The Dawson journal. (Dawson, Ga.) 1878-18??, 1883-05-24
Acting Cove nor B0yn On's
Stewardship

mitted his message to the General
Assembly Wednesday Of last week.
After touchingly and gracefully allu
dug 10 the dea h Of Gov Stephens,
aud citing his actions in the premises
together with the law under which
he acted, he proceeds to give an &C
count of his own stewardship during
his occupancy of the Executive
Chair. We produce the greater
part Of the message as a document
worthy of the consideration Of our
eadeIs, and as showing the exalted
character of the acting Governor
trust il viii rot be uubecoming
in me to express my high estimate of
the character and high life Of the IL
lustlious dead, and my appreciation
Of the loss to the State and country.
Gov. Stephens, take him all in ali, is
one If the brightest and greatest fig
ures in Georgia's history. Other
men MAJ hay &c surpassed him in spe-
cial domains OF thought or action,
bu, no historic character OF the com
monwealth is moseIounded and com
pletc, more varied in mlellertual at
tributes, more thoroughly equipped
with moral excellence and manly
viuues, more noble in historic libre,
more fitted for exalted tiusI, more
continuously conspicuous by uniform
ana lofty achievement. He was a
great mau-a wise mau.-a good
man. He was great ulaio u, a
great thinker, a great writer, a
great statesman a great acton, Il
great philanthlopI>t, a great pIactl-
cal eXemplar Of Christianity. He
hal genius, ana get WAS profoundly
practical. TO the soaring inspira
items of his genius he added the
twin powers Of sleepless patience
and untiring righteousness.
Governor Stephens was, ana will
be, the most national figure we have
ever had in the State, as afiuent as
ii has been III brilliant and richly en-
dowed men. He has had in addition
more Worldwide fame titan any
public man OF tire commonwealth
The magnitude Of such loss cannot
we'll be measured. The scope and
lesson Of Stephenss life is yet to lie
written. 1t is full Of profound III
strucJion for our young, aud of ex-
ulting glory for our State 1t is "a
life that Wiz grow brighter aud
stronger with tire meIlowing in1iuen-
ces Of time, and III tie truthful Eight
of philosophical history.
Af'er long life Of service in va
rious aud important public trusts,
which he filled with such d;stiuguish.-
ed ability, he was called by very
large majority to the Office al Chief
Magistrate OF the State He enter
ed upon the discharge of his duties
with a ape experience ANA varied
knowledge OF the public wants, and
halgnrated wise conservative poll
cy IL his administration, well calcu-
lated to advance every interest and
Industry, protect the rights and prp-
mote the prosperity OF It's citizen.
While Proyidcuce, by It's inielposi-
ton, prevented maturing OF the sym
mrhlcal and beneicent plans Of this
CONSCIENTIOUS public servant, yet he
lett sufficient OF accomplished work
oeDlnd 'lm to evoke the plaut,itS of
hm to the gratitude Of the co,nnnn.
wealth.
The death of Governor Stonheos
while vested with Executive anILoi.;
ty as chief magistrate AS well ~ fine
lllstrious character ana services of
the deceased rendered 4 nro,,oy ~
my judgement. to adont eys,y mass.
me to show Ie>pect to hi. ,oanor,.
~ 80 It, us l"oelal oDsequies-
rropna' ely dlaped in tastefnl and AZ.
pIcs,iye emblems Of n,nn;n;a', f.,,
tie distinguished dead llra2ta If
the state were informed IN talaoya,,h
Of the exercises and evn,.,. 1,l+o
ton was made for imnos;na + flnaraI
ceremonies. The egnrnsrs ~ 40
pejy and funeral are recorded as =
uopercls,oe unon The S .:5",,'', a. ~ q =
dono; douLt La, q, the nrn,,n,. t;Ina
!ou VIII ,loviJo for tLp r 'aIm,,, oi'''t e
TIE same, - - -
While YOU, body isnudor 4bo o,.n.
stitution, confined in vonr ' 5 ylio 1al
tons at inns called session ''e - +La
Specific object for wL;ch VAN ~ ,r ave
convened, and / Shall ,L.rsf'ra nnf
present matter for vour action 7
deem it not iuannron 2tl " w. l,4a =