The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-03-19

CITY ..
Special Correspondence of the Herald.
a Conversation with Alexander III
Stephens-EEis Views on the Ten.
dency of Events-The Congressional
Policy IninnicaI to the Liberties OF
the PeOpIe-Incvitsble Effects Of the
Enfranchisement of the Ne esrO-
Hopeless Prospects OF the Whites OF
the South-Mr. stephens Resolved to
"Sink with the ship"
WASHINGTON, March l5.-Alexander Ii
Stephens, the ex-Vice- President Of the
ex-Confedcracy, arrived here the day be-
fore yesterday en- route to his home, in Au-
gnsta, Ga. Last evening your cores
pondent paid him visit at his temporary
residence, and spent a pleasant half hour
in conversation with him on subjects of a
national character as well as on the social
and political condition of the South. He
received us in his bedroom, and apollo
gized for wearing his hat on the score
Of suffering from an attack Of neuralgia
in the head. Mr.. Stephens looked in bet
Ter health than we anticipated, but there
is visible feebleness in his frame which
would seem to be chronic infirmity OF
his existence. His manner is exceedingly
kind and interesting, and in conversation
| there are few men who are more engaging.
Mr.. Stephens is singular in appearance
| tall, excessively thin, stopped at the
| shoulders, with small, boyish face, bright,
glittering eye, silvery hair, falling with
natural carelcssness on either side, and
dressed in that peculiar fashion in vogue
| at the South soft felt hat worn Degli-
gently on the back of the head, a careless
ly-tied cravat under rolling collar, and q
,wallow-tailed coat, making up the general
characteristics Of his attire. He lit small,
we'll seasoned meerschaum as we went in,
aud at intervals during his conversation
pufied away with incessant vigor. He ex-
hbited O. good deal of nervousness as he
spoke, swinging his leg to and fro, and
standing ~ and sitting down at frequent
intervals.
We asked him what view he took Of the
tendency of events as regards the preser-
vation of the liberties of the people and
the maintenance Of that necessary ditiu-
sion OF the powers Of government by
which our Constitution has designed to
provide against usurpation and centraliza-
ton.
He replied 1t is apparent that we are
tending to Capitalization. Both in the
light Of philosophy and the precedents Of
history this is seen. From the tederative
system established by our Constitution we
are approaching Asiatic government, which
is the concentration OF all the functions of
government in one, and makes all the
others SubServicnt, and moved only by the
dctation of the power in the aSceudancy.
We recognize in the Godhead a trinity
which combines three essentials, which na-
ture seems to have fixed as the necessary
attributes Of perfect government. This
same principle is recognizable in man, the
image Of divinity, and the instrument of
executing the great purpose for which
nature was created. Man is himself a
trinity. There is the physical, the in
tellectua], and the moral-three distinct
elements, without any of which such thing
as man would he impossible. The same
exhibition of q triuuc organism existed III
government. There is the executive, the
legislative, and the judicial, and without
these, acting independently yet in har-
mony, perfect government cannot exist.
The great conflicts Of nations during more
than three centuries, or since the dawn OF
constitutional governments, have been to
dissolve this concentration Of pOwer-thls
Asiatic theory-and disentangle the web
which ages of darkness and oppression
had woven around the web of govern
mental power. Divine law dictates that a
diffusion Of power be made and kept sepa-
rate in order properly to answer certain
ends. 1t is impossible to controvert or
defeat Divine law by human law without
experiencing the convulsions incident to
such violations, though human laws may
| be made anSwerablc to the wants of man
kind by making them yield to the impera-
tive operations of the higher laws. AL
though repeated attempts have been made
in the Old World to establish govern
ment according to the liberal principle OF
division Of powers, every effort has been
attended with but partial success, to say
The least. In England the controversy
has been more marked, and attended by
the most fattering results. When Lord
Coke was questioned how he would de-
eide on question which involved the
establishment of the judiciary upon an
independent footing, he replied: " shall
decide as it becomes judge to decide"
The great English jurist was overthrown
for holding position so widely adverse to
the demands Of the Crown but being sent
to Parliament, he at once used every effort
TO carry out the movement which had thus
been inaugurated. The contest was prose-
cuted with great energy and determlna-
ton, and led to the celebrated nineteen
propositions. This was the first Substan-
tial step in dividing the powers which had
hitherto been centered in the Grown. Mr..
Stephens went on to say that Mr.. Webster,
probably as figure of speech, declared
that the American Revolution arose out OF
tax on tea but this is not strictly the
case. Massachusetts, in that instance,
was the only party aggrieved through
the first movement to organize plan
of opposition started in Virginia. The
measure involved the interests Of the
whole colonies and to keep apart from
such an exercise of power as contem-
plated by the Grown, OF centrallzlng the
control of American affairs in the royal
head, led to a union as arrayed against
such an enchroachment, and which, by the
persistence of the Grown, eventuated in
complete and perpetual separation. The
government established by The colonies,
when thus in a condition to act for them
selves, was upon the principle which
actuated the opposition in the first in
stance. They recognized the iederatlve
system, and formed constitution embody-
ing the governmental trinity-an execu-
tive to enforce the laws, legislative to
enact laws, and judiciary to protect, con-
strue and internret the laws The efficacy