The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-03-05
Death Of Alexander e. stephens.

ATLANTA, Ga, March 4.-Gov Stephens
died peacefully at half past three o'clock this
morning AT about two O'Clock this morning
il was evident that he was much weaker al d
that crisis was approaching. At about half
past two his extremities became cold and
clammy and assumed purplish hue. The
husky rattle in his throat that had been plain
l, perceptable early in the night had ceased
entirely. There was no more heavy breathing
aud not the slightest gasping. At quarter
past three the family was called in. After
breathing almost imperceplibly for a few
minutes he died without the slightest tremor
The news OF his death created the profoundest
sensation as it was not generally believed he
was SO near deaths door,
Today his remains have lain in state at the
Executive Mansion, where they were viewed
by 10000 persons. This afternoon a citizens
meeting was held, and addresses were deliv-
cred by Senator Colquitt and Judge Martin j.
Crawford, Judge Logan, e, Bleekley and 9TH
or prominent citizens.
A citizens' committee was appointed to CO.
operate with committee from the Legislature
and State House officers, in the conduct of the
funeral. The remains will lie in state at the
Capitol until burial, which will occur here on
Wednesday or Thursday.
Col. John A. Stephens, nephew of the gov
ernor, said last night: 81 haver never
known him to speak so little of death as during
his present illness, or to make so few arrange
ments for the worst that might come. In all
his other attacks he had been most careful to
impress on me the mnutest details of his wish
es and intentions. In this illness he had not
said single word of any of his desires This
but confirms the theory of his illness. 1t was
exhaustion rather than disease that brought
about his death. 1t was the mind, not the
body that gave away.
Mr.. Stephens made his will some time ago.
and leaves $4,000 in money to the children of
his late brother, Judge Stephens, and The rest
of his estate, with the exception of a few minor
bequests,t to bis nephew, Col. John A. Stephens
What his estate will foot up depends largely
upon the sale of bis New History of the Unit
War Between the States," and his new book is
selling well, Above his bequests his estate
will probably realize $4,000.
1.-THE pressure upon our columns this morn
ing precludes more than a brief outline of the
career of the distinguished American whose
death is announced above. he was born in
Taliafer.o county, Ga, Feb IL, 1912, he was
graduated at franklin College in 1882 and two
years later was admitted to the bar and began
practice at Crawfordville. In 1886 he was
elected to the popular branch of the legislature
and was reelected fer five successive terms.
In 1912 he was elected to the State Senate and
year later to the National House of Repre-
sentatives as Wing. He held his seat until
1859. He opposed the Clayton compromise in
184S and took a leading part in the compro-
mlses OF 1850 AS chairman of the committee
on territories he strongly supported the Kan
sas and Nebraska act in 1854 After the break
ing up of the Whig party he became Demo-
crat He declined to be a candidate again at
the close of the thirty fifth Congress, and on
July 2, 1859, he made speech at Augusta,
Ca, announcing his retirement from public
life In the canvass of 1860 he supported
Douglass and iu November 1860 he made
speech before the Georgia legislature in op-
position to secession and the next year voted
against the ordinance of secession in the
Milledgevlle convention. In February 1861
he was elected Vice President of the Southern
Confederacy. After the surrender of Lee in
1865 Mr.. Stephens returned to Charlottesville
where he was arrested and conveyed to Fort
Warren, but after few months was released
on parole. On Feb %, 1860 he made speech
before the legislature of Georgia supporting
PresldenU JohDSon's reconstruction policy and
soon after was elected to the United States
senate, but was not admitted because the State
had not complied with the conditions of recon-
struction. He was elected to the forty third
congress and re-eec cted 10 three successive
Congresses. Last year he was chosen governor
OF Georgia " hich office he held at the time suf
his death. Mr.. Stephens was the author of
several works the best known of which was
the ons entitled "a Constitutional View o.
the Late War between the States.