of multitude. t
The history of all nations proves also that this
singular alchemy by which great wars convert I
great crimes into pardonable offences and some Er
That Providence will bring good out Of the evil i
If our unhappy conflict, I most sincerely hope o
'ut this most devoutly wished for contamination b
an never be accomplished if the patriotic, be- n
levolent men who sought to prevent the severance
II the Union and avert the war, and even those :.
Who passed through it, and whose only guilt was h
II defending their homes and families from its il
alamities, and seek to restore the Union and ID
erfect concord, are to be deemed objectionable a
tfenderS. u
am, SIT, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant Of
NJ. BLAIR. e.
Montgomery county, Md, August 6, 1866. &c
correspondence of the New York Journal of Commerce &C
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