National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1880-02-14

in that spirit by which every honOrhDle
man should be nctuated under like circum.
stances II is proper to say to General Gordon
that while Mr.. stephens accepts his apology and
the withdrawal Of the words he regrets having
uttered in the spirit In which they were made, yet
he cannot admit the correctness Of tho version OF
whnt occurred on the occasion referred 10, as set
forth In General Gordou's letter. lie cannot ad.
nit that there was any such proyocation MS General
Gordon assumes In apparent justification OF tho
words which he regrets and wiihdraws. Mr.
''..,N-"e d"as not admit that there was any provo
cation OH his part al all. Certainly none was nl'
tended.
In further response to General Gordons letter,
Mr.. stephens takes this occasion to add that noth-
ing was further from his intention IN anything lie
said or did on the occasion referred to, by tone or
notion, to wound the feelings Of General Gordon,
or to be I'm any way, by manner or otherwise, In
the least degree dscourtCous tp him. AS to the re
marks Of General Gordon In relation TO what seems
to have boon an extreme scnsIivcness on his part
to him about Mr. stephens having done him great
injustice In private conversation, aud about his
having sent To Mr. stephens a mutual friend 70
correct the erroneous Impressions under which
Mr. Stephens seemed to TO l9bQrinR, ~ is
proper to state here, brioily. that Mr., ste
phenB wns not aware nt all Of any such scnsl-
tveneSs or amy cause for SUCH on the part Of Cen
crel Gordon II IL true gentleman who stands IN
friendly position 10 both Mr.. stephens and Cen
efnl Gordon, did call upon Mr.. stephens some time
ago and siotod that General Gordon had requested
him 10 come and make some explanations which
lac thought would disubuse Mr.. stephens mind OF
some Impressions existing on II In relation 10 his
conduct. MIR. stephens promptly said In reply, rs
soon es the object OF his mission was stated: Tell
General Gordon | do feel that have been badly
treated by him, and II lie has any explanations to
make to come In person and make them
himself l want no intermediate. We can
talk over nll these matters ourselves, aud
in this way come TO a better mutual
understanding General Gordon did not act in
accordance with the request, but Mr. stephens was
In no iritated mood with him because of that or
anything else, and therefore, had not the slightest
intention of being In the least dsCourtcOus TO him
before committee Of his associate Senators in any.
ttf,fs bp cufh Mr. Il L=rfnt
matters General Gordon wished to explain through
the mutual friend, or what Mr.. Stephens had been
reported to him MS having said about HIM, aud,
therefore does not know even now what portion of
his remarks before the committee was considered
by him as such "lusinuations' as produced the
great excitement which lie admits. Mr. stephens
was entirely unconscious, at the time, Of what mad
occRsiOuCd It,
Furthermore. Mr. Stephens wishes General Cor
don clearly to understand that he claims no re-
spcct, or any sort of favorable consideration, from
any person on account Of his age and iufirmtlcs; ;
but ho does expect from oil persons that respect
which is due to every one according rs his con
duct and intercourse with others exhibit strict
adherence to the principles of integrity. right
truth and honor This is the only firm foundation
Of genuine and lasting friendship. Mr.. Stephens
repeats he meant nothing offensive to General
Gordon In anything he said on the oGc0si on re
lcrrCd to- aud certainly nothing offensive in
what he said he had heard about General
Gordon fayOring the appointment OF Major
smyIhe lie did not mean by tone or mun-
ncr TO express any opinion as to the cor
rectness Of what ho said he had heard. II Is
proper TO state, however that what was heard,
as alluded to, had no such bearing General Cor.
don seems to suppose IL did. II WAS not that Gen.
eral Gordon had indorSed or recommended Major
Smythe In the first instance. General Gordon,
| therefore, was Hburng under a strange mSnppre-
| henson when lie supposed as set forth IN his let
| ter that he was by "insinuntiOn" or otherwise
attacking the truth of what General Gordon had
| lust before stated to the committee. This, Mr.,
Stephens thought, was well understood by all pres
enL His remarks related to what he had heard
touching General Gordon's then position. under
la aVigtinu a.
preference Trts to Mr simmons, not not as al an orig
iual choice, but as an alternative und not
only as between him and Mr. simmons, but
him and any other Republican. This Mr.,
| stephens, in his subsequent remaIks, stated to be
his opinion OF the position OF the Atlanta Consiiu'
ton newspaper, from recent editorial in which It
was in substance said: If We cannot get Demo.
crat, then why not take Major smylhe7" In giving
this opinion OF the position OF the Atlanta COHSttH-
| lion, Mr., stephens meant no more oitcnse to the
editors 0! that paper than he didto General Gordon
IN stating in effect that he had heard that General
| Gordon occupied similar position; thHt il, under
existing circumstances, he was lnvOring Major
Smythe I'm preference to Mr., simmons Ol
| any other Republican I'm the district Gordon
| may be assured that his great indignation
| 50 unexpectedly TO Mr.. Stephens exhibited
was without any sufficient cause, and il he hud
acted upon the courteous intimHlion then given
him by Mr.. stephens. that we could talk over
these matters outside he might have saved him
ssGsl ihe deep regrets oi what so9n occurred, and
that exhibition Of temper and harshneSs of ian
guagc which caused no one more real sorrow than
L did Mr. stephens not on his own account, but
that of General Gordon, for he felt assured TINT
| General Gordon would deeply regret H..
| Mr. stephens had no idea at the tmo that any
| publicity would be made Of what hOd occurred
| before the committee lie now regrets that the
doors had not been opened and full and accurate
report had been given % the public Of everything
that there trunsprGd His CaiefO object was to show
| that the Objectionable words in Mr. simmons let.
ter Of nppl cation were, taken III their proper
ncctiOu not subject to the construction placed
| upon them by General Gordon. Mr., stephens con-
CludCs his response 10 General GJrlUu's letter by
| saying directly to him. as he said To tho mutun
friend referred to- that if General Gordon Will coll
| on Mr. Stephens he will receive him as cvlly and
as courtcorsy as he ever did, whore they can talk
over all these matters Of mutual grievances, and
arrive at just understanding upon all OF them IN
u much better way than in personal alteration be-
fore u Senate committee any other more bellig-
Crcat arena ALEXANDER II. STEPHENS