The Russellville Democrat., 1883-03-15

Death OF the Great Georgia
Statesman His Life and
Services.


Statesman His Life and
Services.
ATLANTA, Ca. March 3.-Gov.
Stephens is considered In danger
Gus condition. The belief is gen
eral that he will not recover from bis
present illness.
LATER.-Gov. Stephens is very
low; if possible, worse tonight.
MIDNIGHT. Stephens Is dying.
Physicians say he win not live three
hours.
Hon. Alex. H. Stephens, who died
at Atlanta, Ga, on the 4th inst,
was born in Tallaferro county,
Ga, Feb. IL, 1872. He graduated at
Franklin college, Athens, Ga, in
1892, and rapidly obtained a large
and lucrative practice at Crawford
vile. He was elected to the legisla-
ture of Georgia in 1886, and was re-
elected for five successive terms. In
| S42 he was elected to the state sen
ate. In lS43, he was elected as a
Wing to congress, and held his seat
until 1859. In February, lS47, be
submitted series Of resolutions in
relation to the Mexican war, which
afterwards formed the platform Of
the Wing party. He opposed the
Clayton compromise in IS4S, and
took leading part in the comprom-
ses Of 1850. The passage Of the
Kansas and Nebraska act Of 1854 In
the house of representatives was
strongly supported by him as chair
man OF the committee on territories
After the breaking up Of the Wing
party he
ACTED WITH THE DEMOCRATS.
At the close Of the Thirty-ffth con
gress Mr.. Stephens declined to be
again candidate, and on July 2
1859, be made speech at Augusta
Ca, announcing his retirement from
public life. During the presidential
campaign OF 1860 he sustained Doug
las and denounced those who advo
Gated the dissolution OF the Union in
case OF Mr.. Lincoln's election; and
in November, 1860, he made speech
before the legislature OF Georgia
against secession, on which subject
he had an interesting correspondence
with Mr. Lincoln in December. Hs
was nevertheless selected to the Sc
cession convention, which met al
Milledgeville, January l6, 1861, ant
there spoke and voted against the Sc
cession ordinance. He was
MEMBER OF THE SOUTHERN CONGRESS
Which met in Montgomery, Ala, il
February, and was elected vice pres
ident of the confederacy. His public
career all through the war of seces
sion was prominent one. Although
a man of the NEST delicate physica
nature, AMI az times so weak in bod,
that he could hardly walk. his mine
was most vigorous sad his black ey,
keen and piercing lie Nns 80 thi,
and raw bnncl that when he re
moved his ,hmk sai~lcoat ri lamp
ton Roads, ahere he went dnriug ih,
war 70 meet Prr-il,n' lfnc"ln AN,
Mr.. Seward n rnn'rrfn~. LiucolI
remarked nh,n The ace president o
the cohf'ierary removed his coat
swell. that is the smallest ear o
corn | ever saw TO have such bi,
shuckr
When Lee surrendered Mr. Ste
phens returned to Georgia; was ar
rested and sent TO Ft Warren, il
Boston harbor, but was soon released
on parole. He was elected TO tn,
senate of the United States in Fell
ruary, 1866, but could not take hi
seat, as Georgia had not fully beef
reconstructed. He was elected 1,
the house of representatives in 1872
and returned continuously until las
year, when he was elected governo
of Georgia by an overwhelming ma
jority on the Democratic ticket
Among the books he wrote is ~
Constitutional View Of the Late Wa
Between the States: It's Causes
Character, Conduct and Results"
Mr.. Stephens was never married
but no old bachelor was ever of
more genial and hospitable disposi
ton, and the wonder is that he neye
asked some fair one TO travel tn
path of life with him. He perhap
does not leave a very large estate
as he lost heavily by the war, and il
addition to spending considerable
money, he was always charitable witt
his means. He educated a humble
Of poor struggling young men, AM
never refused To aid IN some way
suffering man or woman who applied
to him for relief. For the past eigh
or ten years be had to be wheele,
about in a chair. Missouri Repub
lican.