Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-06-05

There is the greatest possibility that Alex
ander Hamilton Stephens will be the next
Governor Of Georgia. His intention TO per-
manently retire from the House Of Repre-
senta,ives in Washington having become
known, certain Of his friends ascertained his
willingness to prolong his service to his native
State as its Governor, provided he was nom
mated TO this Office.
Mr.. Stephens was bora in Taliaferro county,
Georgia, February II, 1872. lie was grad
uated from Franklin College, Athens, Ca,
when 20 years Of age, and admitted TO the
bar when % In 1886 he was elected TO the
State Legislature, and consecutiyely five
times afterwards In 1872 he took his seat
in the Senate Of Georgia, aud year later
was sent to Congress as Wing. At the close
Ct the Thirty-fifth Congress he declined to be
again candidate.
During the eventful years Of bis first terms
in Congress, years in which the terrible strug-
gle between the Northern and Southern
States was anticipated in fierce party war
fare, Mr.. Stephens was distinguished by CON
servatism and moderation. In February,
1877, he submitted series OF resolutions as
to the Mexican war, which afterwards formed
plank in the platform of the Wing party.
The compromise of 1850, which temporarily
sbAted the threatening intensity Of party
indiferences, received his earnest ad-
vocacy. In 1854 he strongly sup
ported the Kansas and Nebraska Act,
which organized those two Territories
and left the question of slavery to the de-
cision of their inhabitants. The breaking up
Of the Wing in 1866 resulted in bis adher-
euce to the Democratic party. When. in
1860, HE party split, he supported the Doug
as-Johnson electoral ticket, and deprecated
threatened secession in the event OF Mr.. Lin
coins success. In November of the same
year he correspondent with Mr.. Lincoln on
the subject, and made a speech before the
Legislature Of Georgia against secession. BE
was elected n member Of the pro-secession
convention which met at Milledgeville, and
fearlessly and eloquently stated his views and
voted with the minority against the resolu-
tion which temporarily sundered Georgia
from the Federal Union. This was ON the
10th of January, 1861. He was elected q
member of the Confederate Congress which
met at Montgomery, Alabama, and was made
ce-President of the newly-orgsniZed gov
eminent. On the 2lst Of March, 1861, he
made that celebrated speech in which he de-
clared slavery to be the corner stone of the
Confederscy. Acting as special commissioner
to the Legislature of Virginia, he was in.
iuential in deciding that State to secede
In February, 1865, he was one Of three re-
representatives. of the Confederacy who met
L TtelucnL anu VI Oldtc
Seward on steamer in Hampton Roads, and
discussed the situation which the war had
developed. After the surrender Of General
Lee, Mr.. Stephens retired to Crawfordville,
where he was arrested, May IL, 1866, and
conveyed to Fort Warren, Boston Harbor
On the 11th of October in the same year he
was released on parole. He favored Presi-
dent Johrson's policy of reconstruction. In
1866 he was elected to the Sen,te of the
United States, but was prevented from taking
his seat because Georgia was considered not
to have complied with the conditions of re-
construction. He was elected to Congress in
1872, and has retained his seat there ever
since. Ga the 18th of February, 1873, when
Congress received painting which repre-
sents the signing of the Proclamation of
Emancipation by President Lincoln, Mr..
Stephens made speech avOwing his admira-
ton for Mr.. Lincoln.