The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1883-03-06
Death Of Governor Stephens Of
Georgia.

| Alexander Hamilton Stephens, Governor O
| Georgia, died in Atlanta on Sunday last, at tn
advanced age of Il years and 81 days He hat
contracted a severe cold during his last visit t.
! Savannah, which Frustrated him. He was 81
frail in body that almost any attack of Hines
produced serious apprehensions of the result
/ The following is brief account ofhs late hours
taken from Sundays despatch to the Savan
I nah Nt,es of yesterday
AT about half-past 10 Governor Stephens sank
rapidly into deep siupor. The family. Col
John Stephens and wife, Col Grier and wife
and the tate House officers rapidly grouped
around the bed Of the dying Governor A
about O'Clock il was evident that he was much
weaker, and that The crisis was approaching
The doctors bad strong mustard plaster pre-
pared and put on his wrist They let it remain
about twenty minutes, and when removed Their,
was not the slightest sign OF inflammation, show
ing that there was little vitality left AT abou
2:30 O'Clock his exiremities became cold aud
cIammy and assumed purplish hue Dr. Nil
Ter, one of the attending physicians, said The
end is not far of" As The end DIR, W near, Mr.
Stephens was lying on his back, with his head
turned slightly TO the right. The husky rattle in
his throat that had been plainly perceptible ear
lier in the night had ceased entirely. There was
no more heavy breathing, and not the slightest
was called in, and after breathing almost imper-
ceptibly for a few minutes he died without the
slightest tremor.
The news Of his death caused the profoundest
sensation, as il was not generally believed be
was 50 near deaths door,
He will be succeeded by the President of the
Senate, Hon. J. S. Boynton, who is required by
the Constitution of Georgia to issue proclama.
ton ordering an election to fill the vacancy in
side of sixty days from the date of the order.
The Ne,cs says of Mr. Stephens:
The dead statesman long ago achieved a
world wide fame, and the sunset of his life but
added TO The splendor OF his earlier days He
belonged to a class of men of which but few are
left us, il. indeed, his peer, in fidelity to what he
deemed his duty, keenness of mental vision, clear
perception of the vital principles of our politi-
cal sys;em-in short, elevated statesmanship-is
left Us.
{" He will rank in history with Clay, Webster
and Calhoun, for he had their respective NOV
ing sloquence, profound comprehension and
wondrous prescience In this last gift he was
the peer of Burke, and surveyed the chess board
of politics with keenness and rspidity of per-
ception that enabled him to divine with unerring
there effected.
Though he had legions Of admirers, his crit
les were not few But the sternest Of his judges
could never successfully assail his sincerity
Throughout his career he aimed TO do right, and
where he failed twas not through errors of the
heart. It's needless 10 recall his great services
to Georgia and the Republic. His abiding faith
in the grandeur and utility of the American
government was shaken for time when the sec
tons confronted each other in hostile array bat
bis trust was regained, and in the closing years
of his career he labored not unsuccessfully to fire
anew the flame of loyalty in the hearts of bis
people to the government founded and illustrated
BY their sires
His private life, despite his wearing infrmi-
ties, was one of beauty and simplicity. His
means were freely given to the succor OF the
needy and the deserving. Though no costly pile
bears testimony to his 5enevolence the benedic-
tons Of those whom he freely aided came 10
him in life and added to the pleasure he felt in
well doing. Full of years aud dignity, he has
passed away in the calm consciousness that he
served his people ever faithfully and well, and
with the proud reflection that much that he did
not seek in the way of distinction was within
his reach"