Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-03-07
Alexander II. Stephens.

AltAunueI H. otophehs'
Alexander II. Stephens, governor OF
Georgia, died at Atlanta Sunday morning
lie was man of remarkable. mental
power. altogether rs picturesque spcci
man of American craftsmanship ms has
been found in his time.
His ancestors went from Pennsylvania
in 1875, and were poor people. Alexander.
who was named for his gradfather, was
BORN in Taliaferro Tor Toliver, as they call
It in the south,) county in Georgia, Feb.
IL, 1912 His father died when he was IA
years old, but the boy was bright and
attracted the attention of kindly disposed
men and women who paid for his educ'
ton. The young man adopted his second
name, Hamilton, in respect for one of these
friends. He soon paid back the money
they expended for him. Robert Toombs
was in college when Stephens was, and
dissimilar as the two men were they were
always personally great friends. They
were as unlike in their career ut college
as in after life, and young Stephens had
qualities that charmed his teachers, as we
know from the testimony Of one who was
u professor where and when he was Il
student.
Stephens went to practicing law in his
native place, and soon gave evidence OF
the good judgment of those who educated
him. He was in 1886 elected to the Georgia
house of representatives, and from that
time on was almost continuously in public
life He was in the lower house of the
Georgia legislature five years when he
was chosen state senator and in 1843 began
his congressional career as member of
the house Of representatives. He was a
member of the house some sixteen years
before the war.
Stephens was an ardent whig, and when
Lincoln served in the house they were
friends as we'll as party leaders on the
same side. 1t is said that in these days
among their intimates Lincoln went by
the name of big Savage" and Stephens
by that of "Little Savage" and that when,
towards the close of the war, Stephens
met Lincoln in an attempt to get terms of
peace Lincoln, on coming into The room
where the vice president of the then
confederacy was,slapped him on the back,
Savage"
True it is that Stephens was little,
physically. AT his best estate he weighed
scarcely hundred pounds, and in his
invalid condition he has for years been
hardly more than bundle of brain, skin
and bone. But his remarkable intellect
has kept bright and enabled him to do
work as author, statesman aud adviser
general TO those who frequented his
Georgia home, called by him Liberty
Hall"
Some of the papers have spoken of
"Liberty Hall" as though it was the
country seat of dignified and we'll to do
ancestors of the late owner, but it was his
creation, and this bachelor home was
where white and black alike went for help
when in trouble. There he wrote his book
on the war, and lived in the intervals of
congressional work.
He was heartily opposed to secession at
the outset, but finally event with his state.
He had been a union man for the sake of
union and not because Of any scruples
against slavery, and when he went over
to the sccessionists he made his famous
speech in which he boosted of the new
governmental ediice, and boldly declared |
tina slavery was its "corner stone" He
was chosen vice president and remained
so till the confederacy fell, when he was
made prisoner and confined some months
in Fort Warren.
After the war he was elected 10 the
senate but net allowed TO take his scat.
His district however sent him to the house
for term after term, where for years he
has been very independent and h,s had
the personal friendship and respect of all
his fellow members. Lust year he was
about TO be made the candidate of the
Independents for governor, when the dem
ocrats took advantage of IN early date for
Il convention and put him in nomination
themselves. The people of Georgia pro-
ceeded to elect bin by an enormous
majority made up of white voters and
black voters, and Mr.. Stephens has for a
few months lived in Atlanta III the exccu-
tive mansion OF his native state
His career is II remarkable one ua
illustrating what a poor boy with brains
was able TO do in an interesting period of
cur national history. His victory over
adverse circumstances included coninu-
Gus triumph over bodily intirmity, and he
died respected not only in his native state
but over the whole country.