The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1871-06-28
Correspondence oftbe N Y. Tribune.
Two 'Tldhrs with Mex II. Stephens.

ern town,Of perhaps 400 or 500 inhabi-
tants. The streets are without side
walks, aud pedestrians take the choice
between Walking in the mud or in the
dust Of the roadways or among the
rank weeds that Eli the broad spaces
between the wheel-tracks and the
fences. The decayed frame houses
were Fainted 30 long ago that they
now show no traces Of paint. This is
the county town Of the county
of Tafaferr0.-a name that has
degenerated., in the mouths Of
The people, into Tollivcr-and in
the ceutcr of weed-ovcrgrown squarc
in the town there is o little ugly
brick Court House, but no business
seems to be transacted in it. Around
The tSnarc etauds four or five stores,
With large vacant spaces between,
each >toTo has it's complement of half
p dozen dirty, yellow faced loafers, in
hutternut Pantaloons, coarse cptton
shirts, aha broad -brimmed slouchcd
felt hats, who we're hanging about the
doorway aud chewing tobacco az vigo-
rous4y US if that were the chief bust
ness Of life. The rHde little tavern
has no outward Indication of readi-
ness to furnish, entcrtainment, except
a much whittlsd bench upon the porch,
and wash-basin aud towel for pub.
JIG use There is church or two,
but no public school; no newspaper,
no telegraph Office, although the
Wires run through the place, and no
particular sigu Of modern civilization
except the vah Of Prevailing photo
grapher established AMONG the weeds
on the square.
Outhe outskirts Of the village,
across the railway track; IS Liberty
Hall (the residence Of Alex. II;
Stephens, lata V,ce.President Of the
Southern Confederaoy), 30 nAH,ed, not
with any reference TO the mansion Of
the hospitable old fellow iu Goldsmiths
comedy, but to iudicate the interest Of
ite, in the cause Of human liberty !;
for even here in the South, i'll the old
days Of Slavery, men talked With en-.
thusissm about liberty, threatihg
of cource the liberty Of the white
race. Liberty Hall Is a plain white
farm house, with large slipping lawn
in front, shaded by locust trees aud
numerous negro houses and otheF out.
buildings at the side and IN the rear,
oil freshly painted. A sprightly
mulatlo girl rovk Hiy card, and re-
turned ut bnEe 70 the porch to escort
me Though narrow hall, past little
plainly -fu, nished parlor, thFoGgh q
large room walled around from bo5f
to ceiling with books, aud Tito a rootn
at the bask of the house: Hers
founda little, witheted, wriukled old
matt, with wonderfully bright brown
eySs, white HAIR ahd = frame 80 ema.
ciated that it seemed to be literally
skin and bones: He wore d homeSpun
euit IF butternut color, and had an
Old black felt hat upon his head. This
person was Mr.: Stephens. Ho half
rbse as I entered; and exte3ded d
hand so gaunt and Aeshless that it
did not see IN to be the hand of liv-
ing msh, and imhiediately aftsrward
he sauk back into his easy ohaif: At
his right hand stUod q round table,
piled up with d confused heap Of
books, letters, newspapers, manu-
s6-iptb and writing materials. A pair
of orutohes lBan6d against tho wall oh
this other side of bis chair; atd he rest.
ed bis feet on The rBands Of another
chair, in which lay an ugly, fat, Briu.
3led dog, that the flee Would not al
low To sleep: Thsre wer6 two beda
ID the rodm, bureat covered with
bottles Of every size and shape, bon.
tanning medicines aud liquids, and "a
CRATE in which coal Ere which ~as
burning, although 1t was @arrt
June day. A single picture, fepra.
acnting Faith standing by the 6tYss;
hung above the mantel, which rival
I'D tho bureau in itI array 6f bbttlee.
There were piles Of books Hpon tho
floor, aud articles Of clothing, #Gre
scattofed about the foom: Mr.. S,epk.
ems said he was always glad to seeSisi.
tors and to talk upon public affairs, bait
that ho inveriably insisted that corres.
pondents who called upon him shodld
not publish what he said, because
he had no wish to be broug ht, bSfote
the public. This prohibition I after.
ward prevailed on him to modify 40
far as to consent thas might mention
Whatever he should say that had
heretofore been made public, end he
told bis nephew, g young man WHO
came 10 while ws wefe talking, to give
me copy of an Augusta payer
(CHRoN'cLE E SENTiNEL), whics he
baid contained an authoritative state
meat Of bis views .as fas as ho wished
thom to be known. -a!.i o'
Mr.. Stephens denounced the Re-
publican leaders in the strongest
terms as guilty Of "the most outra:
geous PsrGdy" IN prosecuting the
war for the avowed purpose Of Testor.