Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-03-06

ne was admitted TO he bar Dy the Hon. W "a.
n. Crawford. The first year Of his prsctice
he made 800, and lived on IS month. BV
diligent application he soou rose TO high
rank as 4 lawyer, snd wss engaged in all the
leading cases Of the circuit. In 1885, while
living i'll with a eongestiye fever, he was
elected to the lower branch OF the Legisla-
ture, and subsequently served in that body
in 1837-3S-39 and 1910. As State legisla.
tor his most important work was his speech
on the State or Western and Atlantic rail-
road, connecting Atlanta, Ga, with Chatts-
nooga, Tenn. Though this scheme
was the subject of bitter opposi-
ton at the time, yet many lived to soc
what the forethought of the youthful orator
anticipated-the road completed and the
cotton and rice belt Of the seabosrd and the
gulf linked TO the vast grain fields OF Ten
nessee and the West. In 1912 he was elected
to the State Senate. Heretofore the fame of
Mr.. Stephens as an orator and logicisn was
sounded by his ewn State lines. In 1843 he
was nominated fer the lower house of Con-
gress, to fill the vacancy occssioned by the
resignation of the Hon. Marx 4. Cooper,
who wished to ran for governor. He was
elected, after hard contest, on the Wing
ticket.
Mr.. sTErHENs's CAHEER IN CONGRESS
was an eventful one. He favored the an
ueIation of Texas, opposed the John Tyler
treaty of 1874, but favored the measure of
Milton Brown, of Tennessee, by which that
State was admitted. He opposed the Mexi-
can war as brought about unconstitutioually
by President Polk. In 1850 he opposed the
secession movement started at the South
because OF the admission of California. He
thought the South had no reason 10 COM
plain of the establishment OF Terrific
rial governments in Utah and New Mex
leo, for by these acts the North gained
what she had lest by the Missouri COM
premise of 1920, since slavery was not
prohibited in any part Of the public
domain by them. In the fall OF 1850 he
travelled over 1000 miles, making speeches
in favor of the Union. At Green county,
Ga, he was interrupted by freater who
cried "Give US 360 4G or fight" He replied,
INV friend. we have already secured the line
OF 39o, or go of latitude more than you ask,
and without q fight. Are you content, or do
YOU want TO fight anyhow" The celebrated
Georgia platform Of 1850 was Mr.. Slephens's
work. In 1852
MR STEPHENS SUPPORTED DANIEL WEBSTER
"a the embodiment of the constitution and
Union, and July Sd published card at
Washington which was also signed by the
Hon. c. ]. Faulkner, late member of Con-
gress from West Virginia, in which he de-
clared adherence TO the great expounder.
Webster died before the election, but Toombs
and Stephens stilI showed their respect by
voting for him. 1854 Mr.. Stephens de-
Tended the Kansas and Nebraska act on
the ground that it carried out the prin-
ciples OF the adjustment Of 1850. In 1856
he was opposed 10 Buchanan, but he voted
for him. He predicted the disruptioH at the
IL e. a.
life, giving as his reason therefor, "When
see the engineer is reckless, and expect a
enashup ahead, always get off at the first
station" Mr.. Stephens's career in Congress
can hardly be called partisan. A States
rights man, he supported Harrison in 1910.
Ia 1874 he supported Henry Clay. In 1915
be acted with the Democratic party on the
admission OF Texas as State. In 1916 and
lS47 he was side by side with John C. Cal
houn and the Wing party on the Mexican
war. His resolutions of February, lS47,
were the basis of he Wing organization, and
10 the policy therein lsid down, Gen. Tayler
was elected in 1913. 10 1850
HE OPPOSED TAYLOR AS 5EALousLY AS he
HAD POLK
and devoted his energies TO the compromise
measures of 1850. His views on slavery
we're never of the ultra sort. La his Texss
speech OF 1845 he said: II am no defender
of slavery in the abstract; liberty always
had charms for me and 1 would prefer to zee
all the sons and daughters OF Adams family
in the full enjoyment of all the rights set
forth in the Declaration of American Iude-
pendence, if stern decree of the Almighty
did not in some cases interfere and prevent"
He did not regard the Peouliar system "st
the South" as slavery. He thought it the
aY,L h0r nf . he vfa
70 the superior race. November a. 1860,
when the first premonitory notes Of war
were heard throughout the land, Mr.. Stephens
made his memorable speech before the
Georgia Legislature at Milledgeville. 1t
produced profound effect all over the land,
both North and South. President Lincoln
approved the speech, and Bob Toombs, after
its delivery, said it was the funeral sermon
ct the secession. The Georgia Secession
Convention assembled on January 16, 1861.
