The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1869-02-10
View, Of Alexander II. Stephens.

A correspondent of the Macon Iete-
graph has visited Mr.. Stephens at his
residence in Georgia. Among other
things he reports as follows:
When | entered he was engaged in
looking over the papers which had ar
rived BY mail few minutes before, but
kindly entered into very pleasing
conversation with me without delay.
| ventured to call his attention to a
paper which contained the article OF
Mr.. Pollard on the fight of Mr.. Davis
from Richmond, and particularly that
portion relating TO himself, with an
urgent request that he might allow me
to publish his remarks in reference to
it, He stated that he had seen the
article, and would grant my request
only oil condition that l would give his
remarks in his own words. l then took
down in short hand, as lie spoke, the
following:
IL have great TepugnanCe to having
nv name brought before the public in
such connection, even in correction OF
the many Misrepresentation which l
almost daily see in the papers; yet l as
sure you that what Mr.. Pollard in this
article says is without the least founda
ton whatever, and his information from
whatever source derived, is entirely in
correct. | was here atmy own home in
CrawfOrdville, at the time referred to.
Mr.. Davis did not pass nearer TO Craw-
fordville than RaytOwn, some eight or
nine miles distant, and did not know
that he was passing through that part
of the State until some time afterwards. |
'GriswOldville,' spoken of in the article |
of Mr.. Pollard, is ut least sixty or sew
cnty miles from my residence.
However widely Mr.. Davis and l
may have differed upon public questions
and public policy, either before or dur
ing the days of the confederacy, our per-
saual and social relations were never
interrupted. Our terms Of intercourse
were always friendly. No act of in
civility on the part of either of us was
ever exhibited towards the other, so far
as am aware Of In this connection
would add that it is not correct, as here
see it in the papers TO day stated, that
i have aCceTted the PTOfeSSOTship of
History and Political Science, lately I
created aud rendered to me in the Uni
versity of Georgia. The state of my
health and existing professional, as well
as other engagements, cOnstrain me TO
decline it, at least for the present.
asked Mr.. Stephens what he thought
would be the course of General Grant rs
President, and while he says but little
upon public mattersS his reply was as
follows: "All the country wants is
good government. For General Grant
personally i entertain the highest cs-
TEEN. From the time first met him at
City Point, in 1863, have regarded, and
siiA regard him, as one of the most re-
markable men l have ever met. He
possesses Que of tho rarcSt combinations !
of elements of character of perhaps any |
man living, do not believe he will be |
easily influenced, much less controlled |
by any person. He will act from the |
dictates of his own judgment, |
and what he believes TO be |
the line of his duty. l regard him
as q man of great generosity and mag.
nanimity, neither selfish nor ambitious, !
and believe he meant all that the |
words import when he said Let us have |
peace General Grant, however, no
mere than any other man, can have all |
things as he might desire. The future
of this country, therefore, is still en-
veloped in great uncertainty. All the
patriots at the South can do is to bear
in patience the present-eXercise a gen.
srous confidence and look hopefully for |
times development"
OF the country he said: "With good |
government, there is much of life in the
old land yet" He here referred TO
paper recently furnished from the ag-
ricultural bureau at Washington. which |
gives the products and the great staples
of the country, Indian corn and cotton,
during the year lSGS, and proceeded
"From this it appears that in all of |
the States east of the Pacific slope the !
entire product of corn was nine hundred !
millions bushels. OF this more than
one-half, to wit: five hundred and nine
millions in round numbers, was prodHc-
ed in the thirteen Southern States; while !
the cotton crop, estimated at two mil |
lion three hundred thousand bales, !
grown entirely in these States, at an
average market price, weuld amount to |
upwards of two hundred and fifty mil !
lions dollars, which will be more than |
one-half the foreign exports from the
entire country. These figures in them
selves exhibit what vital energies we |
possess, if properly directed under good
government"