Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-03-22
DEMOCRACY's LITTLE GIANT.
Personal "Reminiscences of Georgia's
Sturdy Statesman Narrated by Hon.
John Kelly and Others in Tammany
Hall.

Hall.
Seao York Star, fSsh.
Appropriate action was taken last even
ing at the meeting of the Tammany Gen
eral Committee, presided over by ex-
Alderman William Sauer, on the death of
Alexander H. Stephens, Of Georgia. Mr..
John Il. Haskin, in Offering resolutions Of
respect for the memory of Governor Ste
phens, which were adopted unanimously,
said: ''During my recent visit TO the
South l found the State OfGeOrgia in gloom
in consequence of the funeral Of
Governor Alexander II. Stephens.
| had the honor of being an associate of
Mr.. Stephens in the Thirty-fifth Congress.
L deem it proper that this General Com
mittee should take appropriate notice of
his death. i therefore offer the following
resolution, and move for its adoption, with
the hope and expectation that it will be
seconded by our honored leader, Mr..
Kelly, who, twenty-siX wears ago, sat
near Alexander IL. Stephens in Congress.
such action is due to Georgia, the New
York of the South"
Mr.. John Kelly, in secondlng the reso-
luton, said: Il fully concur in enaorsin.,
these resolutions, because they are due to
a great man who for nearly fifty years
took an active part in the administrator
OF our government. There was no man
during his time equal to him in debate.
and no man more modest than AIexander
II. Stephens in showing or giving vent "a
the great intellectual endowments with
which nature gifted him. had the honor
and it was an honor-to sit near
Mr.. Stephens in Congress, Before
met him l had great curiosity
to see the man whom bed never met be-
fore the 4th Of December, 1855. ] had
read that he was very small man, who
did not weigh more than one hundred
pounds, and who was physically weak and
yet the superior OF any man who sat in
Congress with him. This created aston
ishmept to see the man whom nature had
so lavishly endowed, and who was vet so
small and weak physically. The contest
in the Thirty-fifth Congress was most
remarkable one with regard to the election
OF Speaker. At that time there were four
distinct organizatioAs-the North AmePf-
can, South American, Republican and De-
mocratic. The first day we met, as every
person expected, there was no election.
Alter the adjournment ] saw MF. Ste
phens pass through the door, and followed
him. When he saw me he said: Il be-
lieye you are Dir. Kelly from New York;
L told him | was, aud that it gave me
great pleasure 10 know him and make his
acquaintance, We walked up PennsyI-
vania aYenae, and during our converse
ton be told me there would be no organi-
cation effected in the House for weeks to
come.
Il merely mention this to show what q
prophetic mind he possessed, for he was
right, and no organization was reached
for nine weeks, when Mr.. Nathsniel b.
Banks, of Massachusetts was elected
Speaker on q resolution which l myself
offered that the Speaker be chosen by a
plurality vote. Such q tumult as that
which occurred afterward / never be-
fore or since witnessed. On that occa-
sion Mr.. Stephens made one of the
soundest arguments / ever heard in call
ing the attention Of the House 10 the dis
turbed state OF the country. In 1857 I
again heard Mr.. Stephens i'll the House.
and so interesting was he that his time
was extended from one to FIVE hours, and
there never was before or since such de-
bate on any constitutional law"
Mr.. Kelly then described the strong and
well defined Intellectual abilitieg of Mr..
stephens, and showed that so honest was
he that when he became able he paid back
every dollar advanced to him by friends.
through which he received a classical
education, aud advised all young men to
follow as near as possible the example OF
the illustri0us dead. His public life. he
said, was one of the noblest, and he trust
ed that all young mea might be able to
say with Mr.. Stephens, II have done my
duty so far as understood it, and now
am ready 10 pass from this sphere" Ap-
plaNse.l