Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1849-02-15

nvn- ctepnens, OF Ga, in recent
address at meeting in Alexapdria. for The
benefit Of the Orphan Asylum and Free
School Of that city, related the following an
ecdote: s7irai = slsa = "a SIS SIS Z %
4 poor little boy in i cold night in June
with no home or roof to shelter his head. No
paternal or maternal guardian OF guide 10
protest aud direct him, ON his way.- reached
at nightfall the house Of d rich planter, who
took him in, fed. lodged, and sent him on bis
way, with his blessing Those kind atten-
tions eheeredh heart and inspired him with
fresh courage to battle with the obstacles Of
life. Years rolled round Proridenoo led
bin on; he had reached the legal profess
sion his host had died the cormorants that
prey on the substance Of man had formed a
conspiracy to get from the widow her es-
tates. She sent for the nearest counsel TO
commit her cause to him, and that counsel
proved to be the orphan boy years before
welcomed and entertained BY her deceased
husband. The stimulus Of warm and to-
nacious gratitude was now added to the ordi-
nary motives connected with the profession.
He undertook her cause with will not cast
ly to be resisted; he gained 1t; the widows
estates were secured 10 her in perpetuity
and Mr. Stephens added, with an EN- phasis
of emotion that sent itselectric thrill through
out the house, shat orphan bog staads before
yos"
Mr.. Stephens is one Of the most remarka-
bic men of the day His history abounds
with incidents which, while they illustrate
thestrugglcs which unaided genius must en-
counter in its efforts for distinction and use
fnI, - L. ~
cersain success which ever attends true merit
an& unyielding perseverance, The above
skesch BY himself, Of an incident in his ear
ly sife, presents In a striking light the de-
priSatiols of his boyhood The rudimcnts
of ais education were acquired at what they
calf in Georgia an old field school. at an
carry age he was transferred to the Acade-
mys and by the aid of some benevolent
friends who had been attracted by his re-
maskable development of talent of the high.
est prdcr, he was enabled to enter Franklin
College, where he graduated with honor, full
y Ecalizing the higest expectations of those
Wig now watched his career with growing
interest. 1t was expected that he would de-
vote himself to the ministry; but it was ul-
timatcly determined otherwise. Young Ste
phsns aimed at independence for himself
ane family. He entered a law. Office, and in
a short time, before he was yet out of his
mieority, was admitted to practice in the
courts, by special act Of the Legislature of
Georgia, a few years found him in the
first rank Of his profession, and one df This
first uses Of his good fortune was to return,
with interest, the favor he had receiyedwh
in =adversity. An ardent Wing, he was e.
lecsed to represent his county inAthe State
1eessAa>tsssa a,-kath- hysnAhas..af Jwhieh- 10
there was a vacancy to be filed in Che Con-
gressional delegation, and the Wing party,
as usual, were called upon to nominate their
Candidate. Owing to the signal defeat of
their party in the general election, which
had taken place the previous year, there was
an evident reluctance on the part of the
prominent men of the party to enter the
CANVASS, aud it was doubtless owing to this
fact that Mr.. Stephens was selected as the
candidate. Little hope was entertained Of
his election, owing to the large democratic
majority which was known to exist in the up
per section of the State, called the Cherokee
country, and his friends consoled themselves
in advance with the reflection that it could
not hurt anew man to be beaten for Con.
gress
But Mr. SrEPIiESs determined not to be
beaten, if it was in his power to. prevent such
disaster. lie Immediately set off alone for
the Cherokee country 5canvassing every coun-
i, and addressing the people at every Court
House.. His opponents, taking the alarm
from tho accounts which reached them of the
success of his efforts, fastened upon his track
One after another of their most popular
speakers encountered him, only to be dis
comfted, and to retro, overwhelmed with
modification at his triumph The people
followed him with enthusiasm-men, women
and children thronged to hear '.the little wire
grass boy" as they called him, and lost their
devotion to democracy as they listened to
his convincing arguments and impassioned
appeals. Many laughable anecdotes arc told
of his meetings with the hardy mountaineers
of upper Georgia On one occasion an old
lady, who had come great distance to hear
him, and had listened to the welldireeted
eloquence Of the boy, as she supposed, until
she could restrain her admiration no longer,
spfang from her scat, and exclaimed -'sGra-
cious goodness me if could only have
boy like that I'd be willin' to dierightnow r.
On another occasion, ire democrats, seeing
that their speaker was getting the worst Of
the conflict, endeayofed to break up the
meeting, and several Of them, with canes in
their hands, advanced towards the stand
where Mr., SrErnE was then speaking. =
sStop ~ shouted an old mountaineer who
had BEEN standing BY, resting on his double.
Dafrelled buck gun, ioeEing up with broad
grin. into the face of the speaker, al g;v;no
emphasis to his words by signikcapt winEs,
mods and jerks Of the head-sStop r. said
he, at the same time presenting his gun at
thelcroEd, @Don't one of you lay yer finger
on the boz. I'm as good dimuycrat as any
Of ye, but / won't Zee no foul play He's
tellin' you nothing but the truth, and if one
Of you dares. to touch him, I'll let old Betsy
loose among you quieker,n yeu can say Jack
Robinson The confusion was soon quiet
ed, and Mr. Stephens proceeded With his
speech.
Thus in one short month he encouuteEed
and defeated nearly all the prominent lead.
eFscfthe opposite party on their own ground,
completely revolutionizing large section Of
the State that bad always before given an
overwhelming democratic vote Tie result
was the triumphant election Of Mr. Stephens
to Congress, and Mr.. Gfanf1ld As Governor
OF the State Balimore Anericaa
S "a Mr. Devsreox, Of North Carolina, {
most accomplished gentleman and farmer,s IS
the largest corn grower ii The Union, his
crop being largely upwards Of loo, 900 bush
r. -. II