New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-01-21
POLITICAL CORRESPONDENCE.
-,,.nrnn,,r trccnIN And A. II. sTEPnENs.


From Mr. Stephens TO Mr. Lincoln.
CRAwFoRDvILLE, Ca, Dec. II, 1850.
MY DEAR SIR: Your short and polite note OF the So'n
nit asking for revised copy OF the speech to which you
refer &C. was not received until last night The news
naper report of the speech has never been revised by me-
Tho notes Of the reporter submitted to mo and cor
ccd 10 some extent before being published, but not SO
thoroughly as could have wished Inc rep0rt was SUI
stonfia1v correct If had had any idea that 1t would
have been so Extensively circulated IT has been, ana
been republished in many places throughout he co
mess 90 in the first instance But had such thought
and therefore let the report go hs ~ uld, ihee o
nfcenfly clear for all practical purposes. The country
Is certainly in great peril ana no man ever au ne h
in the present momentous crisis H0is ig5S
Hon Abraham Lincoln, Springfield Ill.
Reply Of Mi. Lincoln.
For Your own eye ouyl
SPRINGFIELD, H., Dec. %, 1860.
Hon A. H. srEPrfSs: ny Dear Sir: Your obNsng an
swer TO my short note Is just received, aud for which
please accept my thanks fully appreciate the present
peril tho country is H. and the weight OF responsibility Oh
me Do the people Of the South really entertain fears
that Republican Administration would directly or ihd
yecty Interfere with their slaves, with them about
their slayesi II they do wish to assure you Us once
friend and STILL hope not enemy, that there is no
cause Tor such fears The South would he IN no more
danger In this respect than # would be In the days OF
Washington suppose however, this does not meet the
case You think slavery is right and ought TO be extend
That suppose is the rub It certainly the only sub
stantial difference between us Yours very truly
Mr.. Stephens 10 Mr. lincoln
CRAwFoRDsvILLE, Ca, Dec. 90, 1860.
DEAR SIR Yours of the 22d instant was received two
days ago hold it and appreciate 1t as You Intended
Personally am not your enemy-far from IT; ard how
ever widely We may differ politically yet trust we boh
have an earnest desire TO preserve and maintain the
Union OF the States it be done upon the principles
and frthcrance OF the objects for which 1t formed
you in my former note the heavy responsibility now rest
ing on you and with the same feelings will now take
the liberty OF saying, in all franness and eaincstnes'
that this great object never be attained Dy lolVc
This ia my settled conviction Consider tho oPhhoh'
weigh IT, and pass upon it for yourself An error Oh ths
pont NAV lead TO the most disastrous consequences
viii also add that my Judgment the people Of the South
do not entertain any fears that Republican Adlnnstra
ton or at least the one about TO be naug'rated would
attempt 10 interfere directly and immediately WIN
Slavery I'm the States Their apprehension ana @
do not spring from that source. Jhry 40 not al7c from
the fact Of the known antolaycry opinions OF INC Ir,
dent elect Washlngt9n JeleIson anu oIi,r i, srti
generally ADMITTED 10 nave eeh eiS ~ @
ment But I'm those days toaNey dd not enter as hh
Questions OF OTHER kinds relating The forcgn and do
nestle polcy-commerce finance, ana othcf IeS,,.'
such associations in their day. The private opinion. OF
individuals upon the subject Of African slavery or me
status of tho negro with not looked TO III the
choice of Federal Officers any more than Their views upon
matters Of religion or any ether subject over Whch he
now this subject. which IS coufcssedy ON all sides outside
Of the constitution action OF tns % cnt i
the platform Of principles announced by inc triumphant
parfy The leading object seems 20 De simply and want
oDly II Won please 10 put The institution, OF nearly half
the States under the ban OF public opinion ana national
SUn"gl Of teif 10 arouse Spirit not only of general in
dignatiOn, but Of revolt the part OF the procrhrd
Leans even, that Congress cannot Interfere with
slavery in the setes IL - equally conceded ma
Congress cannot establish any form Of religious worship
Now suppose That any one q t., the TTGS ts n
Churches OF sects plcNhIsu ~ w "
had no existence IN any one OF me Norrrh
such circumstances suppose the people oil he NothtIN
foreign or domestic pohc{, but WIN one tguhk h," VI
condemnation OF the doctrines ana Cncis OF that ltc
lar church. and with the ayowed Object OF preventing -
extension INTO the common Territories, after the
highest judicial tribunal OF the aud had decided they had
40 oTeanized should carry a Presidential eloction l. It
not apparent that general feeling 81 ressah,e 20 me
sariy and righfuy cnsuei Would n not be the newt
able consequence And the more So IL possible from he
admitted fact that II matter beyond their conro,
and that they ought not In the spiut OF comfy De-
tween costatcs to attempt 10 mcddle with ] submit
these thoughts 10 yOd for your calm reflection. We
at the South DO think African slavery as II exists
with MS, both morally and politically Hsht, Ih'
YOu, however. and perhaps majority OF me North
think u wrong Admit the difference OF opinion me
same difference OF opinion existed more general
tent among those who formed the Constitution when ~
made and adopted The changes have been mainly
on our side. As parties not formed on this differ
ence Of opinion then, why should they be nowt The
difference would Of course exist IN the supposed
OF religion. When parties Or combinations OF non
therefore 40 form themselves must ~ not be assumed 10
arise not from reason any sense OF justice but from
fanaticsml The motive can spring from no other
source and when men come under the Influence OF nnat
icism there Is telling where their impulses pas
siOs may drive them. This Il what creates our dscon
tent and apprehension. You VIII also allow me 10 say
that IL is neither unnatural nor unreasonable especially
when the extent 10 which this reckless spirit
has already gone. Such, for instance as the ayOwed
disregard and breach Of the Constitution in the passage
Of tho statutes in number of the Northern states against
the rendition OF fugtycs from service and such exhibit
tiODs Of madness the John Brown r0it into virginia
which laG
no open condemnation from any OF the leading mon OF
the present dominant patty. For very clear statement
of tie prevailing sentiment Of the most moderate "
the south upon them refer yOu 10 the speech OF Senator
Nicholson OF Tennessee, which ilclOse 10 yOu. Upon
review Of the whole, who that tho general dis
content and apprehension prevailing ia not well fonnded
In addressing you thus would have you understand Inc
as being personal enemy but one who would have
you do what you can TO save our common country A
word fifty spoken" by you ROW would indeed bo like
apples of gold in pictures OF silver" cnIcat you be not
deceived as 20 the nature and extent OF the
danger, T. the remedy. Cancellation and
esibsEcd N bv force Nor can an" the Unlon
under the Constitution, be maintained by force. The
Union formed by the consent OF independent, SOW
ereign States. Ultimate sovereignty still resides with
them separately which be resumed, and viii be II
their safety, tranquility and security IN their Judgment
require It, Under system, | Wow IT, there IS
rlghtul power in the general Government to coerce
state I'm any of them should throw herself upon
her reserved rights and resume the full exercise OF her
sovereign powers. Force may perpetuae Union Ihat
would not DO the Union OF the Constitution. IL would lie
nothing short Of q consolidated despotsm. Excuse me
for giving you views Excuse the strong Language
used Nothing but the deep interest feel IN prospect OF
the most alarming dangers threatening our common
country could induce mo to do 1t. Consider well what
write and et It have such weight with you as IN your
Judgment under all tho responsibility resting upon you,
itmcrits Yours respectfully ALEXANDER H. STEFHESs.
To Hon. Abraham Lincoln. Springfield, III.
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