The weekly union record. [volume] (Oroville, Calif.) 1864-1866, 1865-10-28
"reminiscences of Alexander h. Stephens.

The New York Independent contains
an interesting chapter in the life Of A.
H. Stephens, the rebel Vice President.
The writer says:
In the year 1925, thirty mine years
ago, became member of the faculty
of the University Of Georgia, located at
Athens, where | continued some FIVE
years, and at length returned to this,
nv native State. While was there,
Alexander H. Stephens entered as a
student. He was then, | think, about
fifteen; an amiable, modest, quiet, stu
dious, bright-eyed lad, pious withal,
and looking forward to the gospel min
istry. He came, think, from Wash
ington, Wilkes county, of humble and
poor parentage; but, exhibiting fine
capabilities and promise of usefulness,
some benevolent gentlemen united in
furnishing for him the means of educa-
ton and preparation for the pulpit. He
entered my classes, and | became much
interested in him, and greatly pleased
with his department and progress, and
had with him many private walks and
familiar conversations. He had not vet
completed his course when | resigned
and left the State, and then lost sight
of him; until, many years after, to my
surprise, he turned up in Congress, and
there became known to the whole coun-
try. How it happened that he did not
enter the ministry never learned sat
isfactorily until the Spring Of 1860,
when the O. S. General Assembly of
the Presbyterian Church of the United
States met here in Rochester. Among
the delegates, | had the unexpected
pleasure to meet with Rev. Alonzo
Church, d. d., formerly, when l was
there, President of the University Of
Georgia. In long conversation with
him, calling up memories of the past, I
inquired about Stephens, and the change
of his early plans, adding, 81 suppose
YOU know all about it." "Yes," said
he, 81 suppose am as well acquainted
with his whole history, and the working
of his mind and heart, as any man Gv-
ing" He then proceeded to say that,
before the completion of his college
course, on deliberate and careful con-
sideration Of the whole subject, he
deemed himself better fitted for the law
than theology; for the bar and the ros-
trum than the pulpit. He accordingly
turned his attention to legal studies,
was admitted, gained business and rose
rapidly-and the first use he made of
his earnings was to refund, principal
and interest, the money contributed for
his education. He soon came forward
in political life, and WINS at length
elected to Congress, since which time
his history has become national. He
was, and | think still is, an elder in the
Presbyterian Church.
This gentleman wrote to Stephens in
1860, and received the following re-
ply:
''As to the momentous questions
which now threaten the stability of our
institutions, what is to be the result ?
He alone knows who holds the destiny
of nations in His hands. My earnest
hope is, that there is patriotism enough
in the country, North and South, to
save it."
In another part Of his letter, he says:
81 have often thought of conversa-
ton we had on walk out to the cool
spring some mile or two from the college
buildings. Frequently, on my visit to
Athens, l have gone to the same spring,
and thought of you, of that walk and
conversation, so many years ago. The
thick forest through which We then
walked, is now all gone. The town
extends now to the spring. What
changes few years make! You, per-
haps, may not recollect the walk or
conversation but l do, and some things
that fell from you then have had last
ing influence on my mind"
THERE has been another dreadful