The New York herald., 1865-02-02


election of man. constutonally chosen that high
Office (Presden is sufficient for any State sepa
rate from the Union" January 49, 1851 when the ord
OF secession to vote in the Georgia State
Convention, Mr. stephens with Hersche johnson and
Hon. Lenten Stephens, voted against It, Notwithstand
ing this record Of persistent opposition to the secession
movement, Mr.. Stephens was unanimously elected Vice
President of the rebel conederacy by the first rebel Con
gress at Montgomery, Alabama February 1851 Short
ly after arch 2 he made speech at Savannah In vim
dcaon defence Of slavery in which he declared that
ths government OF which he had just been elected
Vice President founded slavery the corner
stone Of the republic. He reaches Washington at sim
guary important hour to find that less than four years
have served to destroy the Of which he then
boosted.
The present not the first attempt the part OF the
rebel Vice President reach the Of the President
On July 1863 he approached Fortress Monroe the
rebel gunboat Torpedo and expressed desire to enter
the Union lines with letter from Davis to President Lin
coin The purpose OF Mr. Stephens that occasion
In reference to the exchange of prisoners He failed
that occasion to reach Washington.
Mr.. Stephens lately fell under suspicion In the South
FOR his persistent advocacy OF convention OF all the
States looking to conclusion Of the His plan
denounced in strong terms, and his character
handled with great freedom by tho rebel press One Of
the organs OF the rebel invited him
sign and return to the people the Office they had
wisely conferred him." This crusade Of the govern
ment press against him caused coldness between Mr.
Stephens and JEFF Davis This is said to have been
cuded on Friday last, in q long interview which took
place in Richmond, doubtless upon the subject Of the
present mission, and which created great excitement
in that city.
SKETCH OF X. NJ. T. HUNTER, OF VIRGINIA.
Senator Hunter, of Virginia. is the radical sccessonist
st,o
ditch" Of the South. He is OF English descent
and native of Essex county Virginia In 1894 before
he had reached the proper age he elected to the
Virginia House Of Delegates from his native county, and
entered upon pubic life He was reelected a whig
partisan In 1885 and again Ia 1885, and cooperated
lously with Wise and others state rights men, of that
cast in favor Of White, Of Virginia, as candidate
for tho Presidency against Mr.. Van Buren,. He
avowed himself at this tme in opposition to
national baHk, protective tariff and similar
measures He entered Congress in 1897 In December,
1889, he elected Speaker Of the House after pro-
racted struggle Of several weeks duration In 1910 he
refused to support either Harrison Van Buren, In
1s4l he reelected to Congress for the third time,
and became casscd with the democrats in consequence
Of which hc defeated in 1919 At the next election
he recovered his ground and in 1S45 returned to his
by large majority In ls47 no elected to the
Senate Extra Billy Smith, III 1858 he
again chosen Senator and held his seat such until
1860. During his two terms lac was chairman Of the
Committee on Finance. His term expired in 1860.
His first open service in the Of tho rebellion
delegate to the Montgomery rebel Congress from
Virginia His appointment dates from April 20. on
July Is 1862 he succeeded Robert Toombs Of Georgia.
Secretary Of State in Davis Cabinet and hailed
throughout the South tthe right In the right
place" He did not long remain in the position but
resigned In favor Of the ittle Jew Benjamin. in March,
1862 He has since then been in the rebel Senate OF
which body he President during the protracted alb.
Of Mr. Stephens during tho first part the present
session Of that body.
JUDGE JOHN A. CAMPBELL, OF ALABAMA,
the conservative member Of tho rebel peace commits
sion, formerly Associate Justice Of the United
States Supreme Court He appointed by Mr. Pierce
in 1s63 and held his position up the beginning of the
rebellion, when he resigned May 1891 declaring him
self Unions but bound to adhere to the fortunes OF
his State During March, 1851 he made himself promi-
nent intermediary between the rebel commissioner
in Washington and Secretary Seward. He Afterwards
reported the substance of his efforts to bring about the
reception Of tho commissioners in long letter. in which
he accused Secretary Seward and tho administration OF
equivocatng and aludes TO tho fall of Sumter great
calamity Ho shortly after joined the Richmond govern
which position he resigned about week since the
request Of the rebel Congress He appears peace
| commissioner TO Washington