Year: 1864

8
lspccisi dspstch 70 the Cincinnati Gazete.1


WASHINGTON, October IA


The Richmond Wig of Yesterday contains
highly important letter from Alex a Stephens to
sundry citizens of Georgia. who had written to him
about the peace movement He begins by magni-
flying his desire for peace, and then says:


aBut really do not see that it is in my power
yours, or that of any number of persons in our po
sition, to inaugurato any movement that viii even
tend to aid III bringing about result that we and
so many more desire"


He then praises the action of the Georgia Legis-
lature of last year. and says the organization Of
peace party at the North may be traced to it, and
proceeds thus to give what he regards the only basis
of peace:


1.-THE easy and perfect solution of all the present
troubles and of those far more greyous ones which
loom in prospect, and portentiously threaten us in
the coming future is nothing more than the simple
recognition of the fundamental principles upon
which all American constitutional liberty is founded
and upon the maintenance Of which alone it can be
preserved. That is the sovereignty, the ultimate.
absolute sovereignty of the States. This is the only
key note to peace permanent lasting peace consis-
tent with the security of public liberty


Vice President Stephens then proceeds to argue
the State rights doctrine thus enuncated in its his
torical and constitutional bearings, and continues


"The action of the Chicago convention so far as il
is platform of principles, does present, as have
said on another occasion, a ray of light which, un-
der Providence .may prove the dawn OF day to thls
long and cherries night. The prominent and lead
ing idea of that convention seems to have been a
desire to reach peaceful adjustment OF our present
difficulties through convention of the States
They propose to suspend hostilities to what
be done, if anything, in the way of negotiation
This is step in the right direction.


After arguing in favor of this plank of the Chi
cago platform, the Vice President continues


"But should favor such proposition only as a
peaceful conference such as the convention of 1887
was should be opposed TO leaving the question at
issue to the absolute decision Of such body. The
plan of adjustment should be submitted for subse-
quent ratification by the sovereign States 5ehom it
affected before it should be binding, an then it
should be binding only on such should ratfy it.


Mr.. Stephens next exhorts his friends to keepa
watchfu care for their liberties, and proceeds to
compare the present rebel situation with that of our
revolutionary forefathers, thus


!In point of reverses our condition is not to be
compared with theirs Should Mobile Savannah,
Charleston, Augusta Macon, Montgomery, and
even Petersburg and Richmond fall, our condition
would not then be worse or less hopeful than theirs
was in the darkest hour that rested their fortunes
With wisdom on the part of those who control our
destinies in the cabinet and field in husbanding and
properly welding the resources at their command,
and in securing the hearts and affections of the
people we could suffer all these losses and calanli
ties, and still triumph in the end r.


After continuing further in this strain, the Vice
President concudessas follows:
1.-THE chief aid and encouragement we can give
tie peace party at the North is to keep before them
these great fundamental principles which alone will
lead them on to permanent and lasting peace with
the enjoyment of constitutional liberty With these
principles once recognized, the future would take
care of itself There would be no war SO long as
they should be adhered to. All questions of boun-
daries, confederacies and Union, or Unions, would
naturally and easily adjust themselves according to
the interests of the parties and the exgences of the
times. Herein lies the true law of the balance of
power and the harmony of the States.


"Yeurs, respectfully,


sALExANDER H. STEPHENS"