National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1880-02-13

in that spirit by which every honorable
man should be actuated under like, circum.
stances s, II Is proper to say to General Gordon
the Withdrawal of tho words he regrets having
uttered in the spirit in which they were made. yet
he cannot admit the correctness Of tho version OF
what occurred on the occasion referred to, rs set
forth In General Gordons letter lie cannot ad.
nit That there was any such provocation as General
tordon assumes IN apparent justification OF the
words which hs regrets and withdraws Mr..
S'cphcns does not admit that there was any provo
tended.
In further response to General Gordon's letter
Mr.. stephens takes this occasion to add that Moth
ing, was further from his intention in anything ne
said or did on the occasion referred TO- by tpne or
action, to wound the feelings Of General Gordon,
or to be IN any way by manner or othciwi,e, IN
the least degree discOuriCous TO him. As tn the re
marks of General Gordon IN relation 10 what seems
to have been IN extreme scustivcncss on his part
at that Time on account of what had been reported
10 him about Mr.. stephens having done him great
having sent TO Mr. stephens Il mutual friend to
correct the erroneous impressions under which
proper 10 state here, briefly, that Mr. Ste
pnens was not aware at all Of amy such sCns'-
uveness or any cause for such on the part Of Gen.
eral Gordon. Il Is true gentleman who stands in
friendly position to both Mr. stephens and Gen.
eral Gordon, did call upon Mr. stephens some iimo
ago, and stated that General Gorl6n had requested
MIN 70 come ana make some explanations which
he thought would dlsabuse Mr. Stephens mind Of
some impression existing IN II in relation 10 his
CONDUCT Mr. stephens promptly BUlu IN reply, as
soon as the object of his mission was stated Tel
General Gordon | do feel that I have been badly
treated By him. and if Inc has any explanations to
make 10 come in person and make them
himself want no intermediate. We can
talk over all these matters ourselves, and
IN this way, come TO a better mutual
accordance with the request, but Mr. stephens was
in no irritated mood with him because Of that or
Intention Of being I'm the least discourcous TO him
before committee Ofhis associate Senators In any
thing he said. Mr.. Stephens did not know what
matters General Gordon wished 10 explain through
the mutual friend or what Mr.. stephens had been
reported to him as having said about him, and
therefore, does not know even now what portion Of
his remarks before the committee was considered
by him rs such "insinuatonsn as produced the
great excitement when lie admits AIr. stephens
was entirely unconscious, ut the time, of what had
oceasiOned II.
Furthermore, Mr.. stephens wishes General Cor
don clearly to understand that he claims NO re-
spect. or any sort of favorable consideration from
any person on account of his age aud indrmitics
but ne does expect from all persons that respect
which Is due to every one according as his con.
duct and intercourse with Others exhibit q strict
adherence to the principles Of integrity, right,
truth aud honor. This is the only firm foundation
OF genuine and lasting friendship. Mr. stephens
repeats lie meant nothing offensive 10 General
Gordon in anything he said on the occasion re-
terrcd to, aud certainly nothing offensive in
what he said lie had heard about General
Gordon iavoring the appointment of Major
Smythe. lie did not mean by tone or man
ner 10 express any opinion rs 10 the COR
rectncss OF what he said he had heard. II Is
proper 10 state, however, that what was heard
rs alluded TO, had no such bearing as GCueral Cor
don seems TO suppose ii did. 1t was not that Gen.
erul Gordon had indOr,Cd or recommended Major
Smythe In the first instance, General Gordon,
therefore, was laboring under q strtngo misappre-
henson when he supposed, as set forth IN his let
ter that he was, by "hiSinuGtiOn" or otherwise
attacking the truth OF what General Gordon mad
just before stated to the committee This Mr.
Stephens thought, was well understood by oil pres.
cnt. His remarks related TO what he had heard
touching General GJrdOn's then position, under
the existing state of Affairs; that lie was then
mvoring the appointment OF Major Smythe in
preference 70 Mr. simmons, not as All orig.
inal choice but rs an alternative, ami not
only as between him ana MI simmons, but
him ana any other Republican. This Mr..
stephens, In his subsequent remarks, stated to DO
his opinion of the position nf the Atlanta CGHstlt.
ton newspaper from rocen, editorial, IN which It
was in substance said: IF we cannot get Demo-
Crat, then why not take Major Smylhc?" In giving
this opinion OF the position Of the Atlauul CUilstfu-
tOh Mr.. stephens meant no more Otlunsc TO tho
in stating In effect that he had heard that General
Gordon occupied II similar position: that is, under
existing circumstances he was Gyoring Major
smNthc In Preference 70 Mr. simmons or
any other Republican in The district Gordon
may be assured that his great indignation
so unexpectedly to Mr.. stephens exhibited
acted upon the courteous ntimnt!on then given
him by Mr., stephens, Tint we could talk over
these matters outside" he might have saved him-
soif the decp regrets of what sO1u orcured, and
that exhibition of temper aud harShnrss Of ian.
guage which caused M one more real sorrow than
il dld Mr. stephens not ON his own account, but
that Of General Gordon, for he felt assured that
General Gordon would deeply regret II.
Mr.. stephens had no idea at the Time that any
publicity would be iuaic Of what had occurred
before the committee. lie now regrets that Tie
doors had not hcon opened and tnlI and accurate
report had been given % the public Of everything
that there tmnspTed. His chief object WAS to show
that the Objectionable w0rls In Nlr simmons let
ter of application were, taken in tNeir proper CON
uuctiOa. not subject To the construction placed
NJ NfrHIltn-
cludeS his response 10 General GOrdOns letter By
saying directly To him as he said to the mutual
friend referred To- that II General GordOu win cuIl
on Mr., stephens he win receive him as civily and
~ cOurteGusly as he ever did where they can talk
over all these matters of mutual grievances and
arrive A. a just understanding upon all Of them in
much better way than IN personal alteration be.
iuro Senate committee any other more bellig.
ereut arena, ALEXANDER II, STEyESs.