Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-05-10

"4'VOV votes Ch>t IN the Entire State.
ATLANTA. GA, May 9.-The State
Legislature met this morning. The House
was called to order at 10 O'Clock by
Speaker Garrard. Prayer was offered by
Chaplain McClelland. The roll call
showed l56 members present. The Chat
ham delegation were all in their seats at
the roll call. Speaker Garrard annOunc.
ed the object of the special session. and
congratulated the members that death
had not invaded their ranks during the re.
cess. After an appropriate notice of the
death Of GOV. Stephens, the Speaker said
that the election Of Hon. Henry D. Me-
Daniel would give entire satisfaction to
the people.
A joint committee of five was appoint
ed to wait on Governor BOyntOn. who re-
ported that the Governor would immedi-
ately communicate in writing with both
houses. Soon after Colonel Avery. the
Private Secretary, came in with the tOl-
lowing special message, which, on motion.
was read:
EXECUTIVE Dept. STATE or GEORGIA.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA. MAY 9. 1882.
10 the General assembly:
\ great calamity befell the State i'm the
death Of her illustriOus citizen. the Hon.
Alexander ii. Stephens, while filling the
exalted office of Chief Megistrate. ON
the 4th day Of March last. after an illness
OF TWO weeks, the venerable and distin-
gulshed statesmen, so dear to every Geor-
gian, passed quietly away. amidst the
sorrowing regret of his people. Receiy-
ing official notification. as President of
the senate, of the sad event from the
venerable Secretary of State. | repaired TO
the capitol in response to his call.
served in conformity with the statute.
ana on the morning of the 9TH of March.
as required by law, took the oath of office
prescribed by the constitution for the
Governor. and administered by the Chief
Justlce OF the supreme Court, and entered
upon the administration of the executive
responsibilities, as prescribed in para
graph ;, section l, article ). of the cOnsti-
tuition, which reads as follows:
I'm case of death, resignation or disa-
bIllty of the Governor, the President of the
Senate shall exercise the executive powers
OF the government until such disability
be removed or a successor is elected and
qualified"
The same distressing public bereave-
ment imposed upon me the duty of order
ing an election TO fill the remainder of the
term of the deceased statesman and
Governor, and of conVening the General
Assembly to count the votes cast at the
said election for Governor, and to install
into the Gubernatorial office the duIv
elected choice of the people. The law did
not even allow delay until the beloved
dead had been laid away in the soil that
gave him birth, and that he loved so we'll.
but required that immediate action
should be taken, under section 1901 of
the Code, which reads as follows:
whenever vacancy shall occur in
the office of Governor by death. resigna-
tiOn or otherwise. it shall be the duty of
the President of the Senate, or Speaker of
the House of Representatives, as the case
may be, exercising the executive powers
OF the government as provided by the Sth
paragraph of the 1st section of the 9TH
article of the constitution of this State, to
issue his proclamation Immediately uDOn
his assumption of the duties of the
executive, ordering a special election for
Governor to fill the vacancy so OccasiOned
for the uneXpired term," etc.
And thus before the funeral Obseuuies,
which the citizens of a great common
wealth delighted to bestow upon her
hOnOred dead, | issued the following proc
lamatiOn ordering special election and
calling an extra session of the General
Assembly:
PROCLAMATION.
GEORGIA: BY James 5. Boynton, Cover
nor of said State.
WHEREAS, The law requires immedi-
ate action:
l have, therefore, thought proper to
issue this, my proclamation, ordering that
an election be held on Tuesday, the
oath day Of April, 1888, in the State, for
Governor of Georgia, to fill the vacancy
in said office OccasiOned by the death of
the Hon. Alexander II. Stephens.
And do further order that the General
Assembly of Georgia convene in extra
pHnnG6DN of
May, 1888, at the capitol in Atlanta, to
declare the result of said election, or elect
Governor in case no person shall re-
ceive majority of thevOtes cast.
Given under my hand and the great
seal of the State, at the capitol, in Attain
ia, this, the 9th day of March, in the year
of our Lord one thousand eight hundred
and eightY-three, and of the independence
of the United States of America the one
hundred and seventh.
JAMES 5. .BOYNTON,
Governor.
BY the Governor: n. c. Barnett, Secre-
tary of State.
In conformity with this proclamation,
an election was held on the oath day of
April last for a Governor to fill the uneX-
Uired term of Governor A. III. Stephens,
and, in further conformity with said proc
lamatiOn, your honorable body has assem-
bled to declare the result of such election,
and inaugurate the distinguished citizen
who has been chosen by the sutfrages of
our free and enlightened people to become
the Chief Magistrate of the common
wealth.
. trust it will not be deemed unbecOm-
ing in me to express my nigh estimate of
the character and life of the illustriOus
dead, and ny appreciation of the loss to
the State and country. GOV. Stephens,
take him all in all, is one of the
brightest and greatest figures in Ge0r-
gia'S history. Other men may have
surpassed him in special domains of
thought or action, but no historic charac-
ter Of the commonwealth is more round
ed and complete, more varied in intel
lectual attributes, more thoroughly
equipped with moral excellence and man.
ly virtue. more noble and heroic fibre,
more fitted for exalted trust, more con-
tinuOusly conspicuous by uniform and
lofty achievement. He was a good man
a wise mana great man. He was
great orator, great thinker, great
writer, a great statesman, great actor,
great philanthropist, great practical
eXamplar of Christianity. He had genius,
and vet was profoundly practical. To
the soaring inspirations of his genius he
added the twin powers of sleepless
patience and untiring laboriousness.
Governor Stephens was, and viii be,
i'm the State, as affiuent as it has been in
brilliant and richly endowed men. lie
has had, in addition, more world
wide fame than any public man of
the commonwealth. The magnitude of
such a loss cannot well be measured. The
scope and lesson of Mr.. stephens life is
vet to be written. 1t is full of profound
instruction for our young, and OF eXaltlng
glory for our State. 1t is a life that Will
grow brighter and stronger with the mel
lowing Influences of time, and in the
truthful light of philosophical history.
After long life of service in various
and important public trusts, which he
filled with such distinguished ability, he
was called. by very large majority, to
the office Of Chief Magistrate of the State.
He entered upon the discharge of his
duties with a ripe experience and varied
knowledge of the public wants, and inau-
g1lrated a wise and conservative policy
in his administration, well calculated TO
advance every interest and industry, pro-
tect the rights, and promote the prosperity
of its citizens. While Providence, by its
interpOsitIOn. prevented the maturing of
the symmetrical and beneticent plans OF
this conscientious public servant, yet he
left sufficient of accomplished work be-
hind him to evoke the plaudits OF an ap-
preciative people, and entitle him to the
gratitude of the commonwealth.
The death of Governor stephens While
vested with the executive authority as
Chief Magistrate, as well as the Illus
trious character and services Of the de-
ceased, rendered it proper, in my judg-
ment. to adopt every measure to show re-
spect to his memory by the Stale in his
funeral Obsequies.