The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-03-06

"a rses &C she ISFe and Services Of the
tsS~ss Georgia Cemmener.

The death Of Alexander III. Stephens.
enc rreai Georgia ccmmencr. which cc-
c,rree az Atlanta al ais Sunday morning.
sIa.es = career which Sfrikingly illustrates
sls,f Nature i The master al talent; ge-
-ius Il rhe master 81 nature" Ne man
hss ever 6gured in American politics whose
lse more clearly demonstrates The power
"a inherent greatness 20 triumph over adj
,e-se circumstances. or i more pregnant
Nh the lcsson tia; the oil. not the vessel.
80, purigy 70 TIE fl2me. Though for had
sArturx ar Misunderstanding been report
- Owing on q numter Of occasions
Il - wear has passed in that timc. in
- H. pssne has not been before The
-rbfr in honcrc5 and honorable assccia-
lion y statesman. pa.riot. and philanthro-
Tilsi-
rama serra county. Ga. February II. 1912.
ri was left an orphan NJ the are ~ four
ss,n wears. flis grandfather was a Reyolu-
,iausrr soldier: his Esther 4 small planter.
Ts~ogrb the assistance al frieads Young
S,c,,hens WIS enabled 70 enfcr Franklin
snllere. Athens. Ga. upon condition that
Ne would prepare himself FOR the FreSby-
,c-7sn ministry. During his freshman
49, however. grave doubts arose in bis
,siod A. n his fitness for such = RESPONSE
1srfr- and upon communicating them 10
l,. uncle. the latter found means 70 enable
bin fo pax hts way Through college and re-
Tgye himself q the embarrassing condi-
tion In ISsa he graduated with the
hi-best honarS- Tor a short time
tfs-.sf;cr be taught school, but ss
son =. h. was able % purchase the ne
r..sssrr lrw-books he commenced the study
III law IN the sheriG-s Office "a CrawIo-ds-
xirle. ON The ID Of .Suly. 1884, he was
admitted 20 the bar. His frs ease gained
hin STATE reputation, and Ted 10 his cleo
non In 1856 10 the lower house OF The Geor-
o. LEGISLATURE. where hs served ior i've
successive terms, and vas the leader IN al
movements - secure Legislative asa Tor the
internal improvements a the State. In
1S4s h. w. elected 70 the Georgia Senate,
and IN 1913 was returned - Wing 10
the United Staies House o. Representa-
fives. In 1874 be Supported Mr.. Clay
Cor the presidency: in 1871 he drew
u0 8 series OF resolutions opposing
tbs rolicv ~ the Mexican war and en-
BODY ag substantially the PATTERN aiter-
wards adopted bv The Wbigs. and IN 1S4S
oupossd the Clarion compromise. Hcw
ever. be took al active part IN electing the
II
miss ~ 1854. lie beid bis seat IN Congress
continuously until 1888. serving on nearly
an the important committees. and a. chair
mn 81 the Committee on Territories was
la-reiv instrumental In securing the
adoption uy The House II The IT,
nous Kansas and NebTaska bill. which
admitted slavery in those Territories.
In 1853 Mr. stephens declined reolec-
ton on fhe ground Of eBfeebled con-
stifution. but 10 the presidential canvass OF
1860 be again cslme Prominently forward in
politics u au advocate 81 the election ~
douglas and Johnson 81 most likely 20
effect & compromise between the Adolf
fQuists and Secessionists. IN numerous
speeches be deprecated the idea OF seces-
son - q proper remedy for anticipated
violations O. the Constitution, and after the
election Of Lincoln be strcnuousfy opposed
the secession Of Georgia IN the state Con-
veution. While deprecating secession on the
ground that IL was IDexpedlent except a. q
last resort. Mr.. Stephens in no sense abafed
b. doctrine Of state rights and strict con-
struction. be maintained that Congress
had no power 10 extend or restTic. slavery.
bur that Il should be extended or restricted
SOLELY by local laws. he claimed that SOW
erignfy aDided finally IN the States. and
that Congress had DO constitutional right
10 cnrrce them. In this way. says one OF
his hioEraphers. be vindicates himself
against the charge of inconsistency so free
~ made on account Of his having opposed
secession - long a. il was 2 question in de-
hate and then placing himself in the ranks
Of those who supported secession after II
WIS On accomplished fact.
In 1861. February 9Th. Mr.. Stephens was
elected by the Confederate Congress Vice
President 81 the Provisional Government.
and in November following was elected on
the ticket with Mr. Davis permanent Vice
President His Unioa record was regarded
n rendering him peculiarly fitted Tor the
coDcilla.i0u Of tie cOnserys alive masses IN
the South wba looked upon secession as q
rash and ili-adviSed act.
Upon the secession Of Virginia Mr.. Ste
pbens was sent from Montgomery Is com
missioner on the part Of the Confederate
Government % negotiate her alliance. he
arrived az Richmond Oh the 22d Of April,
and TWO DAYS later the articles q alliance
were duly signed. Il was during this mis-
sion thlf Mr.. Stephens mel General Lee
for the 1rsf tine IN 4 private conference.
The object had in view by Mr.. stephens
IL seeking the meeting was 70 ascertain the
sentiments a Lee II regard 70 The union
Of Ylrginia with the COnlederacy; for IL
the military prospects Of Lee, who had Just
been appointed Mai9r-General Of the Viz
ginia forces were in any way 70 be com
promised by the arrangement, an express
sion Of dissatisfaction on MS part might
have placed serious Obstacles in the way Of
efiectlng il. In his history OF the war be-
tween the states Mr. stephens paws a Just
tribute 10 tie disintereEiedness OF the Nir-
Cfuia commander. Lee expressed full and
hearty appreciation Of the proposed union.
regardless Of TIE effect which il would
necessarily have upon his own immediate
prospects. and the articles sSfrc az once
ratified by the Virginia Convention, with
an additional ordinance adopting the Pro
yisional Constitution OF the C0u1ederaey.
Mr.. Stephens in many things was not
entirely In harmony with the policy OF Mr..
Davis and the Confederate authorities, but
ever lent bis best energies 10 the work OF
Aringing The war 70 success SUI Issue. lie
Was The author q the scheme 70 make COZ
ton, tobacco. and other southern staples 3
basis Of credit abroad, which was not fuiit
realized upon. owing 30 the tardiness o.
the Government IN shipping cotton favored
Inc support u the Confederate armies Dy
Tax in kind on breadstugs aud provisions
from The beginning; and opposed the mo-
presSneut Of provisions 81 arbitrsIy prices
The suspension Of the writ Of hdbeas corpus,
and the raising Of military forces 10y con-
scriptlon. be also opposed making the
new Government strictly aconiederatioh Of
slave States, and on the grounds OF
humanity advocated the unconditional re-
lease 81 the prisoners confined at Ander-
.sosxiiie. He was one Of the members 0l
the conference held al Hampton Roads
February .. 1866, which resulted in poth-