Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-03-05
At REST.
Death of Governor A. H. Stephens,
of Georgia. =
The Close ola Remarkable CareeT-Ihe
Cold Contracted at the Sesqui-
- Centennial Celebration Pro-
+ duces Death.
A BRIEF SKETCH OF HIS LIFE.

ATLANTA, GA, March 4.-Goyernor Ste
phens' death occurred at half past three
o'clock About two o'clock in the morn
ing it was evident that he was much weak
er, and the crisis was approaching. At
half past two his extremities became cold
and clammy and assumed a purplish hue.
As the end drew near Mr.. Stephens was
lying on his back, his head turned slightly
TO the right. The husky rattle in his
throat that had been plainly percsptible
earlier in the night had ceased entirely.
At aquarter past three the family were
called in. After breathing almost imper-
ceptibly few moments he died, without
the slightest tremor. To day the remains
have lain in state in the Executive man
sion and were viewed by 10000
people. In the afternoon meet
ing of the citizens was held.
Addresses were delivered by Senator
Colquitt, Judge Martin, Mr.. ]. Crawford,
Judge Logan, Mr.. E. Blackley and other
prominent citizens. The remains will lie
in State at the Capitol, commencing to.mor-
row, until the burial "Wednesday or Thurs
day.
Since Governor Stephens return from
the Savannah centennial he has been con-
fined to bis bed. On Monday last he De.
came very despondent and when Captain
Nelms, keeper Of the penitentiary, asked
him how he felt, he said: II an going to
die" On Tuesday he said: THE time
will come at last when / will not have
strength to rally, and this may be the
time"
Under the continued use of morphine he
became quiet, and was most of the time
unconscious. Governor Colquitt called on
him Friday and Mr.. Stephens bade him
come in, but before he reached the bed
side message was sent saying that Mr..
Stephens was too i'll TO see him. Hereto
fore Governor Stephens ailments have
been such that they could be reached,
but this time 1t was general col
lapse of the system. He lay in stupor
noticing nothing and taking no nourtsh.
ment 1t was the first time he had ever
given way. He had been subject to
neuralgia attacks brought on by his con-
inemsnt in Fort Warren and though he
delivered an address in Savannah February
Il, he caught cold upon his return to this
city from riding in q carriage with brok-
en- window, and never left his bed.
The Chonicle says: The death of Gov
ernor Stephens is calamity to the State.
All denominations and classes. irrespective
Of party, profoundly are moved by the
death of this statesman, patriot and phi
lanthropist. Though dead he will live as
the most illustrious OF Georgians.
Alexander Hamilton Stephens was born
in that part of Wilkes county, Georgia
which now forms part Of Talliaferro couu-
~, February IL, 1912; graduated at the
University of Georgia, at Athens in 1882;
taught school eighteen months; was admit
ted TO the bar at Crawfordsville in 1884;
was a member of the House of Representa-
tives Of the Georgia Legislature from Tai.
. liaferro county in 1886, 81, 'SS. 80 and 40,
and was member of the State Senate from
Tslliaferro county in 1912; was elected
a Representative to the twenty.eighth,
twenty ninth, thirtieth, thirty first, thir-
ty.second, thirty-third, thirty fourth
and thirty fifth congresses, (that is
from 1S43 to 1887 when he de-
clined a reelection; was run as a Presi.
dental eleCtOr for the State at large in
Georgia on the Douglas and Johnson ticket
in 1850; was elected TO the secession con-
vention OF Georgia in 1861; opposed and
voted sgainst the ordinance OF secession in
that body-but gave it his support after it
had been passed against his judgment as to
its policy; was elected by that convention
to the Confederate Congress, which met at
Montgomery, Ala, February 1, 1901, and
was chosen Vice President under the pro-
visionsl government by that Congress; was
elected Vice President of the Confederate
States for the term of six years, under
what was termed the permanent govern
meRt. in November, 1861; visited the State
of Virginia on a mission under the
Confederate Government in April, 1851,
upon the invitation of that State; was one
of the commissioners on the part OF the
Confederate government at the Hampton
Roads conference in February, 1865: was
elected 10 the Senate OF the United States
in lsGf, by the first Legislature convened
under the new constitution, made under
the johnson policy, but was not allowed
70 take his seat; was elected to the Forty.
third Congress in 1873, Ito fill the vacancy
occasioned by the death of Ambrose r
Wright; was elected to the Forty fourth.
Forty fifth and Forty. sixth Congresses, and
was reelected to the Forty seventh Con.
grsss as Democrat, receiving II. .l4s votes,
without opposition. He served during the
first term OF the present Congress and re.
signed last fall to take the Governorship OF
Georgia.