The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-03-10
Death Of Alexander II. Stephens.

Alexander II. Stephens, Georgia's great
est statesman and Governor Of that s,a,e,
died at his home in Atlanta at half past
three O'Clock on Sunday morning. He had
all his life been man of very frail physi
cal structure, never weighing over 80 lbs,
and for years had but partial use OF his
lower limbs, being moved about IN a chair.
Two weeks ago he went TO Savannah to
deliver an address, and during the trip
took bad cold, from which on his return
he took his bed and kept 1t until his death.
All the large dailIes contain long sketches
of his career, from which we make ex
tracts:
Alexander Hamilton Stephens was born
in Taliaferro county, Georgia, Feb. l9,
1919. His father, Andrew B. Stephens,
was the son of an English Jacobite, who
lett his native country after the disastrous
ending Of the effort in behalf Oi the exiled
Siuarls In l745. He fought In the war of
Independence, and came out with the rank
Of captain. I......
There were but three children born to
Andrew and lis wife, and Of these Alexsn.
der was the youngest.
Young Stephens attended school at Odd
times and worked on the little farm which
was all the support of his fathers family
Andrew B. Stephens and his second wife
died 10 1925 within week of each other
and the boy Alexander was taken charge
of by his uncle, Col. A. w. Grier, OF War
rem county, Georgia. He was graduated
from Franklin College, Athens, GA, when
~ In, fnH IN hpF
when 30. He practced In Crawfordvile
and soon was numbered among the mos
thriving men IN his profession. His fellow
citizens fastened to place HIM IN public
life.
In 1886 he was elected TO the State Leg
stature, and consecutively five times after
ward. In lS43 he took his seat in The
Senate of Georgia, and a year later wa:
sent TO Congress as d Wing, and continued
TO represent has district in that body unit
! 1859. AT the close of the Thlrty-tiftl
Congress he declined to be asaia candl-
date, and on July 3, 1869, made q speech
at Augusta Ga. in which he announced
his retirement from public life.
During his eventful career in Congress
he served on many committees with yea
and fidelity. He was chairman Of tn,
Committee ON Territories, and acted with
Mr.. Douglas in the famous Kansas ebras
ka controversy. Indeed, he was Chairman
also of the special committee to which thu
I,ecompton constitution was referred, ant
a. he had the credit of passing the Nebras
ka bill, he also obtained credit for submit
ting the proslavery constitution to q popu
lar vote. He began his political career al
wing, but upon the dissolution OF tina
party in 1850-52 he became what was call
ed IN the South "a resistance man" q tern
used to designate the opposition to tn
supposed abolition tendencies OF the North
His support of Mr.. Douglas popular SOW
ereignly principle and the assent he gav'
to the Kansas Nebraska compromises als'
led TO violent abuse from the extreme
Southern press. Mere differences as L
policy were SO violently urged as TO par
take of the nature of ISLANDERS, and as tn
conservative temperament OF Mr.. Stephen
generally led him 10 accept accomplished
facts, it became habit with the fiery ag
tators OF the South to proclaim aim
traitor 10 hiB section