Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1882-10-04
A. Fl. STEPHENS WAR RECORD


In his recent speech at Macon, Ca,
Alexander IL. Stephens, Democratic can
didate for Governor, said:
"Now, my fellow citizens of all classes
those who do not understand me-all
that | ask is as did Themistocles, Strike!
but hear me-hear me to-night-and
then, if you condemn me, do so. Now,
it has been said, intimations have been
made, that my war record was not right.
You have heard part of that war record.
| have heard intimations, seen it in the
newspapers, that there was a controversy
between Mr.. Davis and myself which OBJ
structed the success of the Confederate
Government, and ended in the failure of
the Confederate cause. [ knew there is
a general misapprehension in the public
mind about that relation between Mr..
Davis and myself ! affirm here tonight
that there never was an unkind word nor
an unpleasant word or controversy be-
tween Mr.. Davis and myself from the be-
ginning down, We did disagree upon
some questions Of policy, but when I
pledged myself to the people ofGeorgia
IN that secession convention, in speech
you may have read and can now read,
that my fortunes in veal or in woe should
go for my people and my state, that
pledge has ever and on all occasions been
thoroughly redeemed. But mark you,
whenever [ disagree with the Admins
tration of Mr.. Davis, | went directly to
him; never intended to be a schismat-
ist l submitted my views. [ saw, or
thought | saw, (excuse me what may
seem to be vanity or egotism), [ thought
L saw great danger from the superior
shipping and naval power of the North,
that our ports might be blockaded. My
idea was to get the 4, 500, 900 bales of cot
ton that we then had out and abroad be-
fore the blockade commenced, by giving
the planters 9 cents per pound in per
cent bonds, that would have amounted
to $2OO,OO0,000. By singing it abroad
we would have, holding 1t there in Eu-
rope at so cents a pound, we would have
a capital Of at least $780, 100000. All
this you will see in my speeches. Did
that look as if there was any infdelity
or disloyalty to the Confederate cause?
The policy was not adopted. | believe
it was afterward admitted. DR.. Craven,
Mr.. Davis physician, stated that he adj
mitted to him in Fortress Monroe that if
that policy had been adopted the 6nan-
cial troubles would never have occurred,
and there might have been change in
our cause. Now, [ state briefly and rev.
erently, that there was never any personal
controversy or difference between Mr.. Da-
Wis and myself We differed upon sever
al questions, but never did | obstruct his
Administration! Never did / do any
thing to obstruct our soldiers in the field,
but all my labor was devoted tn their
welfare and to their safety, and at myi n
stance three hospitals were established in
Richmond for the comfort and safety of
Georgia's soldiers. Applause There
may be some here. Nay, did | not visit
them, and my own house in Richmond
was hospital, where they were receiv-
ing my daily attention, with the atten-
ton of physicians. Applause. do not
intend to dwell upon this. The idea of
my war record! [ did everything [ could;
stood by the cause to the last; did
not even flee from arrest. [ was
taken, as my honorable colleague has
told you, to Fortress Monroe IF [ had
seen fit to escape, l might have sought
it in that way. I abided my fate I
was Determined to stand trial if ever
they brought it, and to vindicate the
right that [ pursued, believing that I had
committed no offense againft God or man
in any connection with it. Applause
| was put in a dungeon, low down, damp,
dripping with water, walls feet thick:
[ was there for three months. There is
where contracted that rheumatism that
laid me up and disabled me from walking
for the last twelve years 1t was in that
dungeon in Fort Warren. That is part
Of my war record. Great Applause. I
intended to abide the results of the war
| was committed to it, and [ stood by the
flag as long as it was ahoat. So much for
that"