Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1883-03-09
]0ortG obdrco Gimes
PORT TOBACUO:
Friday Morning, March 9 1883.
Death of ALEXANDER H. stephens.


of Georgia. died at the executive mansion
of that State in Atlanta at half-past two
o'clock on Sunday morning. Mr.. Stephens
had been IN almost helpless invalid ply
sically for many years, still the vigor of
his mind was very little impaired, and the
announcement of his death was unexpect-
ed. When Mr.. Stephens, less than year
ago, resigned his seat in Congress to as
sumo the gubernatorial chair of his native
State, it was confidently expected that he
would live through his term. About two
weeks before his death he attended the
Georgia Centennial celebration at Savan-
nah and delivered one of his characteristic
addresses, replete with learning and in
struction. Upon his return to Atlanta, he
experienced very sudden change of tenn
perature, which superinduced his fatal
sickness.
Mr.. Stephens was born on his fathers sterile
hundred-acre farm in 1872 and took his first
name from his grandfather, Alexander, and
when fifteen years of age assumed the name of
A. Hamilton Webster, then his teacher. He
lost his mother when an infant, and his father
when but fourteen years old. His boyhood
was spent in hard work upon the farm, playing
but little, with the Bible as the only book he
was acquainted with. After his fathers death
he lived for several months with his uncle,
and having access to his library, proited ac-
cordingly. After that he went to school, and
was soon at the head of his class. His sole
trim in
ais studies: was compelled to borrow money.
In this way he was enabled to graduate at what
was called the University of Georgia in 1882
After teaching for few months, with small
peeunary results, he resolved to study law.
His poverty made speedy qualification neces-
sity, and ne overworked. He had no eonpan-
ions, and he fell into pitiable state of morbid
thoughts from himself and int another channel
a physician advised him to write Fourth Of
July address. 1t was his first political effort,
but it struck the keynote of his life. In it he
discussed state rights. He denied the right
of a state to nullify federal law, but insisted
on the sovereignty of each of the states, and
the right of any to secede if the common COM
pact of union were violated. From this posi-
ton he never swerved.
His entrance into public life occurred in 1886,
having been elected to the State Legislature
His forensic talents and sound judgement soon
gave him weight and influence in that body,
but in ls4l he positively declined reelection,
wishing, if possible, to obtain health. In 1912
he was persuaded to accept a seat in the State
Senate, where he again distinguished himself
both in debate and in the transformations but
most important task of forwarding the public
business. This was his last term in the legisla-
ture OF his state for the next year, ls43, he
uaS vii Gnnr tod
candidate for Congress TO fill vacancy. He
took the stump" and, after most exciting
political contest, was elected. He soon ac-
quired great reputation on the floor of the
House, and, as he was afterward regularly
elected till the close Of the Thrty-6fth Con-
gress, he had ample time and scope for the dis
play OF his abilities.
After the dissolution of the Wing party,
with which he had previously acted, he sup
principle, and this led to violent abuse from
the extreme Southern press. Judge Core, =
member of the Georgia bar, in ls4S proclaimed,
phbicly, Mr.. Stephens q traitor to his section.
and this led to a famous encounter with knives,
from the effects of which he suffered till the
day of his death. The charge made against
Mr.. Stephens was disavowed, bat in demanding
the rstraction he used words which afterward
led to the encounter. The scene occurred in
on the 9Th of September, lS48. Mr.. Stephens
was unarmed, but his antagonist, who was
more than twice his size and weight began
the attack with an open knife. This he for
some time parted with an umbrella, receiving
several wounds upon his arms and breast but
his assailant, rushing upon him with all his
superior force and weight, threw him upon his
back. One blow with the knife aimed at the
heart W. uld have done its fatal work but for
,ha Co. a. H. l., H. L.
Another blow on the other side, passing be-
tween two ribs, severed an inter-costalery
artery. The strong man then, with his left
hand on the forehead of bis adversary and the
knife in his right hand, said, Now,
retract, or | will cut your-throat ~ The
reply was: "No, never! Cut!' As the knife
came, Mr. Stephens caught it in his right hand,
and with his left seized the right elbow of him
who welded it. In this way the struggle
lasted until both parties were On their feet
again, and others came to the rescue. The
right hand, that seized the knife as it was
aimed at the threat, was horribly mangled by
the turning and twisting of the blade in efforts
to get it out of the grip.
Mr.. Stephens was opposed to secession.
Not that he denied the right of State to
secede from the Union, because he was
one of the most earnest advocates of the
right of secession as one of the rights ne
cessarily incident to the reserved sover-
eighty of the States. But he did not think
that there was, in 1860, any sufficient cause
existing for so dangerous and impolitic =
step. In the secession convention Of his
native State, he opposed the measure in a
most eloquent and imprisoned speech, in
which he depicted with prophetic fore
sight the evils that would probably result
from the step. He said
This step, secession, once taken, can never
be recalled. and all the baleful and whitening
consequences that must follow las you will see
will rest on this convention for all coming time
When We and our posterity shall see our lovely
South desolated by the demon of war, which
this act of yours will inevitably provoke, when
our green fields and waving harvests shall be
trodden down by murderous soldisry and the
fiery car of war sweeps over our land, our tenn
pies of justice laid in ashes, and every horror
and desolatien upon Us, who but this conven-
ton will be held responsible for it, and who
but him who shall have given his vote for this
unwise and ill-timed measure shall be held to a
strict accountability for this suicidal act by the
present generation, and be cursed and execrated
W pOSteTlty II All COmiHS tlue LOT the OeSOIa-
ting ruin that will inevitably follow this act
ysu now propose to perpetrate? Pause, en-
treat you, and consider for a moment what
reasons you can give that will satisfy your
selves in ealmer moments-what reasons you
can give to your fellow sufferers in the calamity
it will bring upon US. What reasons can YOU
give to the nations of the earth to justify it?
/ must declare to you here, as have
often done before, and it has also been declared
by the greatest and wisest statesmen and patri-
OTIS of this and other lands, that the American
government is the best and first of all govern
ments, the most equal in its rights, the most
just in its decisions. the most lenient in its
principles, to elevate the race of men, that the
sun Of heaven ever shone upon. Now for you
to attempt to overthrow such government as
this, under which we have lived for more than
three quarters of a century, in which we have
gained our wealth, our standing as natien, our
domestic safety. while the elements of peril are
r.-~lt IL IL Ii L.