Letter From Hon. T. Butler King

Stampord, Ga., June 26, 1863. Roben K Whitfleld, Esq., : Deak Sip. - Ynu J'avor f tho lTth net., Uifurirnng me that " ihe preneotrttioo by niy friends of my rame can didute tor Congre#H n tho First Congiosi-ftnl Disliiol f Georgia, has califii forth imrugrupbi in 'ho. Kichmond pnpcrl) to the tfect that I mi a ro-con; ructioiiicf, acó., wafl iorwurded frotn n hoi lo iiio at tltis place, where I proj o-e it) pjit-pd a loittiiyht or threo fhe frii-ndn who havo thougiit proper to tiM my name in oonneclion with h position rt'ferred to, ore perfectiy ffiiniliar wiifa the eentimenls I entertain ori tho subject ( f tho war, anit tho oníit]ons upon vhich I would favor po.it-o ; !irul I im perfently wiliing ihat mj' viWij on those mlijects íhould ba erjually Well known to the h le peopie of the country. A painfol ndifpooition which I now ■uffer, will rt)Verït my addiefsing you nt niuch leng'h, or with mnch caro, lint I hope to be uhie to duvelop my views Tsuficit-ntty to prevent my ítúsappre'heníi.on in regnrd t them. My politiuul record will clearly fIiow that ï Vinv.e over muintuined the right if any State, or number of Stut. s, to withdraw from the Federal Union, nnd farm a new governuaent íor themíelves; and it will lurther how, tiit nfter tlie elaction of Mr. Lincoln to the Presidency, I udvocated the propriety and neceniily of sneh a conreo being pur6u cd by the State of Georgia. WhU'j I advoca ed tliin meaftire, I profoun.dly rrrotterl the neccsMty for H. Noth.ng but ii firm convtetion that onr con#titi)tion;il riglits would be denied and violated by tho Lincoln nd iiiiniistration promptt-d and induced me to recommeiid ihe seoession of my State! Aud when tho ordinance of seCtf!-ion was pacsed hy our convention, I indtilged the hope and oven the expectation, that at no (üt-tmst [leriod meamres would be udoped by the. Federal governm nthich would result in üiich guaranteeü of our lighis within tho Union as would enable us to return to it. My hopes were noon dissipste by ho clasb of iinnp, nnd I wu8 beland non of my fellow-citizens in declarihg that we muist defend nur country to the last man. I have given to the field every male meroher of my familv. and to the soldier's grave tuo who were most defti' to me, and nltl;ough too fur advanctd in years to render much military service, Í am wiiling and detarmined, if it become neoessary, tocontribute ruy feeble assistanoe in my counlry's defensa. But war must end in peace ; and socner or later both partie must a"ree to terme upon which they will lay a.ide tieir arms, Tho events of the past two yars should be sufficient to uouvince any rafonable man, both Nor'.h and Boutb, that it is imponible ior the Federnl government to i-uhjugato our peo pie ; and statesrnen of tho Soulh cannotf-üto [.crcoiro that the Federal government cannot abandon the war, except on a resioratiou of tho Union, without danger of the further disraemborment oí tho nation. Tben, unlens both parties can be influunced by the spirit of concession and coniprsmise, "w hen," in the hmguage ofoneof our dislinguished Senators, " is this etruggle to end?' No man can anvrer us to tbö yoar ; but he miy afely answer, " not until both partjes are éxhausted and ruined- not until tbe NtTth is redu eed to a condition wowe tban it wnuld havo been if she h-ad quietly tcquiesced in oureeparation nd not untü the South is worsa off thun fiho would have been by remaioir.g in the Union under an abolition admiaktratiüD oí the governtncnl." Those cons'derationt would lead ma to favor any terms of peaco tbat the South could, wit li a proper regard for her interests and honor, accept. The enerpry, ski!! and blood of our fatbr8 helped 10 acbieve and establish th indopendence oí the United States, nnd our own enterprise, treasure and statesinen have helped to make the nation one of the greateat and uiost pow criul on the globe. We have tho s:ime light to enjuy the power and grandeur of that nation as the peuple cij tho North. Our States cut the Gordian knot, reti'fld from the Union, and formed a nL w goyerpinenf, becauwe, and only becausc, our rigtits in the Union, and under tho constitution we hadhelpad to eataolish, were denied us, If the ponpjo of the North would not conoodu our rights, aud the Fodcral government secure thern to v, tiio danger willi whieh we were Üirnatejied by remuining in the Union, and the objectiön we had to it, would be removed, and we might with honor and advautage return to it. The Federal government '.as ceeded no fur with Wflr that thoxe re the only terrns if p-ace to whieh we coiild rcasonably expect it to agrée; and I regivt to say that I luivo no cxpectation that such terma vviü be propofied, or would 1)0 aceeptcd by that governtnent whila the Prusidential chair M occujúed by the prusattt abolition incumbünt. But f, ÍMríunately, during his adininiMtration, or within n r!iouably timu ufterward, such term.s lioukl be o'fferéd', I air. froe to s'ny thnt I should prefor their icceptanco by our people to the cotitinuaiice u: tliö wur, whieh must reault n the desolation oí our couutry, and the ruin of botli North and South. A punce on sudi teims would bo eminently hpnorftble to both parties - neither could f1;iim the vic'.ory - wliile the strength and valor each hm oxhi'bited would command the repact and admif-yiion of the othur. To this extent I aiTi a " reconstructtoaist." But it must not hs uuderutood that I would prefer recoiistruetion und peaee on the terina ndicitted to a ipudy poace recognizing our independence - if thnt wero possible ; nor must it be understood that I doubt our abil ty to achieve our independence il tlie eonflict ia 'coiitiuued. 13ut I believe it would be better lr,r ourse!ve, for our firo-iperity, and for mankind, that we nhould accept peace with our ïights eecitred within the Union, than lo continue' th war raany yoars, giviiig oconns of blood, millions of troasure, and r:ning onr eesntty, for ir.dpfndeoee. e. in im i. i. ■ At yot, the North has rnanifeeted no i inclinution to tnuke psïtce on acy reasonable termï ; and until she evinces a puciüc (iiüposition, iind hoetilhies aro suspended ftr negotiation, nothing remnins for ti bul to devote uil our energies, ikill and resources to the conflict. ffñping ere long ro have tho plensuro of fceing jou nt JiichmontT, lien we inoy talk over tho eonriition of afíairí, and interchange our views in detail, I remain, sinccrelv, yoiir friend.