Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1883-03-08
GOV. STEPHENS DEAD.

Atlanta, Ca, March 4. Cover
nor Stephens died peacefully at.
half past three o'clock this morn
ing.
Alexander n. Stephens was born
in Taliaferro county, Georgia, Febru-
arg II, 1912, he graduated at Frank
lin College, Athens, in 1882, and
having studied law was admitted
to the bar in 1884. He soon obtain
ed a large and lucrative practice.
Elected to the lower house of the
State Legislature in 1885 he was
reelected for five successive terms.
In the Legislature he achieved rep
utation as the advocate of State
aid to a system of internal improve
ments. In 1889 he was a delegate
to the Charleston commercial con
vention, and ably defended the
measures proposed by the Georgia
delegation in opposition to those
from South Carolina. Elected to
the State Senate in 1912 he was an
active advocate of Wing measures,
and in 1913 he was elected to Con-
gress by 5000 majority in a district
with 1000 Democratic majority. He
was SUCCESSFULLY reelected until
1859. He supported Henry Clay in
1914 though differing with him on
the question of the annexation Of
Texas. One of Stephens first
speeches in Congress a in favor
Of that measure, and he is'said to b
the author of the resolutions adop-
ted for the annexation of Texas CO.
Jointly with Milton Brown, of Tenn
essee. MI. Stephens submitted a
series of resolutions in February,
1S47, in relation to the Mexican war,
which afterward became the plat
form Of the Wing party. He OPP
posed the Clayton compromise in
1S4S and took a leading part in
favor of the compromise of 1859.
Iu 1854 he was chairman of the COM
mittee on territories, and was in>
fuential in promoting the passage
of the Kansas and Nebraska act.
When the Wing party was smashed
Mr.. STEPHENS Joined the Democrats
and was an effective supporter of
of Buchanan's administration. In
the Presidential canvass of 1860 he
advocated the election of Douglass
and johnson and in his speeches
was very severe upon those who
threatened a dissolution of the
Union in case Mr.. Lincoln was
elected and he vigorously opposed
the secession of Georgia i'll the
State cOnventioni that met after
Lincoln's election. Nevertheless he
was elected provisional vice, pres
ident by the Confederate Congress
at Montgomery, February g. 1861.
and was inaugurated on the Sth of
the same month. He made a
speech in Richmond, April 22nd, in
justification of secession and in
July visited the principal cities OF,
South to urge the taking Of the cot
ton loan. In November he was
elected permanent ce-president OF
the Southern Confedelacy. Toward
the close of the war he was arres-
ted and confined in Fort Warren
near Boston, but was released OctO-
Der 1Ith, 1865, when he returned to
Georgia. In December, 1865, he
was elected Il Uni.ed States Sens
ator, but was not permitted to take
his seat as the State had not COM
piled with the necessary conditions
for it's admission into the Union.
He was elected to the national
House of Representatives in 1874,
where he continued to serve his
State until last November, when
the popular voice called MIN to the
Governorship of Georgia. His most
noted work is the history of the
war between the States. which had
a wide circulation. With a body as
frail as his mind was active. Mr..
Stephens hold upon life was the
most marvsIous feature of his great
career.