The Portland daily press., 1868-03-21

/ IL IS interesting to know that A. IL.
| Stephens, late Vice President OF tie Southern
Confederacy, received the man who called on
him the other Cay, in his bedroom. The In
terest becomes thrilling whel Mr.. Stephens
apologies for wearing his hat, and Lights ga
small and well seasoned lcolored?) meeI-
schaum and puiIs away with incessant vigor.
These agreeable anomalies of manner in an
ex-Flce-President OF a late Confederacy
heishten our respect both for him personally
anu Tor the polished and chiyalous gentle
men who gave him the second place in their
government. Ii anything can add to this
ieeln9 1t is the further information given by
the guest at his bedroom reception tat Mr..
Stephens exhibited considerable nervousness
durnis the interview, swinging his leg to
and fro, and standing us and sitting down at
frequent intervals
No one can help feeling an interest in
mah who wears his hat in company, smokes
a meerschaum, (cclored) swings his ex-Vice-
Presidential le, to and fro, and sits down and
stands up at frequent intervals. At least, it
must have seemed so to the correspondent OF
the New York Herald, who observed what
we have described above. He was so i'm
pressed with the scene that he made a note
OF what came from Mr.. Stephens lips with
the smoke of the volcanic meerschaum.
The substance of what the correspondent
reports i'll over two columns may be stated IN
three brief propositions: First, the modern
tentency Is tow~rd Capitalization, and the ex-
ecutive and judicial powers of the government
are being absorbed by the legislative; second,
impeachment, though constitutional pro-
ceeding in itself, becomes fragrant outrage
so soon as it is applied to anybody; third, the
negroes OF the South are "clannish" and will
exclude all the whites from participation
IN the government. Hear the conclusion OF
the whole matter-"a war of races seems in
evitable and it will come at no distant day."
At this point Mr.. Stephens interlocutor fair
ly holds his breath with excitement, but
finally cries out, "AnG what will the South
ern people do in that case?" Zone of two
things" says the oracle, "quit the country or
remain aud fall. Ny mind Is msde I'D. I
have not long to live. / ,1iH stay and 90
doDn ecith the Snip; bat would counsel the
young to find homes elsewhere" The cor
respondent says that Mr.. Stephens was much
AFFECTED at this portion of his conversation.
,,and with firmness of tone, fash of the
eye. he rose to his feet and nervously striking
one hand in the other"-pray heaven the
meerschaum received no harm ~ the conflict
oil stormy emotions-"said, 4 am prepared;
will remain aud perish with the ship"
Who has not heard an irate school boy
threaten the master, "lf you spank me, sir,
III leave the school," The school-boy fnds
il impossible to conceive that the school
should go on with the usual success in his ab-
sence. These old fossil Southern politicians
have become equally puerile through crime,
misfortune end inordinate personal vanity
They can conceive of 10 United States gov
ernment that maintains an existence entirely
independent of their aid. Breckinridge
looks toward America from his Syrian re-
treat and wonders what we can do without
him. Benjamin studies English law and prac-
tices at the English bar, marveIing much that
bis legal erudlton and experience in statecratt
are not required on this side of the Atlantic.
Mason watches and waits" on the border,
and Slidell fingers in Paris, both looking to
see the ship that does not carry their colors
so down. But the ship does not show any
signs OF sinking. These men cannot see
that in throwing overheard a crew of mutt
nous scoCndrels detected in an attempt to
wreck it, and taking on board justice and
eq lality and liberty, the Great Republic has
iGIS.t-~-a i---v--s- al iaaura. Ire oafatx,
in whatever storms may hereafter assail Il.