The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-09-09
LITERATURE.
THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER H. STEPHENS.

Hand Browne have just issued from the press oil j.
b. Lippincott K Co. an exhaustive life OF tue Hon.
Alexander Stephens, covering the period from his
birth to the present time. The entire manuscript Of
The book was carefully read by Mr.. stephens, who
pronounces :he facts substantially correct In let
ter to his biosrapher he says, II yield my consent to
the publication OF the work in my lifetime only upon
the ground OF the many representations OF my
motives, objects and acts several occasions in my
not uneventiul public course The writer's OF the
biography have enjoyed unusual facilities tor
their work. Mr. Johnston has been close
friend OF Mr. stephens for a quarter Of
century. and, like Boswell OF old took
notes OF his friends conversation. He had large and
varied correspondence with Mr.. Stephens. many Of
the letters being answers to direct inquiries.
curious correspondent was carried between the
two, in which each wrote though he were another
man. Writing OF himself as an outsider Mr. stephens
has said things that he would not have said IN any
other way Mr. Johnston also had in his possession
diary kept by Mr.. Stephens when lie first came to
the Bar
The 1rst Of Mr. Stephens ancestors to come to
America was one Alexander Stephens, an English
Jacobi,e, who settled near Chambcrsburg, Penn.
Alexander stephens was born In Georgia, in lsl2
From his sixth to his sixteenth year Alexander spent
moro time at toll OF than in either study or
play. He was not at school at all until the year
1920, ana in the succeeding years only when
his services could be spared from homo or
field. Taken altogether, his school days did
not cover moro than two years During that time
however, he was q bright scholar Mr. stephens
added the Hamilton 10 his own after iavorre
teacher ana kind friend, Alexander Hamilton Web.
stcr. In later lie Mr.. stephens became student at
the State University at Athens whe.c he acquitted
himself with credit He originally intended Tor
the ministry but finally chose the law az PROBES
sion.
10 the general reader the most interesting portions
OF Mr. stephens lie those relating to tho late
civil war and nis "reminiscences OF public men. III a
letter TO his brother, written from Washington Janu
ary 10. 1916, he says:-
Last night Mr.. Clay made show on tho Coionzi-
ton question, and such show never saw before
Men from Baltimore Philadelphia and New
York, TO say nothing OF Alexandria ana this CITY The
House and galleries wero aud crammc cd before
i've O'Clock. When came over ut haipast SIX
found could not get in at the door below. much less
get up the steps ieading to the House Toe people
we're wedeed IN as hight as they could DO squeezed
from OUTSIDE tue door all the way up The steps, and
the current could neither move up nor down. There
several thOusands still outside awaited myself
Of my knowledge of the mcanderIngs OF IN Intricate,
narrow passage under the ro,undu and round by Inc
supreme Court room, into tho alley from the Clerks
room, INTO the House at tho side door by tho House
most Office; and through this Mr. Cobb and l. with
Robinson OF Indiana, wound our way. finding 1t un-
obstructed until We got to the door, whero the crowd
tight as human bodies could be Jamrned; but
passed the space by the tire 10 the left OF the
Speakers chair, whore by looking over the screen,
we could the chair When we got TO this place,
what a sight was before eyes Tho great new
chandelier, lighted up with gas, was brilliant aud
splendid indeed; and then, what sea OF heads and
faces! Every nook and corner on the floor below and
the galleries above, the aises, the area The steps on
tho Speakers rostrum, were running over Tue crowd
pushed over the railing, and men were standing
outside cornice all around and they were even
hanging on the old CLOCK and the figure OF Time. such
q sight you never saw. None in the hall could turn
women iantcd and mad TO be carried out over the solid
mass At about seven Clay came but could hardly DO
got in The crowo however, after while, opened,
while tho dome rcsounded with uninterrupted hur.
