The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1882-10-07
A. IL. STEPHENS EXPLAINS HIS WAR
RECORD.

A. IL. STEPHENS EXPLAINS HIS WAR
RECORD.
Extract from his Macon, Ga, Spe,c
Now, my fellow citizens of all classes
those who do not understand me-all
I ask is, as did Themistocles, Strike,
but hear me-hear me tonight. Now
it has been said, limitations have been
made, that my war record was not
right. You have heard part of that
war record. 1 have heard intimations,
seen it in the newspapers, that there
was controversy between Mr.. Davis
and myself, which obstructed the sue
cess ofthe Confederate government and
ended in the failure of the Confederate
apprehension in the public mind about
that relation between Mr.. Davis and
myself. I affirm. here tonight that
there never was an unkind nor an un-
pleasant word or controversy between
Mr.. Davis and myself from the begin
ming down. We did disagree upon
some questions Of policy, but when l
pledged myself to the people of Geor-
gia in that secession convention, in a
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
locations been thoroughly redeemed.
But mark you, whenever disagreed
with Mr.. Davis l went directly to him;
l never intended to be schismatist
I submitted my views. I saw, Or
thought 1 saw (eXcuse what may seem
to be vanity OF egotism), thought l
saw, great danger from the superior
Oh x,,0 IF Il
that our ports might be blockaded.
My idea was to get the 100000 bales
Of cotton that we then had out and
abroad before the blockade commenced
by giving the planters nine cents per
pound in eight per cent bonds, that
would have amounted in all to about
50, ZOO, 100000. BY shipping it abroad
we would have, holding it there in
Europe at fifty cents per pound, we
would have a capital of at least $780,
900, 900.
All this you will see in my speeches.
Did that look as if there was any inf
deity or disloyalty to the Confederate
cause: The policy was not adopted.
believe it was afterward admitted.
DR.. Craven, Mr.. Davis physician,
stated that he admitted to him in For
tress Monroe that if that policy had
would never have occurred, and there
might have been change in our
cause.
Now, I state briefly and reverently,
that there never was any personal con-
troversy or differences between Mr..
Davis and myself. We differed upon
several questions, but never did L OBJ
struct his administration! Never did
do anything to obstruct our soldiers
in the field, but all my labor was de-
voted to their welfare and to their
safety, and at my instance three hospi-
tails were established in Richmond for
the comfort and safety of Georgia's SOL
diers. [Applause.l There may be
some here. Nay, did not visit them,
and my own house in Richmond was
a hospital, where they were receiving
my daily attention, with the attention
of physicians. [Applause.] 1 do not
intend to dwell upon this. The. idea
could; stood by the cause to the last
did not even flee from arrest. I was
taken, as my honorable colleague has
told you, to Fortress Monroe. If had
seen fit to escape, I might have sought
it in that way. 1 abided my fate. I
was determined to stand trial if ever
they brought it, and to vindicate the
right that l pursued, believing that l
had committed no otfense against God
or man in any connection with it.
EApplause. l was put in 4 dungeon,
low down, damp, dripping with water,
walls five feet thick; was there for
three months. There is where / con-
tracted 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 Il
part Of my war record! Great ap-
plausc.l l intend to abide the results
of the war. l was committed to it,and
l stood by the flag as long as it was
atiOat. SO much for that.
THE ROYAL FAMILY.
The uueDn and her court have gone