The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-10-06

ten Feb 20. 1862 he expresses some opinions
not very creditable 70 his sagacty. " Gen.
| Lee" he saws. will be made Secretary OF War.
think we'll OF him us n prudent. safe. and able
| General, but do not think he will make good
War Minister. Toombs. think. would make
! the hest in the Confcderacy. Tho message Of
the President" he continues. sent in 10 Con-
gress yesterday. surprised me. 1t is not such a
| paper as | or the country expected. But we
| have Ia bear what we cannot mend. The coun-
try must work out its own deliverance." Again
| he writes: This is very poor Con-
gross. Few men 81 ability in tho House.
In the Senate not more than two or three" We
observe that the phrase were tho Presi-
dent" frequently occurs ia Mr.. Stephcns's corr
rcspondence. and that II generally prciaces a
| gloomy view OF tho situation At the time
when Leo was winning victories in Nr-
ginia. he is most concerned about tho sub.
mission Of tho Southern people to tho usurpa-
tons of commanding Generals In their orders
Of imprcssment. establishing martial law 30.
Better" hesays, In my Judgment, that Rich
! mond should fall. and that the enemies armies
should sweep our whole country from tho po-
tomac to the Gulf thnn that we should slavishly
yield obedience 10 one Of these edicts Of our own
! Generals" This Ia scarcely the language Of
one nnamcd with vehement arior for the
triumph Of cause. and willing to make those
sacrifices which in time OF war the most scrupu-
lous patriots have not refused.
In January. 1853 Mr.. stephens was o, tho
opinion that the war would break down in a
twelvemonth somewhere. Gold is going up
rapidly at the North. II we can hold our own
until May. q large part Of tho Federal army will
go out of service. Meanwhile 1t will be no easy
matter for us to hold on" As matter Of fact.
the Confodcraies held on more than two
years longer.
In March. 1864. tho Georgia Legislature.
largely through the influence II MIR. Stephens.
passed the so-calcd Peace Resolutions which
ms they insisted upon terms which the North
could not possibly grant. had no prac.
teal effect. and apparently no motive.
except that Of Gripping the Government at
Richmond. When Mcclellan WINS nominated.
however. tho hope Of securing peace became
quite general. and tho grounds OF the eNpecta-
ton are curious. They arc thus stated by
Mr. stephens: Mcclellan. II elected. would Of
course suspend hosilities and try negotiation.
Efforts failing in that line. ne would renew the
war. not on the basis Of the emancipation proc
lamation, but FOR the restoration OF the Union
and the old Constitution with all its guarantees.
which would cover the perpetuaton Of slavery.
But whenever the war assumes this attitude on
.
be silent. She will recognizes us. France
and other powers will Join. The posi-
ton Of England and France for tho last
two years is owing 30 their strong de-
sire 10 have slavery extermnated" In other
words. the nomination OF Mcclellan. II we are
10 believe NJ. stephens. was nothing more or
less than trap
In regard to the Hampton Roads Conference
with President Lincoln and Mr. Seward. Mr..
Stephens intimates that 1t was n trick. con-
trived by tho President Of the Confectionery to
forestall and prevent the action OF the Rich
mond Congress on the peace resolutions intro
duced by the Georgia statesman. We should
have liked TO quote the account Of what was OK
pected. and what was actually gained.
from this abortive Conference. at which
Mr.. Stephens may DO said to have made
his last public appearance as an on or
Of the Confederate Government. But W.
can add only one word more. This book will be
welcome to the student OF history. but we doubt
II 1t will greatly benefit the subject Of the BIZ
ography. 1t can hardly help him at the North.
Since he Is shown to have shared the most r-
rational and rancorous preIudccs Of his section
against our people. and to have opposed seces-
sion on grounds of erpediency alone Nor is Il
! likely to help him among those who still look
/ with tenderness and regret upon cause for
which go much was sacrificed in vain. when
they see from his own disclosures how much
his action must have tended 10 paralyza the
! Confederate Executive and how often it seemed
/ to he dictated rather by a wounded vanity than
an unfinching patriotism. N. W. II.