The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1883-03-30
STEPHENS-LlNC0LN.

Last Greetings of These Great Men Before
the Burst of the Ar-Sioad-Had fheiI
| CounseIs Prevailed, n brighter Page oI
American History wouid Have Been
written.
! Alexander II. stephens Was one of the
first pubic men IN the country 20 fear that
the litigation oi the slavery question would
ultimately resuit in stru ,rr Thus fear
ing, he never lost an opportunity OF coun-
selling moderation and lor6eaFance. This
as there eau DE no doubt, hc lid disinter,
estedly, and without Tor a m0meHt beliey.
| ing that the result ui The struggle would be
the downfall OF the save power. In al
open letter written to number of his con
stituents, written IA May, 1854. he says upon
| THIS subject:
The times, as you intimate, do indeed
porttnd evil, but have no tears for the in
s'ituuOH OF sltv, ~ either IA the Union OF
| out OF II, II our peuUle ARE all true To them
selves true, stable and loy at 10 liked prln-
ciples and - settled policy Ii they are not
thus true, have llttle hope OF anything
good, whether tue present one last or a
new one be founded. There is, In my
opinion, nothing ~ fear from the irrepress-
lhle COuillct Ut which We hear 80 much.
Slavery rests upon great truths, which
can never be assaulted by reason OF
Argument IL has grown stronger in the
MINDS of men the more 1t has been dis
cussed, and will grow stronger u the dis
cussion proceeds and tlme rolls on. truth
is umniputcnt aud must prevail. We have
only TO maintain the truth with iirmuess,
and WELD II Alright Our system rests upon
an impregua lie basis tnat can and will defy
! the attacks from without. My greatest ap.
prehenslon Is from cases within. There
lies the greatest danger, We have grown
luAuriauL IN the cNuOerauCe o! our we'll
being and unparalleled prosperity.
There is Il tendency everywhere
hot only ~ the north, but a. the south, to
strife, dissensou, disorder and anarchy. 1t
Is against this tendency that the sober.
minded, rejecting men every where should
now he called upon To guard"
PRIOR 10 ruE WRITING
of this letter, and Just after the delivery OF
his great Miliedgcvlle speech, IN which he
expressed similar views, Mr. Stephens re-
ccIved note from tho then Pfcsldent.elect
| Lincoln, asking Tor IA revised copy
OF that speech To thus communication Mi
! stephens replied in alctter which concluded
with these words. the country Is certainly
III great peril, and no man ever had greater
or heavier responsibilities than you nave in
inc present mOmcBtous crisis Under
| date of December -, 1850, Lincoln replied
| 10 this communication IN Inc iOllowinl
| letter, which, II may he well to note wa.
held secret by Mr.. cphens until after tn,
death OF the president:
FOR YOUR own, EYE, ONLY.
My Dear Sir: Your 0biiging answer tC
my short not IS just received and Tor Nhlct
pleas, accept my thanks. DO the pcopl,
OF The south really entertain fears that
republican administration would directl
OF indirectly interfere with the slaves, OF
wlth Them about the slaves? Ii they do
| wish to assure you rs once friend
ana still | hope not an enemy, that
there Is no cause Tor such tears. The soutl
VIII be III no more danger in this respect
than u was III the days OF Washington.
suppose, however, that does not meet the
case. on think 1t is right ana ought tt
be extended while We think il Ia wrons
and ought to be abolished That, | sup
pose is the rub 1t certainly is the only
substantial difference between us.
Yours very truly,
A. LINCOLN,
| To the Hon. Alexander Ii. Stephens.
In his reply to this communication
communication in which II is particularly
worthy OF note that the presiden;-elect dis.
claims all intention Of interfering with the
system of slavery NJ Il then exlsted-Mr.