To this Mr.. Stephens wss elected. He still
continued to exert his voice for the Union,
both speaking and voting against the ordi-
nance of secession. His efforts ware futile,
and after hesitation of two days he accept
ed the position as q delegate to Montgomery.
He bad now cast the die, and bsnceforth
acted with
THE SOUTHERN CoNFEDERACY.
he WAS cent as commissioner 10 virginia,
which had passed the ordinance of secession !;
and through his agency a treaty was made
with the State Convention, and the State was
admitted into the new confederation provia-
ionally formed at Montgomery. On the
formal organization of the government, Mr..
Stephens was elected vice-president by the
vote Of the people. The principles which
guided him in the course which he pursued
may be gathered from letter written by him
10 Senator Semmes, of Georgia: "The issue
Of the war, in my judgment, was subjugatiou
or Independence. l 50 understood il when
the State OF Georgia seeded, and it was with
full consciousness OF this fact, with ali its
responsibilities, sacriGces and perils, that |
pledged myself TO stand by her and her for
tunes, whatever they might be, in the course
che had adopted. As for making any public
denial OF such a charge, felt too much self
respect to do it."
February II, 1861, he was inaugurated as
vice. president Of the Coniederacy, and on
the 221 Of April, az commissioner, he adj
dressed the Virginia State Convention, which
resulted in that States allying herself with
the fortunes OF her sister States. He early
differed with Memminger in reference 10 his
policy OF the produce er cotton loan, which
was for the planters TO contribute cotton, to.
bscco, etc, under obligation to sell it and
turn over the proceeds TO the government as
p loan. He urged that the government buy
the cotton out and out, issuing bonds at
eight per cent. in payment thereof. Mem
minger's plan was adopted by the provis-
ional government, and Mr.. Stephens, much
against his will, was compelled to stump in
lis favor. Mr.. Stephens differed on many
points from
THE RICHMOND CABINET
as his letter 10 Mayor Calhoun on martial
law in 1862 attests. In the summer of 1868
he attempted 10 negotiate wit b the authori-
ties at Washington, ostensibly to renew the
cartel for the exchange of prisoners, which
was then suspended, but it wss generally un-
derstood that he had Interior objects
namely, a settlement of the difficulty without
further effusion of blood, by acknowledging
The sovereignty of the separate States THIS
was just alter Gen. Lees victory at Chaucel.
lorsville, and the peace party at the North
was quite strong. Lee had removed his
army into Pennsylvania. Vicksburg had
not fallen. The battle of Gettysburg &C.
Cured before he reached Newport News, and
Mr.. Stephens was refused permission to go 10
Washington, and returned to Georgia. In
he winter of 1864 and 1865 Mr. Stephens re-
turned to Richmond, and directed his ener-
sies toward effscting radical changes in the
and external policy OF the govern.
nent. He afterward took part in the Hamp.
on Roads conference, May II, 1865. By
order of Maize Upton, Mr.. Stephens was
and May 18th consigned to prison
1t Fort Warren, near Boston. Shortly after
President LiHcoin's proclamation OF amnesty
lie made application for its benefit, and on
he 18th Of October, having been
IMPRISONED EXACTLY FIVE MONTH";,
he parole was granted him. Returning i'm
nedistely home he declined congressional |
md guoernatorial honors, but in January.
500, he was elected to the United States |
'enate, but not admitted, as the State had |
lot complied with the conditions OF recon-
truction. Subsequently,, in 1872, he was
lected ss representative 10 the Forty
bird, Forty-fourth, Forty fifth, Forty-sixth
nd Forty-seventh Congresses. In 1856 he
Tas chosen delegate to the National Uuion
at Philadelphia. but did not at