Year: 1864




ment.


Special Dispatch to the Chicago Tribune.


WASHINGTON, Tuesday, Oct. Il.
The Richmond Wing of yesterday con-
tains ahighly important letter from Alex
ander 81. Stephens, to sundry citizens of
Georgia who had written to him about
peace movements. He begins by signi-
flying his desire for peace, and then says:


VICE PRESIDENT STEPHENS LETTER.


But really do not see that it is in my power
or yours or that Of any number of persons in
our position, to inaugurate any movement that
will even tend to aid in bringing about result
that we and so many more desire.


He then praises the action of the Georgia
Legislature last year, and says the organization
of the peace party at the north may be traced
to it, and proceeds thus to give the only basis
of peace. The easy and perfect solution of all
present troubles. and of those far more griev-
GUS ones which loom in prospect, and porten-
tously threaten in the coming future, is moth.
ing more than the simple recognition of the
fundamental principle upon which all Ameri-
can constitutional liberty is founded, and upon
the maintenance of which alone it can be pre-.
served. That is the sovereignty, the ultimate
absolute sovereignty of the States. This is the
only keynote to peace, permanent, lasting
peace, consistent with the security of public
liberty


Vice President Stephens then proceeds to
argue the States Rights doctrine thus enuncia-
ted in its historical and constitutional bearings,
and continues:


''The action of the Chicago Convention, so
far as its platform of principles goes, presents,
as l have said on another occasion, a
ray of light, which, under Providence, may
prove the dawn of the day of this long and
cherries night The prominent and leading
idea of that Convention seems to have been q
desire to reach peaceful adjustment of our
present difficulties through a convention of
the States. They propose to suspend hostili-
ties to see what can be done if anything, in
the way of negotiation. This is step in the
right direction"


After arguing in favor of this plan of the
Chicago Platform the Vice President continues:
s. But should favor such proposition only
as peaceful conference such as the Conven-
ton OF 1857 was. should be opposed to leav-
ing the questions at issue, to the absolute de-
cision of such body.


THE plan of adjustment should be submitted
for subsequent ratification by the sovereign
States. whom it affected, before it should be
binding, and then it should be binding on such
as should ratify."


The Vice President then exhorts them to be
watchful and care for their liberties, and pro-
ceeds 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, any even Petersburg
and Richmond fall, our condition would not
then be worse or less hopeful than theirs was
, in the darkest hour that rested on their for
tunes. With wisdom on the part of those who
control the destiny in the cabinet and field in
Outstanding and properly welding our re-
sources at their command, and in securing the
hearts and affections of the people, we could
suffer these losses and calami les and still tr-
umph in the end"


After continuing further in this strain, the
Vice President concludes thus:


The chief aid and encouragement we can
give the peace party at the North, is to keep
before them these great fundamental princi-
pies, which alone will lead them and
usto a permanent and lasting peace,
with the enjoyment of constitutional
liberty. With these pricnciples once recog-
nized the future would take care of itself.
There would be no more war so long
as they should be adhered to. All questions of
boundaries, COnfederacies, and Union or Un-
ions, would naturally and easily adjust them
selves, according to the interests of the par
ties and the exigencieS of times Herein lies
the true law of the balance of power and the
harmony of the States.


Yours respectfully.


ALEX. H. STEPHENS