The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1877-02-03
DEATH or ALEX. H. STEPHENS.

DEATH or ALEX. H. STEPHENS.
Alexander q. Stephens, the greatest
statesman that ever represented the State
Of Georgia in either the Upper or Low
or House OF Congress, died in Washing
ton City one1he Goth Of January. This
sad news will cause many an expression
OF sorrow from the citizens Of this ooun-
try. although the death Of Mr.. Stephens
was not entirely unexpected, for OF late
years that gentleman's health has been
very poor and he has been at the point
Of death several times. Alexander II.
Stephens was born February II, 1872,
in the town of Charlottesville, Georgia,
which makes him OF the time OF his
death about sixty.6ve years of age, and
losing both parents in bis infancy, was
raised and educated mostly by his uncle,
Aaron Grier. At one time he was strong
ly inclined to study for the ministry. but
later he chose law, and was admitted to
the bar In 1884, when twenty-five years
Of age. he rapidly acquired fine rspu-
ta.ion; indeed, his first case, which he
gained against the celebrated Mr.. LETTERS.
gave him at once firm position. His
orphan boyhood. his poverty, his struggls
for his education and profession, when
want and physical suffering battled
nightly with the strong will that was,
as he once said with grim bitterness,
"about all there was Of him." have
marked both the face and character of
the man. His birth. place was sold at
his fathers death, but he had o love for
that spot Of earth that has been well.nigh
the ruling passion Of his life, and be set
apart the first fruits Of his professional
labor to redeem it from the hands Of
strangers. At the very beginning Of his
career he came in contact with such men
whose social, political, financial and pro.
fessional positions were already defined
and secured-men who are all gone.
There were ssyre, Thomas, Dawson and
Toombs; these were amongst whom the
friendless and penniless boy had to make
his way-the men among whom he did
make his way most gallantly. In 1841
he was nominated for Congress, and it
was in this campaign that he met and
spoke in opposition to Judge Col
quit, the eminent candidate Of the Wing
party, and was elected. In 1856 Mr..
Stephens again stood before the public
as an antagonist to the Know-Nothing
movement. When the campaign Of 1860
called the people again to choose a
President. Mr.. Stephens was very ill and
expected to die. but the great pulsation
Of the nations heart throbbed sgainst
his own. and the impending crisis
reused him into new life, and he went
out once more OF the call Of his country
to battle for the Union. His speech in
Columbus, Georgia. was one Of the
grandeet efforts OF his life, and 80 far was
his audience carried by the force of elo-
queuce, that whom he called upon them
to stand by the Constitution in any and
every event, the audience rose in a mass
to their feet and their enthusiasm was
uncomfortable. He voted and labored
for Stephen A. Douglass, and worked for
him with will and energy worthy Of the
object, and when the final and dreadful
ending came, he wrought, and through
the terrible storm that swept over our
land he was as loyal to the Union as ever
was the needle to the magnet II is moi
strange that Mr.. Stephens accepted the
position OF Vice President OF the South
ern Confederacy, for though he long op
posed secession, pronounced it wrong
and an actual crime" he yielded at las
to the demand Of Georgia, and became
the second officer Of the new government
and he declared, both then and after
that be filled the position only in th
hope that he might be Of use to tn
country, and that some time his counsel
might prevail. His faith in the restora
ton policy Of Mr.. Lincoln, he espresso,
no equivocal terms, and he declare
Ia all bis speeches that "the Who'll
United States is our country. to DO chez
ished and defended as such by our hear,
and oil our arms. During the late elet
ton Mr.. Stephens was o candidate fc
reelection to Congress from Georgi,
and the rabble and fre.e eaters done all i
their power to defeat him and tried |
insult him in the most vile manner, b,
he paid no attention to them. and vii
tho aid OF the conservative and educate