National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1880-02-14
THE CORRECT VERSION.
An Explanation from Hon. Alex
ander n. Stephens.
Whs. Reaiiv Occurred in the Committee
Room - Subsequent Correspondence
An Apologize Letter from Senator
Gordon-AIr. stephens Accepts
the Apology, but Denies
the ProvocaiIon.
The Gordon-Stcphcns Emeute.
WAsuINGToN, d. G., Fob. l2, 1880

TO HE Editor Of The National Republican,:
STR: notice in the Star, of Wednesday. the
following statements
THE GoRDoN-SrEpHENs DirFICUiTY.-The heated
discussion between Senator Gordon md Repre-.
sentative a. II. Stephens which took place before
tho Senate Census Committee a few days ego has
led 10 a correspondence between the gentlemen,
but not OF bellgcrcnt or unfriondly tone. Mr.
stephens gave out 10 newspapers the statement
that General Gordon shook his list IN his tstc-
phensl iUCe nnd threatened 10 hold him person.
ally responsible for some utterancos. Star 70.
porter To- day made inquiries among those who
were present OF the discussion, including members
of the committee, a. to what really occurred be-
tween Messis. Gordon and stephens. These
persons oil gavo one account Of the scene,
which was described MS follows. Mr. Stephens sAid
he had heard that Gordon wanted ex Marshal
motive f5r fighting simmons. Finally. when
stephens had persisted in his refusal to give his
authority for this, and after General Gordon had
pronounced 1t untrue, the latter said TO stephens:
by refusing TO give your author YOU make your
solf responsible for what have assured you was
falsohood,' or words to that effect Tho discussion
was an excited one, and eNaspernting things we'o
said on both sides, but the several gentlemen who
were present assured the Star reporter TINT General
against Mr. stephens. Senator Gordon yesterday
addressed q note TO Mr.. Stephens. discHming any
intention of being personally Offensive and saying
that lie only meant to advise Mr.. stephens that by
conCealng the author Of slNndCr hc made himself
morally responsible, etc.
Please allow me TO say that il is utterly un.
true that gavo out TO any newspapers the
statement that General Gordon shook his fist
in my face, or that | ever said one word to
anybody about what occurred at the meeting
of the Senate Census Committee, on last Fri.
day, between General Gordon aud myself out.
side Of tho persons present on that occasion
until saw what purported TO be very full
report Of the discussion before that committee
in the Baltimore san OF last Saturday. The
persons present were four members of the Sen.
ate Committee, Senators Gordon and Hill, Of
Georgia, with Representative Hammond and
myself The doors were closed aud all others
excluded. l considered tho meeting entirely
private. / had no idea that any publicity
would ever be given to anything said there,
and, therefore, said nothing myself to anybody
about 1t, except to como of those present. To
my utter surprise, however saw the report
referred to In tho Baltimore Sun the next day,
which was altogether onc.sided and, l Consid-
ered very unjust to myself
l Immediately wrote to the Augusta (Ga.)
ECeidng News, over my own hand, and gave n
corrected version of several parts of that re-
port. A portion Of that letter to the Evening
NeUs / wish you to publish. 1t is In these
words:
2. During the whole meeting, which lasted over
two hours, | witnessed no excitement or lll-temper
on the part OF any one except General Gordon.
After stating very clearly and briefly my views
upon the objections to the confirmation of Mr.. sim;
mons. General Gordon replied In n manner and
tone which exhibited quite as much ill-tsmper as
bad manners In my reply to him, which was not
NJ all In the tone and manner exhibited by him,
but without the least personal feeling, he inter.
ruptcd me In the course OF my remarks by some
matters which led 10 the alteration stated IN the
dispatch This, us set forth in the Dispatch Is not
correct. In one Of his interruptions he said In a
clustering manner, that no had heard that had
said something about him, which ] deem 1t un
courteous aud good humorcd manner.
"Gencral, have heard that You were fayorInG
the nomination of Major Smytho."
This was only intended as an offset to what he
said he had heard
It was then he arose with good deal of excite
mcnt and demanded the name of my informant
replied that this is not the occasion or time TO
answer that question: we can talk over these mat
tcrs elsewhere"
II right here where the statement is made"
said This IL not the place for settling any
matters of this sort You said that you had heard
of something had said about You in this matter
and replied by stating what had heard about
YOU" considered this barely as an Offset TO what
tCOus either in tone or manner.
General Gordon then said, under great excite.
ment; Then pronounce 1t an infamous, Internal
iusohOod, from whoever II may come, and shall
hold you personally responsible for it,"
To this replied in tho same manner and tone |
had observed through the whole discussion Gen
eral hold myself responsible to you for the truth
of what have Usscrtel-that is, what have heard
of your position In this matter but this is no time
or place to handy words about II. We can SO;tlS
this elsewhere" then went on with my address To
tho committee without further Interruption, aud
concluded in urging thW the ,GhJeGuonGb!e words
in Mr.. simmons letter 81 application about cor
Tupt secession trnitors" was not intended by him
to apply 10 scccssiOnists generally but 10 those who
had denounced and cursed him for giving lIuycs
and Wheeler tickets tO cOored voters NJ the last
election, and that no such insult 10 the southern
people generally was intended, Ns has been argued
by General Gordon. Upon all matters pertaining
to the discussion referred to, forbear saying any.
thing ut present,
This is - correct version, as | understand it,,
as to some matters referred TO in the Star.
Yours most respectfully,
ALEXANDER II, STEPHENS.
GENERAL GORDON TO MIR, STEPHENS,
WASUINGTpN Feb : 1SS0