The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-10-09
TERMS OF ADVERwIs sxa,
THE NORFOLK POST
n ~ .sx
The sRsssdent ON the Imprisonment OF
Alexander H. Stephens.

A 'FfnF,rom B. II. Bigtam;; dated
Lagrange Georgia, SepterffBef ., 1865,
I ami adt1as4ttt,to s. Wr-T5laif, ESQ, Of
Atlant,srsAseszlsst &eea1-een published.
Mr.. Righam lsal iSst.seturned from the
exanaer II. stephens. FIFE Says of his
| Interview with the President
In submitting thispetiti6n, we'll know
| ing the strong current of sympathy and
\ admiration that exists for MIR. Stephens
| so forebly referred TO in your letter., |
| reminded the President that | could rs
| well bring five hundred thousand sigma
l lures as one. Upon his saying he doubt
ed the correctness of the statement as 10
| the comparative length or Mr.. Stephens
public services "a statement that he had
been longer member of the House Of
Representatives, when lie ratired from
that body, than any other petson. hold
ing n seat in that body, | replied that il.
might be modified then to terms which
no man, speaking III the lighter history,
would question, so i,4 10 sci fofth that,
for long series Of years, Mr. stephens
has rendered service, which was as eliec-
tunl for good; rs national, aye, as conh-
mental. in its character as that OF anY
man who has figured in the public conn
ellis for the last half century, and that
The President said, in substance, that
he apprecinted the services referred to
that The Government would give due
consideration to the matters involved Us
his caae. and in due time. Meanwhile
he desired il understood that every at
tention was paid 10 his health at ro,t
Warren, and that he was treated consul
erately and humanely. Tbs Gohy pn
ton then took wider range. =. ne fresi~
dent, referring to the fact that ca .0oV-
errors Brown and Johnson, and JUICE
Linton Stephens, had recently had us
terviews with him on the subject, said
he thought Mr.. Stephens himself quite
capable OF presenting his own case that
his friends, nevertheless, urged his re-
lease with great pertinacity and solicit
tude. To that replied, that, If indeed
Mr.. Stephens was OF that time silent, L
had no explanation to offer, as had had
| no communication with him for some
| time that I spoke in behalf of myself
! as one of his friends, and Of thousands
| in the country whose hearts would
bonnd with joy at the release of the
great statesman. The President clos cd
this conference without any promise,
and without any encouragement.
A few daysafterward, having received
letters from Mr.. Stephens who had
heard of my presence In Washington,
but did not know of the petition), also
one from Judge Linton Stephens, who
| is now, by permission Of the authorities,
spending some time with his brotherin
| Fort Warren, again called upon tho
President to present some additional
views therein set forth, together with
reflections suggested. The President
received me kindly. | referred to his
remark in the previous conference about
tMr. Stephens capabiity 10 speak for
himself, and proposed to read one OF the
letters. TO this he assented, which
being done, | endeavored to urge that
the condition of the freedmen on his
place, and the fact that Mr.. Stephens
| had been acting III fiduciary capacity,
such as guardian, administrator, DC,
and had been attorney for many persons,
| in important cases, made his temporary
M ,,n-ence at home important to the IN
ierests q, 1"thers.
also referee "a fle fact so eloouanttv
touched upon in your lets.ar. that he had
resisted secession with q sublime COURAGE
and that now he is the only political
prisoner from Georgia that his health
Is feeble, and we would feel it an addi-
tional personal favor for him to be re-
leased before the departure of Judge
stephens, SO that he might accompany
and assist him on the route home. The
President did not terminate this confer
ence so abruptly as the former one. In
It's progress he said, "the Government,
he trusted, did not forget the sacrifices
of any public servant-that indeed it
would seem hard il in the day of misfor-
tune such sacrifices should not be per-
United to plead for him hut that there
was time for all things, which he hoped
the friends of Ir. Stephens would un-
acting as chief Magistrate, he must have
due regard to the general tranquility.
and the good of the whole country