The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1883-03-14

LATE GOVERNOR or GEosGIA.
Mr. Stephens was born in Taliaferro
County, Georgia, February II, 1872 He
was graduated from franklin College.
Athens, Georgia, when twenty wears 81
age, and admitted to the bar when
twenty-five. He practiced in Crawl ord
vile, and soon was numbered anon Q
the most thriving men in his profession.
Ills fellow-citizens fastened to place him
IN pubic life. In 1886, he was elected
to the State Legislature, and consecu.
lively five times afterwards. In 1872
he took hisseat in the Senate of Georgia,
and year later was sent to Congress as
Wing, and continued to represent his
district in that august body until 1859
AT the close Of the Thirty-ffth Congress
he declined to be again candidate, and
on July 2, 1869, made a speech at Au.
gusta, Georgia, in which he announced
his retirement from public life.
During the eyentful years Of his first
terms in Congress, Mr.. Stephens was dis.
tinguished by conservatism and modcra-
tion. hi February, 1S47, he submitted
a series of resolutions as to the Mexican
War, which afterwards formed plank
in the platform Of the Wing party. The
compromise Of 1850, which temporarily
abated the threatening intensity Of party
differences, received his earnest adyoca
cy. In 1854, he strongly supported The
Kansas and Nebraska Act, which organ
lied those two Territories and left the
question Of slavery to the decision Of
their inhabitants. The breaking UP Of
the Wing party in 1855, resulted in his
adherence to the Democratic party
When, in 1860, his party split, he sup.
ported the Douglas-Johnson electora
ticket, and deprecated threatened seces
sion in the event of Mr.. Lincoln's sue
cess. Iii November Of the same year Ii,
corresponded with Mr.. Lincoln on tn,
subject, and made speech before tn
Legislature of Georgia againstsecession
Notwithstanding the general unpopu
larity of his views, he was elected
member of the convention which met a
MiIledgeville, fearlessly stated his view
and voted with the minority against th,
resolution which temporarily sunderet
Georgia from the Federal Union
This was on the 10th of January, 1861
the most momentous day in the histor,
of Georgia. He was elected membe
of the Confederate Congress whicl
met at Montgomery, Alabama, and wa
made Vice-President of the newly-or
ganized government. On the 2lst o
Of March, 1861, lie made that celebrate,
c,s,.anI -, ,,,I,;oI l al Il II xt,.,y ~ 1,
the corner stone of the Confederacy
Acting as special commissioner to tn
Legislature Of Virginia, he was influer
tial in deciding that State to secede
4 When General Bragg made James NJ
Calhoun Civil Governor of Atlanta, Mi
Stephens characterized this act as 'a pa
pable usurpation," true under the Cor
lfederacy as under the Union to his vieN
of civil rights. In February, 1865, h
was one Of the three representatives (
| the Confederacy who met President Lii
coin and Secretary Of State Seward on
steamer in Hampton Roads, and dii
cussed the situation which the war ha
: developed, in manner which prove
fruitless, however well-intentioncd 0
\ both sides. After the surrender Of Gel
eral Lee, Mr.. Stephens retired to CraV
fordville, where he was arrested, May i
| 1865, and conveyed to Fort Warren, DO
ton Harbor. On the 1lth Of October
the same year, he was released on parol
He favored President Johnson's polio
: of reconstruction. In 1866, he WI
elected to the Senate sof the Unite
States, but was prevented from takiT
his seat because Georgia was considere
not to have complied with the cond
tions Of reconstruction. He was electe
to Congress in 1882. On the 18th
February, 1878, when Congress receive
painting which represents the signir
Of the Proclamation of EmancipatiC
by President Lincoln, Mr.. Stephens mao
! speech avowing his admiration f
!. Mr.. Lincoln and his expectation, in lSf
that the Confederacy would not pro
permanent; that the Union would
7 restored.
Mr.. Stephens was elected Governor
: Georgia last fall on the Democrat
. Ticket. a fit rounding to most remar
able career. He died at Atlanta on 4
! 4th inst. The funeral took place on I
y 9th. Over fifty thousand visitors VIZ
IN the city, and twice that number w
|. Ion the streets. The hall of the Hou
= Of Representatives in which the memor
/ services were held, would not accon
It date one-twentieth Of those who tri
e to gain admission.
- Mr.. stephens was the author Of {
-e important works on the events of
e war and the political questions involy
e ~ the struggle. While believing Il
le the States each have the right to secG
% from the Union, he condemned sec
zion as impolitic. The cardinal doctr