Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1859-03-25

which Mr., Stephens now a.ludes to with
singular pleasure Without any legal
advice, he shut himself up in his room,
with no companions but his textbooks,
and in ninety days presented himself for
admission. He was examined before the
Hon. VIM Ii. Crawford, by the present
Chief Justice Lumpkin, and from these
learned jursis received the compliment Of
sustaining better examination than they
had ever before heard in their long ex-
perience as members Of tho legal profess
sion
Young Stephens success at the law
was characteristic of his antecedents, and
as an evidence how naturally great minds
turn small things to good account, one
of his first essays became celebrated as
1.-The great trunk case" 1t seems that
"Alek" left this useful article, containing
a few books and some clothing, with a
rather independent and overbearing pub
lican, who allowed it, while in his pos
session, to be stolen. The suit was com
menced for recovery of damages. The
landlord, at first, outraged at the boys
impudence, finally retained an able law
yer, and to the amusement of the bar,
proceedings were commenced. In the
course of the trial ''Alek" displayed so
much promptness, pcrtinacity, and abili-
ty, that what was intended as an anus
ing legal intcrludc became sharp con
test of legal acumen Young Stephens
gained his case the landlord, exasperat-
ed, appealed, but Jared no better in the
higher court, the verdict still being
against him.
Within ten days after his admission
to practice he was employed in case of
great responsibility. A wealthy man
was guardian of his grandchild, its mo-
Their having married to second husband
In course of time the mother desired
possession of the child, which was re-
sisted by the grandfather who claimed
it as legal guardian. The step-fathcr,
desiring to please his wife, came to young
Stephens and engaged him as counsel to
set aside the guardianship, older lawyers
declining on the score of the hopelessncss
of the case, and perhaps a fear to en-
counter the learned array of counsel en-
gagged on the opposite side. The trial
came of before five judges, no jury be-
ing called. Owing to the responsibility
of the parties, and the novel scene of a
sickly boy, without any legal practical
experience, opposed to the most veteran
lawyers at the bar, the case attracted
unusual attention The result was, that
the guardianship was set aside, the child
was restored to the possession of its mo-
,thcr, aud young Stephens Mt once took a
prominent place at the bar, from that
time being retained on one side or the
other Of every important case that was
tried in'the county.
The rising genius Of Stephens was
cordially acknowledged, and every posi-
bic inducemcnt was held out in different
parts Of the State to determine the place
where he should settle. Now it was that
he displayed one of the finest traits that
can adorn the human heart. Attached
to the friends Of his youth, and his ia
theirs friends, he rejected all offers, and
announced, to their great satisfaction,
that he would remain among them, and,
as soon as he was able, purchase back
the old homestead on which he was born,
and there live.and end his days.
In 1886, against his wishes, he was
run by his friends for the Legislature.
On the Wednesday before the election he
made his first stump speech; this was
followed by another on Saturday, aud
still another at the polls on the election
day. lie was triumphantly returned
against bitter opposition He signal
lied his appearance as legislator in de-
fence of the bill which proposed "that
Georgia should launch out in certain in
ternal improvements, and in spite Of the
formidable opposition, lis speech proba-
bly, saved the bill, and thus inauguratcd
the commencement Of the present pros
perity of the " Empire State Of the
South" In the six years he remained
in the Legislature he took a most promi-
nent part in all important matters, par
ticularly the one which proposed change
in the Constitution. The instrument at
the time in force said that it should only
be amended by bill passed by two
thirds Of each branch of the Legislature
at two consecutive sessions. The diff
Guilty seemed insurmouniabe, if opposi-
ton to a change existed in either branch
Of the Legislature, and the opponents Of
the bill appeared to be impregnable -
Stephens took the ground that when the
constitution is silent upon the modo Of
its amendment, then the Legislature can
! call convention that when the consti-
tuition points out particular mode in
which il may be amended, without ex-
GLIDING other modes, then the Legislature
may adopt some other mode than that
pointed out; but when the constitution
provides mode for its amendment, and
prohibits all other modes, then that mode
only can be taken which is provided for.
jenkins, Crawford, Howard, and others
took the opposite side, opposed the bill,
and voted for convention; the universal
opinion was that the convention could be
called, and the convention was called BY
an overwhelming majority, which passed
the proper amendments, but they were
never ratified by the people.
AS a member Of the Legislature he
opposed the organization Of the Court Of
Errors, believing that the Judiciary as
established was the best in the world,
and that the change would only multiply
difficulties without gaining any addition
al certainty 10 the administration Of the
law the bill was not passed while Mr.
stephens was IN the Legislature.