The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1861-10-16
From tie Richmond Wing.
VICE PREsIpENr srEpHENs.

From me Richmond Wing.
VICE PRESIDENT STEPHENS.
To he Editor: For sixteen Years | was
engaged u the practice OF the law in tina,
pal 81 TIE Siale II Georgia in which Alexan.
der II stephens resided. have frequently
been associated with aud retained agatns,
bun u the ttial Of important causes. / have
known him Tor that period Of time intimate
~ ~ the pirate relationships OF lie. have
acted win hun IN The same political party,
aud have stood opposed 10 him on political
issues which divided the American people.
When me waves Of political excitement were
running high, and party prejudiees we're BIZ
ter, have met him in public DISCUSSION be-
Tore The people. My opportunities to know
hlm have been the best. aud enbrared them.
Moreover, | have lived among the people
whose devotion to him furnished the basis Of
his renown. | know them we'll. The sun
does not shine upon better people. They
are as highly cultivated as any people are
on this continent. 90 the roll oi fame they
have as bright names as glitter there, and
many OF them; and 10 man whom il has been
their pleasure TO honor and elevate has ever
deceived them or betrayed the trust they re.
posed in him. II follows. then, as natter
OF course, that the endorsement q their dis.
eliminating confidence must be worth some
thing. But before alludIng TO their testimo-
ny, allow me 10 give my own, and perwit me
10 state. that no witness ever appeared upon
the stand, from the bias Of prejudice. or the
hope Of reward. more utterly free than am.
hold 40 ONCE IN his Government, and am
not al al inclined 10 indulge the expectation
that ever shall. | am uader no obligations
TO Me- Stephens for anything, and trust 1
never shall be. have beer taught t. look
upon the ruth as sacred, ami always worth
defending Tor ne own sacred sake. Iis de-
fence to day seems TO involve the name,
Character, history, conduci and GENES 81
Alexander h. stephens. This is 40 FAULT oil
mine, no does IT diminish the Importance Of
my mission. No true friend Of truth. when
ne undertakes IT'S defence. can pause 10 ask
questions. Ny ba-ine.s FIRST. then, i TO de-
liver ny own testimony 10 the premises, and
am bound 10 state that, after having listen.
ed 10 Dir. Stephens at tie Bar and on the
hastiags, and carefully resd his great speech.
Is delivered 10 Congress for sixteen wears,
am bound 10 admit hts attributes TO be those
ola hrsi rate thinker, frstrste reasaner, and
hrst rate speaker. We have no man living
on this continent whose vision peneirates the
vel that contains the future. ike his does,
aud sees the events thar are coming even be-
fore their shadows announce their approach.
In the lore Of research, Ms great mind Is an
eIhaustless store house. As political econ
omist, he 10 familiar with every fact that be :
loags 70 the history Of every government that
ever rose OF fell. Asa statesman lie was
giant IN hose days when CLAY. Calhoun and
Webster were in the land fas,e Opinions
oil his aitaInmen.s and power nave been the
result OF 4 close study Of his character and
many OF those great efforts 81 his al The hast
ings, which Tor years il has been nv priv
lege to hear. Bat hase reserved Tor the
conclusion OF my personal evidence the state.
ment Of one fact, whichil affords ne sin.
cere and proud pleasure 10 mention. al,
lnde 10 the exalted parity Of bis character.
Never have I been able 70 find, even when
crossing swords with hin in the thickest OF
the light. anything resembling shades Of
htileness, meanness Of uniarness. Honnra.
Die. liberal. just, and sometimes even mag.
unanimous TO an enemy, be has never failed
70 impress every lamiil4r acquaintance re
has AZ the Socih, with the seal IL lofts 10.
tegrity. and that Cannot Ne mistaken III this
statement. | have only 70 refer 10 hIs hi.tory
Tor the last lew months 10 satisfy The most
iDcrsduious lie accepted the dictatorship
iDr Douglas in Georgia. when ~ knes Ge0r.
ga never would give to Douglas her eIector.
81 vote. This alone should haze settled the
iaet fof All time, that Ne Was capable u ris-
rag above his own personal interests. aud
standing hrm - = pillar u iron ~ the post
y auty, regardless u consequences. Pitt.
cal Nsaihereneks are never louad deislng he
popular vii. and leading mere cnrporal's
goard against ~ ohnip8tent mob. FL Geor-
ga, last sammeFt Mi. stephens did Il. We'll.
Lincoln VAS elected, aud the Legislature or
Georgia passed an att ,h.tegpon. calling
Conrention 10 decide shat Gsorg,a would
do 10 the premises large majority Of the
delegates elected 70 that Convention wpre
for immediate and eternal separation. Nj.
Stephens was not. Yet when those sam,
delegates we're called upon 10 elect mem,,.r.
70 represent Geofgia 10 ne Provisional Con.
gress, who was their dra ehsieeS Alsxaa.
De- II. Stephens Whyi Becauss they kasv
ht nun. For over tsenig wears TIE nsms
Of Alexander u. stephens has been house.
hoid word tIfgpghost The State u Georgia.
That PansentlOq Was comprised ~ the sbiest
mrh % Stale that ab0uads with men II 81.
nal ability. They had kn0en NJ. stephens
long and eel. and therefore they united with
nnan'miis without PARALLEL 10 tie history
OF that IOnsea,ioa, upon his name, and hs
wss elected siihogi dissenting ,oiee. H.
repaired ~ Montgomery, aud ,o0k 49, seaf n
our Provisional Congress. Tbese he met
with men from az ne Cotton states. viii
whom lie had been o. tenn, n ia,,mssy
LAtnl.L La. - 49, - =