Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-03-04

Alexander Hamilton Stephens, sometime vic o
president of the so-called confederate states
born in Taliaferro, Ga, 1872, was left an orphan
at the age of fourteen, graduated at Franklin
college in 1882, and having studied law, was ad-
mitted to practice in 1885. He was elected to
the lower house of the state Legislature in 1885,
and served five years; was elected to the senate
of his state in 1912, and representative of con-
gress for Georgia in 1913. After the nomina
ton of Gen. Scott for the presidency, Stephens,
who had been prominent leader of the Wing
party in Georgia, became a supporter of the
Democrats, and in August, 1860, delivered a
speech before a convention in Georgia strongly
in opposition to the secession of that state.
When, however, he saw the rupture inevitable,
he supported 1t, and was elected provisional vice
president. of the confederate states. He was
sent as commissioner to Virginia, which had
passed the ordinance of secession, and through
his agency treaty was made with the state con-
vention, and the state was admitted into the new
confederation Professionally formed at Mont
gomery. On the organization of the permanent
government, Stephens was elected vice president
by the vote of the people. After the failure of
the peace conference in April, 1865, Stephens re-
tired to Georgia, was arrested and confined in
Fort Warren, Boston harbor, but was released
Oct. II, 1868, when he returned to Georgia In
December, 1865, he was elected senator of the
United States congress, but was not permitted
to take his seat. Stephens is author of his.
tory of the war of secession.
Subsequent to the war Mr.. Stephens was
elected representative in congress from
Georgia and served with distinction in that body
up to last January, when he resigned his seat to
accept the position of governor, to which he had
been elected by substantially unanimous vote.
Mr.. Stephens has been an invalid ever since the
c,ose of the war, but his great strength of will
sustained him through the many trying ordeals
of his congressional service.
Unexpected Developments of Wealth.
NEWPORT, R. l., March 3.-An important
equity suit has been entered in the su-
preme court by Anna G. Bell, executor of
the will of Alexander G. Mercer, D. D..
who was the absolute owner of All Saints
chapel, which during the season was gener-
ally attended by cottage residents. DR..
Mercer was regarded as comparatively
poor man, and was only assessed on S1O,-
600 personal property, which was thought
to be excessive. This bill reveals DR.. Mer-
OoA, ao PrOOdoIy WITH one eX-
ception, the richest man in
Newport. The accompanying schedule
shows property valued at over a million,
S175,0O0 of which is in good stocks and
bonds. The bill asks the court for inst1uc
tions regarding the disposition and invest
ment of certain portions, and requests
decision as to who is meant by the man
ayers and directors of Pennsylvania hospi-
tai, Philadelphia, president of Harvard
university, president of Yale college and
secretary of the Smithsonian institute"
to each of which large sums were be-
queathed under the will. The greatest in
terest is excited by these developments and
the city officials are dumbfounded.
The wises5 thing to do is to secure a home.
Kavanagh offers one in the Sixth ward at auction
next Friday