New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-03-05
SKETCH OF HIS CAREER.

Alexander Stephens-his middle name was adopted
IN after vears-was born in Wilkes County. Ca, on
February IL, 1912. where his grandfather, Alex
ander, the founder Of The American branch of the
family, had settled. The first Alexander was an
Englshman by birth and JacObite During the
Indian wars which preceded the Revolutionary
struggle he saw service under Braddock and Wash
ingtOn and during the conflict between
the colonies and the mother country he
was faithful TO his new allegiance Andrew B.
Stephens the father of the subject of this sketch,
was an industrious and worthy farmer, who died
while Alexander was still boy, and left him an
orphan his mother, a relative of the late Justice
Grier, of the United States Supreme Court, having
died in his infancy. Thrown thus upon the world
at the age of fourteen, with patrmony of only
about S4OO, it might have Jared hard with him
had not his uncle offered him a home, where he
lived without cost, while the interest
his little fortune betrayed the expenses
of his tuition and clothing until he to require
better schooling than he could find in his quiet viii
lage By the kindness of friends he sent TO one
of the best classical academies in the State, and al
terward to the State University at Athens, widely
known as Franklin College. 1t was as an preston
of his respect aud affection for his preceptor at the
academy, the Rev. Alexander Hamilton Webster,
that he adopted the name of Hamilton and wore it
for the rest of his life The special object with
which he was aided by his friends to complete a col
lege course was that he might enter the ministry.
but serious doubts as to his fitness for that work
slowly undermined his purpose, aud he finally re-
lnquished it, repaylng all the money he had
borrowed to enable hun to effect his aim. I'm
mediately after graduation he began the study of
law reading it alone and without instruction and
teaching school as a of livelihood. At the age
of twenty-five he was admitted to the BAR and at
once began practice in his town. refusing while v
ing on So month"; offers of lucrative partnership
elsewhere The proceeds his first years professional
work were 800. but he soon began to gain rapidly
In clients and reputation. In 1886 he was nomi-
mated and elected 20 the Lower House of the Gen.
eral Assembly although he bitterly opposed Oh
account of his decided attitude against notification
and because of his opposition to the appointment of
vigilance committee in his county to punish all
persons suspected of propagatIng incendary senti-
ments among the slaves. In the following year he
was completely broken down in health an affection
which came to him frequently in after life but
notwithstanding continued prostration he was
elected to the Legislatures of 1887 49, $50 and 40
In S4l he declined areelection but in the following
year he was sent to the State Senate where he was
prominent in the agitation of problems Of internal
improvements and in urging the division of the
State into Congressional districts. 1t was during
this session that he drew up the minority report of
gave full statement of the tenets of the Wing or
ganization in Georgia, and it was in the debate 10
which tins report gave rise thai he took so prom-
nent part to be reckoned thereafter ia the front
rank of the young orators of his State.
In 1s43 he was nominated for Congress and ran
OH general ticket, the State not having been vet
divided in Congressional districts. The canvass WAS
an unusually exciting one, and Mr. stephens. being
in comparatively good health, engaged IN il with
all his ardor, The previous adverse majority viii h
he had to cut down was 1000; he came ont the
victor by 5000. This election began a term Of
service in the House OF Representatives which
lasted sixteen years without cessation, and was
then interrupted for nearly as long period.
In 1874 Mr. Stephens supported Henry Clay for
President, although Mr.. Clay opposed the ncorpo-
ration of Texas into the Union, measure which Mr.
Stephens had long wished to see adopted, and
which he had urged by resolution in the State
Legislature far back as 1888 OF 1889. He helped
TO frame and actively supported the Milton Brown
Treaty, by which Texas was admitted into the
family OF States, thus for the first time arraying
himself against the Wings He introduced into the
House, IN January, 1S47, series of resolutions on
the war with Mexico. conflict which he held to
nave Deeh Drought about by President Polk in vio-
laton OF the Constitution, declaring that the war
was not waged with view 10 conquest or the dis
memberment Of that republic BY the acquisition of
any portion OF her territory" The House refused to
permit the resolutions TO come to a VOTE but they
sounded the keynote of Wing organization through.
cut the country, and on the issues which they fore