rnhs y. After whIic order was restored. q
Dayton, OF New Jersey offered resolution ana beam
speaking; but one fellow crying, "Clay Clay J" Tho
with. "Put him down! /" "Put him out!' glitch him
out OF the window!o but Dayton held out and kept
speaking until ne was literally drowned WITH, "Down
down !'' "Hush 20 ''Cay! Clay - DO. and then the
old hero Three more cheers for Henry Clay
were suggested, three more three more three moro
Al length quiet rcigncd Clay began speaking and all
wore silent vi ms speech say nOnmg ne %as
not eloquent. At about nine an Adjournment was an.
nounced. Understand that whole acres OF
people mad 10 70 away without getting IN at all SIep
perd, or North Carolina. whom you know as being
| more Whiggish than Cayish, rather snappishly re-
MARKED wncn We got to our quarters. that Clay coult
| get more alter him ~ hear him speak and
| lower to vote for him Than any man IN America.
| DEATH OF JOHN QUINCY ADAMS
| On February Il he alluaes to an event which pro
! duced great Impression at the tma
The House has just adjourned In great confusion.
Mr. Adams mas had an attack OF apopioxy In his chair
He Is now IN tho sponkcr's room IL is said that he
cannot survive long ' The Senate Is 10 secret
session the project Tor treaty with Mexico. Ii
IS that Twist has unoniclay made treaty for
| New Mexico and California, and We arc 10 pay
sl5 900 and keep T. QUO troops for eighteen months
10 defend the court that made H. Sc for rumor.
| dou't know whether Polk advises It or not.
FEBRUARY 22.-rhc House has just met and i'm
meuiately adjourned. Mr.. Adams Is sill IN the
Speakers room aud rs said to be sinking fast. II IS
thought that no will not last longer than few hours
.l.,tl T.y.fI. uin NM
of his attack yesterday. The words he uttered alter
revving htt.o were very expressive This ~ tbo
heard hun, told Inc, .rhis is ali OF Garth am com
posed" He was asked II he wished anything. and
answered "My vile he was insens!ole, however;
yesterday morning and walked IRON his home 10 tho
House
TIE SLAVERY QUESTION.
As far back as 1915 he wrote
DECEMBER - = Few changes In tho votes
to-day. am more and more convinced every day
that the slave question rapidly approaching CRISIS
II the South Intends really TO resist tho abolition OF
slavery IN tho district and the forts and arsenas 1t 10
time they making the necessary preparations vi
men aud money, arms and munitions, &c., TO meet
the emergency speak PLAINLY and frankly. II Is no
time TOR humbug resolutions or sasconade. NO step
should be taken unless VIC intend 10 SLICK TO the con-
stitutona Union ut every hazard. For myself, amer
thinking OF this subject as dspassionateIy as could
Tor several days under the excitement mere. hesitate
not 10 say that, In my opinion, maintenance OF our
honor, to say nothing OF vindcaton OF our rights,
requires us to resist the aggression In Try course
mere, who snail pursue IN all Things tho poucy
which shall believe will most likely avert such a
result yet shall yicd nothing to The AGGRESSION IL Is
becoming booiicss now TO quarrel with ourselves about
who contributed most TO the present state oil things
believe the agiatovs OF the south for several years
nave done more TO effect 1t Than all others united
4 But US Southern must look things Ia the face
as We mud them Our fortunes arc united ana our
destiny must be common.
IL IS aso bootcss TO count the chances OF success in
n struggle with the federal government NO people
who not III for the lowest degradation count INC
cost or hazard OF defending their honor or rights
II IS better 10 tall IN manly struggle than TO live and
fattcn IN ingorous ease. And would rather to day
the whole Southern buried 10 honorable graves
than them insolcnty tramplcd over by such can't
Ing, whining pulling hypocritcs us are now setting
themselves up as their judges and reformcrs. would
rather SEQ Georgia share the fate OF Hungary or Po
land Than SEQ her trucking to the dictation oil North
hordcs OF Cloths aud Vandals who arc now threat
eniDg her with their power.
But lhis Is tho gloomicst side OF the picture.
do not think should be so easily subdueo We have
spirit and energy and We should have friends also.
Let us, thcu, be nrm These views give you In tho
aspecs OF the question. Perhaps all TINS may bo
aver,cd shall do all In my power 10 avert IT,