Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-10-10
Obilo StateI';s':;r,lr;a:''t:r||,r'., e; an.
Alexander HI Stepllens--ResuIts of
an Interview In his Behalf with
President johnson. et...,.,r ,... ...

Alexunder III. Stephens--tteSutts OF
an Interview i'm his Behalf with
President johnson. Gf..,.,,T a.. .s
4 b. I'll. Bingham writes to Georgia paper,
under date OF La Grange, Ga, Sept, q, that
during O. recent visit to Washington, he pre-
sented to the President petition In behalf
= of Alex. I'll. Stephens asking that permits
sion be granted him to return to his home.
] Mr.. Bingham adds: a., ,,-..
'In submitting this petition, well know
ing the strong current of sympathy and ad-
miration that exists for Mr.. Bingham $50
I forcibly referred to In your letters), re-
minded the President that could as well
bring five hundred thousand signatures to
? II as one. Upon his saying thathe doubted
the correctness of the statement as to the
comparative length Of Mr.. Stephens pub
lie services, replied that it might be mod
flied, then, to terms which no man, speaking
in the light Of history would question SO as
to set forth that for a long series of years
Mr.. Stephens has rendered service, which
was as effectual for good as national, aye,
as continental, in its character as that of any
man who has figured In the public councils
for the last halt century, and that his health
was impaired by the service. The Presi-
dent said, in substance, that he appreciated
the service referred to that the Govern
ment would give due consideration to the
matters involved in his case, and in due
time. Meanwhile he desired it understood
that every attention was paid to his health
atFort Warren, and that he was treated
considerably and humanely. - ....
"The conversation then took wide range.
The President referring to the fact that ex-
Governors Brown and Johnson, and Judge
Linton Stephens had recently had inter-
htnN on, L.
thought MIR. Stephens himself quite capable
of presenting his own case; but that his
friends nevertheless urged his release with
great pertinacity and solicitude. To that |
replied, that If indeed Mr.. Stephens was at
that time silent, had no explanation to Of
fer, as i had had no communication with
him for some time; that spoke in behalf
OF myself as one of his friends, and of
thousands in the country whose hearts
would bound with joy at the release of the
great statesman. The President closed this
conference without any promise and with
out any encouragement. ..r....I, .
IA few days afterwards, having received
letters from Mr.. Stephens (who had heard
of my presence in Washington, but did not
know uf the petition), also one from Judge
Linton Stephens, who is now, by permiss-
ion of the authorities, spending some time
ID l.
called upon the President to present some
additional views therein set forth, together
with reflections suggested. The President,
received me kindly. referred to his re-
terred to his remark in the previous con-
ference about Mr.. Stephens capability to
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
in a fiduciary capacity, such as guardian,
administrator, &C., and had been attorney
for many persons in important cases, made
his temporary presence at home important
to the interests of others. Ialso referred to
the fact so eloquently touched upon in your
letter, that he had resisted secession with a
sublime courage, and that now he is the
only political prisoner from Georgia; that
his health is feeble, and we would feel it an
additional personal favor for him to be re- |
leased before the departure of Judge Ste
phens, so that he might accompany and
assist him on the ronte home. nj n4 -.al
u"The President did not terminate this
conference SO abruptly as the former one.
In its progress he said /: The Government,
he trusted, did not forget the sacrifices of
any public servant-that, indeed, it would
seem hard II in the day of misfortune such
sacrifices should not be permitted to plead
for him |; but that there was time for all
things, which he hoped the friends of Mr..
Stephens would understand and duly ap-
preciate. That acting as Chief Magistrate
he must have due regard to the general
tranquility and the good of the whole coun-
try 1r.. -s.
III also had interviews and correspondence
with several members of the Cabinet on
the subject, who expressed themselves with
magnanimity but nevertheless with some
reticence and statesmanlike circumspection
on the subject. The Secretaries OF War
and of the Navy were absent from the |
city; and as my own stay was necessarily |
brief (being called back to Georgia on pub
lie business deemed by me of Importance at
once to be performed 1 did not see either
of them. nv gsii'.i ail'isg aa+ .r1l
"When Il left Washington confident hopes
were entertained that the petition would be |
granted In avery short time, especially as |
a temporary parole had just been allowed to |
Mr.. Hunter, TO return to Virginia. L turned |
over the papers to Ex-Governor johnson,
who has doubtless urged every considera-
tion the case requires, prudently but earn
estly and efficiently (far more so than |
could) upon the mind of the President. A |
petition was also expected from the North |
in Mr.. Stephens behalf. have since been |
informed that such an one, headed by eX- |
Mayor Opdyke3 and other liberal-niinded |
had been prepared and for
wardedd %. ij eGt oGW Isl.Bml j.! a6i b,l
y ain closing, permit me to
express the qualification Texperience as the
result Of my observations during my recent
visit North. There is magnanimity and q
to cement the reorganization of |
the Union in the strong bonds of friendship
on the part of the President and his admins
There is magnanimity amongst
the people, and, with the exception of a
few fanatics who still urge extreme meas
gres, they @ "a all admire the gatllantry Of the
tice. They say our faith is pledged, and
they, will confide in. our fidelity! we will
not disappoipt such confidence. i.d 'Ard
I. Yours very truly and respectfully, ~
.oau bag,e55 y. XIII. a".B. Il. BIGHAM"