The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-01-02

letter from MIR. stephens, June ~,
1864, is now made public by Mr.. Hidell,
which goes to show that Mr.. Stephens
had no personal hostility towards jeff |
Davis, but opposed his political meas
ures for political reasons only. Mr.. /
Stephens explains why he left Rich
mond so Suddenly for his home before |
the adjournment OF congress, which was /
due to physical disability of delicate
nature. lie then says:
THE improper motives that any nav |
attribute 10 me for it, did not exist. As |
TO its beiug as)urce Of grauscation to |
those who were disposed TO criticise my |
motives consciously, and 10 look upon |
it as confirmation Of my hostility to the |
administration and indifference to the /
cause in which we are struggling |
have to say this: l really 10 not know,
and can not understand, what is meant |
by confirmation of my hostility 10 the |
Administrations
"If is meant TO identify the admins |
tration with those acts Of congress re- |
viewed and commented on by me at
Miiledgeville, and to make the support !,
OF those measures the test of opposition !
to the administration, then no addi- !
tional evidence was wanting TO define
acts and the policy on
which they are founded. l am |
most certainly hostile, uncompromising- |
ly hostile now and forever, and to every !
administration that is disposed to rest
its merits TO favor upon them. If the
support of these measures is the issue
the administration presents, then let
there be no doubt, lot no additional evil
dence be sought after. 1 am hostile to
them now and forever. If the meaning
Is 10 link these measures not only with
the administration, but to identify them
with our cause aud make their support
the support of our cause, and the sue
cess of our cause the establishment of
the principles of these measures, then
he must be fool who would seek any
her evidence or confirmation of my
indifference to the cause after reading
my Milledgeville speech. If the estab-
lishment OF these principles be the cause
III which we are struggling, my indiifer-
ence to it is caused only by my deep hos
nliIy, detestaiion, and loathing of them
being equaled and counterbalanced Dy
ike hostility, dete .tation and loath-
| ing of the like principles of the enemy
| in seeking our subjugation by subvert-
ing and overthrowing the liberties of
the people.
81 shall never turn on my heel TO
choose between despotisms or matters.
| Our glorious cause-iOr which only |
am willing to live or die--is the rights of
he people, the sovereignty of the states,
the limitations of power-in word.
constitutional liberty. In this cause /
am engaged heart, soul and spirit, and
in destiny, with Tiny existence is linked
in whatever turn this fearful and peril
Gus revolution may take"
! These men want no confirmation OF
this. But their object is not my object.
| nj aft nj m, hot k.n
people, to put themselves between the
people and the country and to identify
their nefarious object with the great
and noble cause in which we are strug-
| Cling, and verify believe some OF them
would prefer our subiugation by the
north rather than they should not sue
coed in their plan OF subjugation for
their own purposes.
"You express the opinion that the
habeas corpus suspension will be OK
tended to the end of the session of con-
gross, or perhaps TO the end of the war.
This result you attribute TO the tone
of disapprobation expressed by
| Georgia and North Carolina toward
tho act. Allow me to say to you
that III this | think you are mistaken. ]
mean in attributing its extension To
such cause. No such thing. have not
been at all surprised at the feeling man
Tested on this subject by the advocates
OF the measure in congress. IL is the
nature Of power that when nm inch is
given an Ell is taken. The ouly way 10
meet its first insidious encroachments
successfully is with a bold, unyielding
defiance. Whoever triiles or dallies
with 1t at first is certain to become its
victim in the end. Had the Georgia
delegation in congress and tho delega.
I nd
lima uttered the same stern sentiments
in the same stern language which their
state legislators did, and which tho
great body of people everywhere fel,,
the monster might have been throt-
tied, might have been put down. That
was the only sure way to do IL. How il
may now result time must disclose.
regarded the act as but an entering
wedge.
zone word about GOV. Brown. Why
he had not sent on the Georgia resou-
tons / do not know; perhaps he had,
and some miscarriage OF the mails at.
tended them; perhaps he was not di-
rected TO send them. On this point do
not recollect. But his motive in with
holding them, If be had not sent them,
could not, think, be such as YOU say
had been attributed to him by some.
The resolution expressing 'undlmin-
ished confidence In the president was,
think, not connected with either set of
resolutions on public affairs, either the
habeas corpus or peace resolutions. IL
was distinct and separate resolution.
This is my remembrance, and IL am
right In IL he could have withheld that
If he chose and sent on the Others. But
then do not think Coy.
Brown regarded either that reso.
N pf In hs.
to think he did. think took "a much
interest in the passage Of tho habeas
corpus resolutions as anybody did, or
could, and assure you such an idea as
4 having them passed rs n ceusure of the
president never crossed my mind
Higher and greater objects 10y lar occu-
piod and filled aud absorbed my
thoughts. Those related 10 the welfare
of millions living aud millions unborn
and far transcribed In importance the
insignificant consideration OF the posi-
ton of popularity OF any man living or
dead. Davis certainly did not enter my
thoughts, aud ! doubt whether Brown
thought Of him In this connection
| only Judge him by myseii. I
was with him good deal, aud did not
hear him mention Mr., DAVIS in connec
ton with any such view. Moreover, tn =
resolution cOmplimentlng the president
to which you refer was introduced by n
warm advocate of the action of tho ma
jority. IL was shown to me before it
was offered, and | had not tho slightest
objection To its passage, nor do sup
pose that Gov. Brown had. IL ~ true,
should not have voted for 1t, as small q
compliment as II was, for my confidence
In him had been diminished. 1t was
not, however, entirely lost, and as the
facts that lad diminished IL in me were
not known to others, and IA they wer
not sufficient to Justify one In coming to
the conclusion that no had actually for
ieited either my or the public conf
dence, was perfectly willing for all 10
vote for the resolution who could, and Il
passed without a dissenting vote"
Why Is a man In safety like a great