Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-02-25
yIcE-pREsIpENT STEPHENS.

The Cotntrynqn reyives the following old letter
descriptive of the oratorical power of Hon. A II
Stephens, OF Georgia:
A Washington correspondent of the Charleston
Courier writing under date OF the It'll inst gives
the following vivid and graphic sketch Of Alexander
II. Stephens, Georgia's gifted and eloquent Repre-
sentative in. Congress. All who have heard him
and been electrified by the power OF his eloquence
will recognize the truthtnlness Of the picture. The
writer says;
IL had been rumored la the eity-told in the draw
Tinyrooms OF the hJtels-in the private parors and
in The public saloons. that stephens OF Georgia
was to speak on Tuesday Of the present week, Oh
the all absorbing topic Of slavery. At un early
hour, the galleries were iillad To Overlooking Will
the families Of distinguished statesmen, mem
bers of the foreign legations, daShing bellies with
spr n ling re and there of our best residents.
As we passed through the lobby, We were struck
with the deep and reverena silence that peryaded
the house. Where was the power that subdned thu
stormy confusion of this talways) riotous assembly
That vast crowd OF listening faces was turned to-
wards shrunken aud attenuated figure, the shout
ders contracted aud drawn ill., the face dead, and
the color OF ashes There was something grand in
the mere spectacle of'the shadOwy figure binding
up the very breath Of the house ia hush 80 silent
that the unShea hng of a s,ietto might have been
he ard-amid it's stiffness.
When we entered, the speaker was ponring out a
continuous unidentified volume Of thought and
language, 10 prove Tue sONeRuty OF tne Doodle IN
Ike territories. He went on and on, with unwearied
rapidity, arguing, defining, illustrating, repeating
intricate facts, laying down subtle distinctions,
prOstrating an oh tion here-seizDg upon falIacy
there NOW retracing his steps, aud restating in
some original points Of view, his general pro-
positions-thcn flying off again to the outskirts of
the question: and dealing his desultory blows with
mercess reiteration, wherever an inch of ground
remained to be cleared and during the whole
of this, though his face exhibited signs of great
exhaustion, the god like mind did not nag for
single instant, nor even pause for topic, an idea
or exfreysiOa. This velocity, creation, arrange
ment and delivery asteaished us !; and What added
TO our WONDER wastlat it appeared TO be achieved
without an effort. Mass after mass OF arguments
was thrown OF, in plraseology vigorous and appro-
pirate, while the speaker seemed the organ
of some hidden power, that saved him the cost of
press upon others his own reliance Upon the force
of what seemed to come unsought.
Before concluding, his whole manner changed. =
His tones grew solemn in their deep, sonorous
swell, as he review ed his political life. He spoke
OF the measures lie had aided TO pass, of his part
/ the compromise OF 1850. Then, in "a strain Of
matchless el0quence he proclaimed his fidelity y To
The union OF these States.
lie spared above the common places of public
s..eaking; he rose above the mere politician, and
declared his aithtulness TO the principles hich
our union is framed his faithfuness to he laws on
VIII oh IL pro zee Is and opcrates his faithfnlness
the institutions which distribute the validity while
they secure the unity of the whole.
As he proceeded, his mccarthy face seemed to
brighten into fuller and ghoslier meaning; his eye
Ike sudden pit of fire suddenly disclosed his at
tenated form seemed to dilate to his dilating soul
his voice seemed exalted to a trumpet tone, the
word orator like transparency fiutterng in the
brecze) famed around his every look and gesture,
AID word and movement. The speakers hammer
descended in the midst Of this 'mpassioned burst,
leaving al impression upon the tSagling cars Of his
au iitors, which many win carry to tn ir graves
This speech is considered q master piece, pure,
sion on the public mind of the patriotic motives
and lofty objects Of the speaker.