New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-09-10
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
! rrP OF n.rXANDER n. STEPHENS.


LIFE OF ALEXANDER II. STEPHENS.
LIFE OF ALEXANDER II. STEPHENS BY RICHARD
MALCOLM JOHNSTON ard WILLIAM HAND BROWNE
s,o., PIP. 6l9 j. b. Lppincott u Co.
The memoir of the eminent Georgia statesman
presented in this volume has in most respects the
character and the interest of anautObography, as IL
was prepared from materials furnished by Mr..
Stephens himself including cOpiOus extracts from
his private journals and confidential correspondence
which have been made the basis for detailed and
singularly instructive narrative 1t presents con-
secutive history of his professional and political
career. with a full explanation and defence OF his
position during the Great Conflict, supplemented by
a rich store of personal incidents and experiences,
and attractive sketches of his private life ana
surroundings HIS frank comments on distinguished
public men among his contemporaries, which are
related without reserve, form valuable portion OF
the work. One of the earliest judgments pronounced
on political characters, written before he was
thirty years DID, relates to Alexander Hamilton
and the leaders of the original Federal party and
will be found valuable for its fairness and compre-
hensive insight
Considering the merits Of even the most obnoxious
measures Of those days apart from all party ana per If
ancient nations believe that there is not great deal
more in them than In many OF the laws We
howeVeT Of those men who we're called Federasts,
even the election Of Mr. Jefferson, no man can dOuOt
and movers Of the Revolution, and were the master
spirits that struggled for Independence They were
as men always Will as 10 the BEST methods and medium
Of administering it, II is true that MT JeeTSon IN ba
large party then existed in the country favorable 10
monarchy But for mYOwn part do not believe one
word OF IT, His aim was at Hamilton but he was, IN
point OF intellect, integrity ana PATRIOTISM, hlgn
above all such suspicious. Jefferson even intimates
openly in one Of HIS letters that Washington was aSpir
ing to q throne. With HamltOns notions Of government
do not but that he in favor OF changing u
20 a kingy government none think, would pretend 10
believe knows anything OF his opinions OF the Tor
nation of the Constitution Re was truly great man
his theories did not suit the genius OF our mstu-
lions.
Mr.. Stephens was elected to Congress in 1S43 lat
the age of thrtyOne the candidate of the Wings,
and retained his seat by successive reflections for
sixteen years. During the first session he took no
prominent part in the business of Congress- but de-
voted himself to the study of men and measures as
Appropriation for future work. In letter to his
brother with whom he kept up a constant cOrre-
Ipondence, we find brilliant description Of MIR.
Clay on one of his great parade days in the House -
January 10 Qs45).-Last night Mr.. Clay made
chow on The Colonization question, and such show
never saw before Men came from Baltimore, Phadel,
phia and NewYOrk, TO say nothing OF AeXandrla aud
ms CITY, The House and galleries were damned and
erammed before 5 o'clock. When came over at half
past 6. found could not get in at the door below
people wedged in as tight as they could De
squeezed from outside the door all the way up the
steps and the current could neither move up nor
There several thousands still outside. l awaited
myself Of my knowledge OF the meanderlugs OF an ntf
cate narrow passage under the rOunda, and round by
the Supreme Court ROOM into the alley from the CLERKS
rOOm into the House at the sidedOOr 10y the House Post
Office; and through this MI Cobb ana with RODnsoh
Of Indiana, wound our way, hnding 1t unrestricted
until got to the door, where the crowd was as ught
rs human bodies could be 1ammedi nut We drove
through the solid mass and got IN, ana passed on the
space by the fire to the left Of the Speakers chair where
by looking over the screen, we could the chair
When got this place. what sight was before our
was brilliant anu splendid indeed and then what sea
Of heads aud aces Every nook and corner on the floor
steps the Speakers rostrum were running over The
crowd pushed over the railing, and men were stand
ing the outside cOrnice all around; and they were
hanging on the old clock aud the figure Of Time
% WOMEN tainted and had to be carried ont over the
solid mass. At about Clay came, but could hardly be
got in. The crowd however after a while was opened
while the dome resOunded with uninterrupted hurrahs
After while order was restored. Day
ton, Of New-Jersey, offered resolution and began
speaking; but fellow crying Clay! CayH the cry
became general, and soon also became general Wltn
window !" but Dayton held and kept speaking until
ne was literally drowned with, Down. down" Hush"
"Cayl ClayI etc, and then the OLD nero rose; Three
moro cheers for Henry Clay were suggested, three
more "rSS more! iLE So an Az e Iehgn fui9S s
his speech say nothing He was easy, fluent, bold,
commanding; but, in my opinion, not eloquent. AT
about y an aOlOuInmeh. was ah1OunGeu, =. y uh-
defstand that whole acres OF people had 10 go away
without getting in at all shepherd OF North Carolina,
whom you know being more Whiggsh than Clayish,
rather snappishy remarked, when we got TO our quar-
hear him speak and fewer to vote for him, than any
man in America.
The year 1849 closed stOrmily in Congress- leav-
ing a dark cloud over the horizon portending
speedy trouble in the future. Mr. Stephens au-
cured no good from the general signs of the times,
and expresses himself to that effect in letter under
date of January 81, 1885,
In the message received to-day you will see that the
policy General Taylor Is that the people nhaDtng
the new acquisitions shall come INTO me Union as states
this policy be is and considers himself committed. And
now believe II any Territorial Government DILL should
he W M. b.
hold his approval, We shall, therefore, most probably
have California and NewMeXicO States before long.
But the bearing Of this policy on the great questions OF
the day matter still TO be considered. VIII the
slavery question be settled In this ways think not.
My deliberate opinion TINS time, the opinion have
formed the best lights before 10 that IL will be
the beginning OF end which will be the severance Of
the political bonds that unite the saYehOding and
sayehOdng States OF this Union. give you this view
rather opposition the ventured TO express
the evening OF the 25th OF December. then looked 70
settlement and adjustment and preservation Of the
UniOn and as far as then saw on the horizon, think
the opinion correct. There will, perhaps be tenn
pOrafy settlement and temporary quiet. But have
lately been taking further broader view of the
future. When look at the causes Of the present dscO
tent / am persuaded there VIII never again be har-
mOny between the two great sections OF the Union.
When California and New-MeXicO and Oregon and Ne
braska admitted ss States then the majority in the
Senate will be against The power Will be with them
% harass annoy ana oppress Ana II is law OF power
TO exert ITSELF as universal as is law OF nature that
nothing shall stand STILL Cast your eye, then, few years
into future and what images Of strife
figuring the bOardsl In the halls OF Congress moth
ing but debates about the crimes and the inquity OF
slavery, and the duty Of the General Government
withhold all cOunenance OF the unhOly institution Of
human bondage Can Southern occupy seats IN the
halls OF Legislature with this constant reprOachi II Is
not reasonable. II is more than expect 1t is
than human nature expect The present crisis may
pass; the present adjustment may be made; but the
great question Of the permanence OfslaverY in the
sOuthem States VIII be tar from being settled thereby
And in my opinion, the crisis OF that question Is not far
ahead. The patatlves now SOOthingly admins