Madison Springs, Geo., 30th July, 1860.
Dear Sir: In justice to myself I ask leave to occupy your attention with a brief letter. I am informed that in the argument of the state case which went up from Hancock[i] to the Supreme Court at Athens you compared me to the late Judge Kenan and related an anecdote the point of which was to show he was a tyrant and I was like him. I could easily show this was unjust by recapitulating my whole conduct in that matter but my object is not to defend myself.
Nor do I intend to assume that I have a right to complain that you thought proper to use any line of argument that in your own judgment would increase the chances of success, and I am well aware that to disparage me would be favourably listened to by a majority of that court.
Nor do I intend to say or intimate that your course was ungrateful for though I have been your faithful and devoted friend for more than ten years, I never yet had it in my power to place you under obligations, but on the contrary am indebted myself for many and striking proofs of confidence and regard.
But I have this complaint to make which I think just and well-founded. Entertaining the opinion you do of my conduct in the case alluded to you ought not to have continued to treat me as an intimate and highly esteemed personal friend. Whenever I acquire such an opinion of you, you will never afterwards while I hold it, be my honoured guest.
I will not deny that I have felt most keenly this reproach from yon—few men live who could have wounded me so deeply. It is putting out of remembrance many pleasant years to write you this letter but justice to myself demands that I should do it and my feelings dictate that I should do it as I have endeavoured to do without any mixture of bitterness and without any design to give you offence.
I heard of what you said a few days after but it is unnecessary to explain the delay as I am not demanding redress or seeking explanations.
[i] Thomas was at this time judge of the Superior Court of Georgia (northern circuit), from which Stephens had taken a case on appeal to the State Supreme Court.
From Annual Report of the American Historical Association for the Year 1911.
Thomas W. Thomas born 1822, died 24 Apr 1864 was a soldier, lawyer, and judge of Elberton, GA.
Alexander Hamilton Stephens was an American politician who served as the vice president of the Confederate States from 1861 to 1865. After serving in both houses of the Georgia General Assembly, he won election to Congress, taking his seat in 1843. After the Civil War, he returned to Congress in 1873, serving to 1882 when he was elected as the 50th Governor of Georgia, serving there from late 1882 until his death in 1883.