National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1883-03-05
ALEXANDER H. STEPHENS.
Death Of the Venerable Governor Of Georgia at
the State Capital.
A sketch OF Ills Brilliant and in Many
Respects Remarkable Career.

peacefully at $3.50 this morning. At about
o'clock this morning it was evident that he
was much weaker, and that q crisis was ap-
preaching. The doctors had n strong mustard
plaster prepared and put on his wrist They
let it remain about twenty minutes, and
when removed there was not the slightest
sign of inflammation, showing that there was
little vitality left. At about $50 o'clock
his extremities became cold and
slammy, and assumed purplish hue.
Dr. Miller, one of the attending
physicians said: "Thc end is not far off,"
As the end drew near Mr.. stephens was lying
on his back with his head turned slightly to
the right. The husky rattle in his throat
that had been plainly perceptible earlier in
the night had ceased entirely. There was no
more heavy breathing and not the slightest
gasping. At 3:15 o'clock tho family was called
in. After breathing almost imperceptibly for
few minutes he died without the slightest
tremor.
The news of his death caused the profound
est sensation, as it was not generally believed
he was so near deaths door. To-day his re-
mains have lain in state at the executive
mansion, where they were viewed by 10000
persons. This afternoon q meeting of citizens
was held and addresses were delivered by
Senator Coluuitt, Judge Martin ]. Crawford,
Judge Logan, Il. Blcckley, and other promi-
pent citizens. A citizens committee was APP
pointed to cooperate with the committee from
the legislature and the state house officers in
the conduct of the funeral. The remains
will lie in state at the capitol until the
burial which will occur here on Wednesday,
or Thursday Col. John A. Stephens, a
nephew of the governor, said last night: 81
have mover known him to speak so little of
death as during his present illness, or to
make so few arrangements for tho worst that
might come. In all his other attacks he has
been most careful to Impress on me the min
utest details of his wishes and intentions. In
this illness he has not said single word of
any of his desires. This but confirms the
theory of his illness. 1t was exhaustion
rather than disease that brought about his
death. 1t was the mind and not the body
that gave way"
Mr.. Stephens made his will some time ago.
He leaves $4,000 in money to the children
Of his late brother, Judge Stephens and the
rest Of his estate, with the exception of few
minor requests, to his nephew, Col. John A.
Stephens. What his estate will foot up de-
pends largely on the sale of his New History
of the United States" He made about
$4,000 on "The War between the States"
and his new book is selling we'll Above his
requests his estate will probably pay $4,000.
The Chronicle says: The death Of Gov.
Stephens is a calamity to the state. All the
denominations and classes, irrespective of
party, arc profoundly moved by the death of
this statesman, patriot, and philanthropist.
Though dead he will live as the most illus
trious of Georgians.
Alexander Hamilton Stephens was born in
Wilkes, New Talalerro county, Ga, Feb. IL,
1872. He was of highland Scotch descent his
grandfather, Alexander Stephens, coming to
this country in 1746. He settled first
in Pennsylvania, served in the French
and Indian wars, was at Brad
docks defeat, and in tho revolution as
n captain on the side of tho colonies. In 1875
he moved to Georgia. His son, Andrew d.
married relative of Justice Grier, of the
supreme court, who died when the subject of
the present sketch was an infant. When
Alexander II. was fourteen years old his
father, who had married the second time, died
Young Stephens, who was always sickly, de-
sired to get sufficient education to be n NOR
chants clerk, but his sunday school teacher
attracted by the bright intellect and pure
character Of the boy, lent him money to
attend tho school kept by Rev. Alexander
Hamilton Webster, o Presbyterian
clergyman, his godfather. While there
his ambition was awakened and
his religious instincts aroused, so he joined
the Presbyterian church and determined to
go to college. He entered Franklin college
at Athens, Ga, in 1923, graduating with
honor at tho head Of his class in 1882. He
then went TO teaching, reading law mean
while without n preccptOr, and was ad-
mitted to practice in 1884. He Immediately
came into n lucrative practice and grad
ually accumulated moderate competence
In 1886 he was elected member of the
lower house in the legislature of Georgia, was
reelected for five successive terms, and eX-
erted himself with success to secure aid for
the system of internal improvements. In
1880 he was delegate to the commercial con-
vention at Charleston, S. C., and defended
with striking ability the measures proposed
by the Georgia delegation against the as
saults of those from South Carolina. In
1912 he was elected to the state senate
of Georgia, where he actively sustained
the measures of the whig party. In 1913 he
was elected to congress by over 600 mai ority,
though his party had been in a minority of
more than 1000. He was continuously re-
elected and held seat till 1859. He supported
Henry Clay for the presidency in 1874, though
differing from him on the question of the an
nexation of Texas, in favor of which
he made one % his earliest speeches. dur
ing his first torn in congress. The
authorship of the resolution for its annex
alton was indeed due to him conformity with
Hon. Milton Brown, ofTennessee In February,
1S47, he submitted series of resolutions in
relation to the Mexican war, which after
ward formed the platform of the whig party.
He opposed the Clayton compromise in 1913,
and took a leading part in etfecting the ad-
justment known as the compromise of 1850,
The passage of the Kansas and Nebraska act
oflS5i in the house Representatives was due
in great measure to his efforts as chairman Of
the committee on territories, Atterthe break
ing up of the whig party Mr.. Stephens united
with tho democrats, and was u prominent
champion of the measures Of Mr.. BuChGnGns
administration. At the close of the thirty
fifth congress Mr. Stephens declined to be
again candidate. During the presidential
canvass of f560 he supported Douglas and
johnson, and in numerous public addresses
denounced those who advocated Il dissolution
of the union in case of Lincolns election. In an
address before the state convention called
after that event he vigorously opposed the
secession of Georgia, Previous TO this, at
Milledgevile, Nov. III, he delivered speech
which made great impression at the north,
and Mr.. Lincoln wrote to him asking for a
copy, aud n correspondence between the two
statesmen followed. AS an evidence of Mr..
Stephens's opinion of secession tho following
extract is valuable;
The first question that presents Itself Is shall the
people of the south secede from the union In con-
Sequence of the election of Mr.. Lincoln 70 the
presidency of the United States? My country
men, tell you frankly, oanddly, and earnestly
that do not think they ought. In my Judgment,
that high otice IL sufficient cause for any state TO
separate from the union, IL ought to stand by
and aid still in maintaining the constitution OF
the country.
Whatever fate is to befall this country, let II
never be laid TO the charge OF the people of the
that we were untrue to national engagements.
Let the fault aud the wrong rest upon others. II
all our hopes nre % be blasted IL the republic Is
togo down, let us be found to the last moment