West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1883-03-10
DEArH or ALEx. N. srKrHrys.

day morning at half past three clock
His death resulted from sevel cold
contracted while attending the ses-
qui- centennial st Savannah. -
In the death OF Alexander II. Ste
phens, there closes one of the mos,
eveatful lives in American political
history. 1t reaches back to the days
Of Clay and Webster, through the
great slavery agitation, the war, the
reconstruction, and the new lie oil
the South--in all OF which he bore a
conspicuous part. As a leader in
tue Houee OF Represen tatives thirty
years ago, as one OF its readiest de-
bsters, as vice president OF the
Southern Coniedersoy, and one OF the
coolest heads in it, and in Congress
again since the restoration, he has
always welded a stroog influence.
Alexander Hamilton Stephens was
born on his fathers sterile hundred
acre farm in 1912, and took his first
name from his grandfather. Alexln-
der, and when fifteen years OF age
assumed the name OF Hamilton, in
token Of his esteem for the Rev. A.
Hamilton Webster, then his teacher.
He lost his mother when an infant,
and his father when but fourteen
years old. His poyhood was epent
in bard work upon the tarm, playing
but little, with the Bible as the only
book be was acquainted with. After
his ialhers delth he lived for several
months with his uncle, and having
access to his library pro6ted accord =
ingly. After that ae went 10 schoo.
and was coon at the head OF his class.
His cole pstnmony was $444, aud, in
order to continue his studies, was
compelled 20 borrow money. In this
way be was enabled to graduate at
what was called the University OF
Georgia in 1882. After teaching for
few months, with small pelunisry
results, he resolved 10 study law. His
poverty made speedy qualifications
necessity. end he overworked. He
had no companions, and he fell into
riusble state OF morbid melan.
choly. AS a means OF diyerting his
thoughts from himself and into an
other channel physician advised
him to write Fourth OF July al
dress. 1t was his first political el-
fort, but 1T struck the keynote OF
| his life. In it he discussed state
rights. He denied the right of a
state to nulliiy federal law, but IN -
sisted on the sovereignty Of each OF
the states. and the right Of any to
secede il the common compact Of un-
ion were violated. From this posi-
JlOH ne never sWeINeN.
HIS entrance into public life oc-
Cured i'll 1886, having been elected
to the State Legis 'sture while dan.
gerously i'll with congestive fever.
Hrs forensic talents and sound judg-
meDt soon gave him weight and in
huence in that badly. but in 184l he
positively declined reelection
wishing, if possible, to obtain health.
In l842 be was persuaded to aocep I
a seat in the State Sen te, where be
again distinguished himself both In
debate and IN the uoostentatioue but
most important task Of forwarding
the public business. This Was hi,
last term in The Legislature Of biz
State for the next year, l843, be was
without biz knowledge, nominated al
candidate for Congress TO fI va
oancy. He took the stump and ,sf-
ter most exciting political contest
was elected. He soon acquired grea
reputation on the floor Of the House
as be was slterwsrd regularly re-
elected till the close oil tie Thirty
fifth Congress, (thst is from 1843 L
1859 when he declined are elestion
was run az q Presidential elector fo
the State a. large IN Georgia, on tn,
Dougla and Johnson ticket in 1860
was elected to the secession conven
tion Of Georgia in 1861; opposed an,
voted against the ordinance Of g..
cesuon in thai body-but gave il hI
support after it had been passec
against bis judgment as TO its policy
was elected by that convention Il
the Confederate Congress, which me
at Montgomery, Ala, february
1861, and was chosen Vice Presiden
under the provisional governmen
by that Congress was elected Vic
President Of the Confederate StateI
for the term Of SIX years under wha
was termed the permanent govern.
ment, in November, 1861 visited
the State OF Virginia on missiol
under the Confederate GoYernmep
IN AorI, 1861, upon the inVltatto,