The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1883-05-15
THE PIoMY AND THE GIANT.
Alexander 81. Stephens Tel rible
Reno ontre with Judge Gone in
1848.

During Mr.. Stephens congressional
service, and pending the campaign
of 1913, he returned from Washing.
ton to Georgia. He was fresh from
the great debates on the acquisition
Of California and New Mexico ss
United States territories, and for hav.
ing taken, against the wishes of q
majority of the southern members, a
NEST prominent part in opposition to
such acquisition, he was met with
much adverse criticism. Judge Cone,
who was at the time one Of the lead
ing politicians of Georgia, was par
ticularly severe in bis comments upon
Mr.. Stephens action, and was reported
as having publicly denounced him as
a traitor to the south.
Hardly had Mr.. Stephens reached
his home when these and similar re-
ports were conveyed to him. At FIRST
he did not credit them, but as one
kind friend after another informed
him that Cone had called him a trait
or and advised, in the true southern
spirit. that he owed it to himself to
demand what is called satisfaction"
the fires Of pugnacity in his nature,
which were always smouldering. Kissed
up, and he declared that if Judge
Cone would admit having called him
q traitor to the south he would "slap
his face" Not long after this he met
the judge at a numerously attended
Wing gathering. and going up to him
quietly said
"Judge Cone, l have been told
that you, for reasons of your own, have
denounced me as q traitor to the south,
and take this opportunity of asking
you If such reports are true
mo, sir, was Cones reply, "they
are not true.
Il ana very glad to hear you say
So" said Mr.. Stephens, cordially ;
and in the some friendly tone centin.
ued: "Of course l do not desire to be
in any way offensive to you, Judge
Cone, but in order that We may have
no further misunderstanding through
the misrepresentation Of Others, /
think it right to tell you that I have
said would slap your face if you ad-
nitted having used the language At
tributed to YOU
Upon this the judge again disowned
having spoken disrespectfuIly of Mr..
Stephens, and 90 for the time the
affair ended. 1t was the subject of
discussion all over the state, however,
and the general verdict was that
Judge Cone, q very powerful man by
the way. had shown the white feath-
er to ''little Aleck Stephens" In
such a community no public man
resting under such a charge could
hope either for political preferment or
popular respect. Cone, of course,
knew this and. very much heated
and annoyed BY the comments which
were being made upon him, wrote to
Mr.. Stephens demanding an immedi-
ate and public retraction of the threat.
In reply Mr.. Stephens wrote that
the threat of slapping the judges
face had been made contingent upon
the truth Of reports regarding which
he (Mr. Gomez had pronounced to be
untrue and that such being the case
there could be no cause for offense
or angry feeling on either side. Un-
fortunately this letter was never re.
ceived by Judge Cone. Three or
four days after it was written, hsw-
ever, he met Mr.. Stephens on the
piazza of hotel in Atlanta, and, dis
regarding the gentleman's friendly
greeting, said in a very offensive tone.
Mr., Stephens, demand that you
make an immediate retraction of your
threats regarding me-"
Sick and weak though he was, Alex
ander H. Stephens could allow no one
to speak to him in the fashion describ-
ed. Judge Cone was very giant in
size and muscular development, yet
the frail man whom be addressed,
with aggravating politeness and with
out hesitatinga moment, remarked
"Parden me sir, l have already writ
ten you on that subject. 1 must de-
cline to discuss it further"
Am l to take this for your an
swer 7" asked Cone, excitedly
ut is the only answer 1 have to
give you" was the calm reply.
''Then l denounce you as misera-
bic little traitor" cried Cone, mad
with excitement. The last words
had hardly left bis lips when a light
came, wilded by the quick hand of
the man he had insulted, left its red
scar across his cheek.
Wild with pain and passion, with
out uttering word, he drew q keen.
pointed dirk knife and made one furi-
Gus thrust at his weak little adversary's