The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-05-03
GEORGIA'S GREATEST SON.
A Son of the Late Henry ]. Raymond
Visits the Hon. Alexander II. Steph-
ems.


H. w. Raymond, Esq, OF the New York
Times, "a son of its iounder,) has recently visit
ed Hon. A. Il. Stephens, at the lalter's home
in Georgia. Like all men who have ever come
in contact with Mr.. Stephens, Mr.. Raymond
was evidently impressed with his greatness.
He writes to his paper that, as the interview
was mostly confidential, he cannot tell what
took place while it lasted. He had Mr.. Steph-
ens's permission 10 make public some Of his
views. quote:
Warm as was the day. a bright coal fire was
burning in The CRATE, and every window was
firmly fastened do"n-Mr Stephens being Il
victim Of that air-abhUrring disease known as
rheumatism. Two beds stood against the
wall, n bookcase in each corner, II lew chairs
and n couple OF tables filtered mp with COLI
fused mass OF papers, letters. books, docu-
ments canon. which / noticed Il pamphlet
speech by Senator Bayard.) and newspapers,
made uu the furniture OF tie room. On the
floor were scattered, in wild confusion. copies
OF newspapers from every section Of The land.
Mr.. StephenS's appearance is familiar to most
people; his spare figure so very slight and fral,
his large head and piercing eyes; but tome.
who had never seen him before. he seemed
but mere skeleton. But when he talks the
man is forgotten in the charm of his converse
lion, For three hours and 4 quarter Mr. Sle-
phens talked with me on almost all subjects,
and my only regret Was that tile lime W;ls mp
SO saoll. Firm in his convictions: emphatic,
aud III times eloquent N his comparisons,
Illustrating all points with illustrations drawn
from Il long life Of rarlsd experiences, nj! oil
"reminiscences Of the. old political Times when
statesmen filed the places How occupied 10y
politicians, Mr. Stephens could nov bal I've ell
terluilIinm as we'll us Instructive. / was
amused, during uur interview, WIKI The Tree
dom in The aanners Of The children vl his
household servants. They came iE 9lld oil III
viii. sqIalled on the flour and played with the
dog, " stood before the Ere a!id stared To
their hearts content, Look part il he conver-
saluH wherever they desired. being linmoreti
III everything by thei!nnc!i-lore,i master.
MR. sTEPlIENS'S; VIEWS.
shoal like "ery much 10 give u detailed
accounJ Oh Nj. Stepilenss sayings, :or know
il would bc interesting; but, with The cXcep-
ton Of Il few points which lave his permis-
sion 10 repeat, must be silent. NJ. Stephens
at:leres as 6rlnly as ever to The doctrine Of
Slate rights, and sees in its triunh alone the
salvation Of lhc Republic from {: centralized
despotism. He considers the thirteenth
amendment as having been fully ratified and
valid, as the natural result 0t the war. The
fourteenth and fifteenth amendments he con-
sitlers as .'gross usurpatioHs Of power, passed
by iorce and traud," with seven Of the original
thirteen colonies unrepresented. He would
not hear of any such Thing rs accepting the
situation" with those TWO amendments in ex-
islence. He did not, nor did any Que, propose
to do away with negro suffrage, but desired
to avoid what now existed-hostiIity Of race
to race.
Mr.. Stephens spoke OF the Taminany ring,
New YORK, us an determination" and dis
grace. OF Governor Hoffman he said that he