Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1867-08-10
Interview with Alexander III. stephens,
OF Georgia

OF Georgia
\ CORES spondenI OF tie New York
Times has psli visit 10 Alexander II.
Stephens. sl his home in CcswiOIiyille.
Ga which he sNlCs Liberty Hall.
The ex.Vire President Of the Coufedera.
cy IS described a, of slis n, and fragile fig
ure, nearly SIX feet hIsh, with STOPPING
shoulders. care worn, besrIless face. dark
eyes, and soli brown ha'r, nov growing
gray. HIS weight l. just ninely.four
pounds. doubtless reduced nv his illness.
lie has Tor many years expended he grel.
Ter par, oi his income 10 relieving tie des.
n,uIe, educating young men. and IN other
bene,oences. whereby he has won the
affection of unnumbeIcd poor people.
The helpless blacks seems naturally 10
flock to "Massa Aeck" in Gme Of need.
Mr Stephens has never been married, snl
is great snokcs. lie regards secession
great biuuJer, but believes in The rlshi
OF secession and in The sovereignty OF the
States. In this way he jusIiies his &C.
uon in opposing what he considered fool.
,-h U1ul Ihe people decided /, carry it
out blllhen giving II lis adherence, DO.
cause Il was, IN his oplnlon. legal. atho'
uuuI.c. II was by Els influence lha, the
G,orgIa Legislature did not vote The State
ou, OF tie Union, but called convention,
Shere The voice OF The people could be
heard IN the matter. The prevalence Of
heavy rams at The IIme Of election carried
tie convention for tie secessionlsts. by
preventing The country people from reach
ng the polls So the Stale went out. and
M. Stephens accepted he position Of
Wee President, which. he says, was not
unpieasirg 20 hrm. Davis. ne says. was
a ,IuII man, and diSsPproyed OF tie firing
upon Sumter. Mr Stephens also depfe.
Gated the folly Of The South IN wAging
war for Independence. lie desired to
make overIures for pcsce after the battle
OF ChancelIofsyIle,a and ~ that connection
told story OF peace emlssaTy who came
from the Nouh and was taken a youn.a.
~ prisoner IN order 10 gain Sdmittanee 10
their lines. lie was taken TO Anderson.
vile, and kept there until he shared the
fate OF 50 many others, despite Stephens
efforts to Obtain q release. lie also eX.
pressed bis approval Of the Chicago plat.
form, and hls opinion that the Conledera.
cy was ~ fact despolism. lie conqI-
ers tha, neGre sullDge - a necessary re-
suit OF lroedom. and says he should have
been an abolIuouIsl had be believed in
Ihe equality OF the white anl black rsces.
lie had never volcJ since he voted against
secession. IN the conduct Of his farm.
Nj STEPHENS ha1 been very successful.
lie has divided hIs pIantston into 6,o
larps, which be let, TO five negro heads
Of families They furnish everything a.
bout ,hc place. and hc, Tor the rent Of the
ldni. receives one ioullh OF the crop. All
his former slaycs-about lhirly-remaiu
on the place, and bear hm an affection.
ate reverence. The farming arrangement.
which Is so liberal to the negro. is prov.
ing also good investment to M. Slcph.
ems, who receives Il per cent. upon the
value Of his land Mr.. Stephens is an
excellent farmer himself, having as dec'
ded IDEAS upon that snbIccI as upon poll
ties. The writer seems TO have been
most fayoFably impressed with tho man.
and TO have talked viii no 81 h'raprduy
during his visiI-Nac York POST.