The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-01-30

debate;t aided immensely in the passage Of the
Bill. *at It was the first and
maiden speech in the Legislature Of that gentle
man.
In 18449, he was nominated for Congress, where
he remained until 1859, leader of party, where
such men as CALHOUN, CLAY WEBSTER, CRHTEN.
DEN and DOUGLASS were leaders; md he retained
his seat in that body until 1855, when finding that
Mr.. BUCHANAN was determined to wage nnre1entr
ing war on Senator DOUGLAS, and foreseeing po-
ltical convulsion, Mr.. STEPHENS declined Ie-elec-
ton to Congress, because he saw Tint the Admin
istration was sowing the wind, and ho did not de-
Charleston Convention mot, and two Democratic
candidates were nominated for the Presidency.
BnEcK1NaDaE could not not carry the North and
the South refused to support DOUGLAS. Mr.
STEPHENS sustained him with all tho Hgor Of his
extraordinarily vigorous intellect; but LINCOLN
was elected and the South prepared for secession.
MIR. STEPHENS warmly opposed the movement. In
his speech delivered before the Georgia Iegisla-
ture, on 14th November, 1860, he said: eve have
been launched in the good old ship that has been
upon the waves for throe-quarters Of century,
many times been in peril, and patriots have often
feared that they should have to give it up, yea,
havo Mt times almost given it up but still the gal
liant ship is anoat. There may be
leaks in her. but lot us stop them if we can. Many
stout old ship has boen saved, with richest cargo,
after many leaks, and it may be 30 now" In the
same speech he said: "should Georgia determine
to 60 out of tho Union I speak for one, though
my views might not agreo With them, whatever
the result may be, shall bow to the will of the
people," Georgia did 60, and MIR. STEPHENS, true
to his pledge, accepted position in the Confede-
rate Congress- and was elected Vice-P1 esident Of
the Confederate States. Iii his speech before the
Virginia Convention, in April, 1867, ho said: sThe
line of Virginia, your great waters on the north
necessarily make ycu, in this conflict the theatre
of large anu extensive operations if not tho scene
of tho boodiost conflicts that this Coz itinent has
ever yet Witnessed" This speech was made when
most mon who we're considered wise insisted that
there would be no war, or ut lea st very slight
conflict.
at the commencement Of the war he advocated
the purchase Of cotton by the Confederate Goyorn-
,peent, and the shipping Of the crop to Europe,
pledging sufficient quantity Of the same to build
iron-clad steamers, and holding the cotton until
the prce should roach fifty cents pound, as basis
of credit. Had this course boen adopted, the cur
rency Of the Confederate States would have been
perfectly good until the close of the war; and who
knows but that the result might have been differ
ent.
During the war Mr.. STEPHENS opposed every vio-
1of nP {ho tDtf ;pt;S al
law, suspension of habeus corpus, alike met his rep
rotation. He had started life States Rights man,
as is shown by the first public speech he ever
made,. which NC regret is not in this collection,
and States Rights man he intended to be at al
times and under all circumstances. BE believed
that constitutions we're made for war as well as
for peace. In his speech delivered before the
Georgia Legislature in March, 1864, he said: CAS-
for myself, give me liberty as secured in the Con-
stitution with MI it's guarantees, amongst which is
the sovereignty Of Georgia, or give me DEATH"
Tho war closed in disaster. The South was van-
quished, stripped, impoverished. Tho States re-
pealed their ordinances Of secession, and Georgia
elected her greatest son to tho Senate Of tho Unit
ed States. In his speech of tbs 22d of February,
1866, he said SHY only hope is in the ro-estab.
lishment of good government and it's peaceful
maintenance afterwards. And, further, the most
hopeful prospect to this end is the restoration o1
tho old Union, and, with it, tho return Of ffraterna
feeling throughout it's length and breadth. These
results depend upon the people themselyes-upon
the people Of the North quite as much as upon the
people Of the south-upon their virtue, inteli
gence and patriotism" God grant that such vir.
tue, intelligence, md patriotism may be found in
this the most fearful hour of this broad countryE
agony.
We have spoken more lengthily of Mr.. SrE
PHENs' public ho than we had intended. His per.
sonal appearance is familiar to all-slght, 1or1
by sickness, with a body which has seldom weighed
more than ninety-six pounds; with a face thai
looks youthful until you approach near enough tc
see the lines that pain and thought and will have
marked upon his features; with an eye as bright
and penetrating as ever graced human head; al
intellect towering far above that of his cotempora
ries; tongue whose burning words can sway the
vulgar and the wise; heart so generous that pail
and sorrow and suffering, wherever found, will al
ways claim his sympathy; hospitality which
makes his guest, of Whatever condition in ffe re
grot to leave his roof; conversational powers sucf
as few men possess; n calm, clear Judgment
exempt from the mere sway of passion or excite
mcnt-sucll is ALEXANDER Fl. STEPHENS.
Mr. HENRY CLEVELAND deserves thanks for tht
manner in which he has performed his task. NJ
one will take up his book without reading i
through. The proof-shcets of the book were re-
vised by MI. STEPHENS, and, in a letter to the au
thor, published in the preface, he says 'the work
in all essential facts will be- Think substantial.
correct" With this recommendation, and the inc
that he has produced charming biography, Vt
augur for his book the success which, in oul
opinion, it richly deserves.
RDooLLEcT1oNs OF Henry WATKINS ALLEN, Brigadicr
OF Louisiana; by Sarah "A. Dorsey New York; pub