The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-03-25

Home Life aud Personal CharacterIstics-
OF the Deceased Statesman.

cal and social life disappeared with the
demise of Alexander II. Stephens. Those
who have only read his speeches or whose
observation of him was limited to the House
of Representatives are unacqusinted with
the most entertaining features of his life
and character. 1t was at home or in the
Eocial group that hs was most impressive.
The Nation remembers him as the man who,
one evening in December, 1860, stood before
the Legislature OF Georgia, az 9Eilledgeyills,
with argument and appeal, which
will 20 down into history, against seces-
sion from the Union. AS Vice Presi-
dent OF the Confederate States he is known
to have been conservative ard ever anxious
for peace. He it was who urged the Hsmp-
ton Roads Peace Commission-the confer
ence held between the Confederate commit
of which be was chairman, and President
Lincoln, When the Union armies had til.
uDphed and Mr.. Stephens was advised by
friends to leave the country he declined, say
ing lie would prefer hanging in his own
country TO q natural death In any other He
was incarcersted for months in Fort Warren,
off Boston Harbor In 1875 he returned to
feat in Congress which he had occupied,
continuously, from 1874 to 1862 and served
until 1882, when he became Governor OF
| Georgia, which trust he was filing when he
died in 1883.
So much every reader knows OF Alexander
FL. Stevens, 1.-THE Georgia commoner," ''the
Sage Of Liberty Hall" Perhaps all rsmem-
her, too, that he was never married, and
many have read, doobtiess, of his physical
decIepitude. When first knew him his
tell, spare figure was erect and his dark hair
/ uniIosted. But later, the Effects of his i'm
| prisonment at Fort Warren, he was drawn
! by chronic rheumaiism, and after 1872,
wien q large gate threw him from his
clutches and fell upon him, he wes cripple
ard his figure bent
"Llberty Hall" Mr.. Stephens home
throughout the last forty years of his life,
was an unpretsntieuS single-stOTy cottage,
seated deep in grove, 500 yards distant
from the railroad station at Charlottesville,
village midway between Atlanta ard Au-
| gusta. The half dozen commodious rooms
were plainly though comfortably furnished,
and had wide, old-fsshioned ireplsces. Few
homes ever dispensed more hospitality.
There being no hotel in the village, Mr..
Stephens hundreds Of visitors from all parts
of the Union were his guests while tarrying.
1t was hers that Stephen A. Douglas and
Hsrschel V. Johnson. candidates on the
same ticket for President and Vice President
In 1850, met for conference. Lawyers at
tending the half-yearly sessions of the Cir.
cult Court filed The house. On these &C.
oasions Liberty Hall could boast evening
gatherings of signal brillisnoy. For many
years such lights az Henchel V. Johnson,
Robert Toombs William II. Crawford,
Charles ]. jenkins. Joseph Henry Lump
Kin and Judge Linton Stephens were, stimuli
taneously, its guests. What rare treat it
was on sny OF these evenings, after whist
was abandoned, to hear Robert Toombs and
Mr.. Stephens run counter in conversation.
The former massive of head and figure, glib
and glittering of speech, with the inverted
end OF an unlighted cigar between his teeth,
would pace the floor, vi bile tbs attenuated
man in the easy chair with foot neryously
patting the floor, would puff at his clsy pipe,
and by his cutting passages initiate his col.
loquist into volatile rejoinier. They were
as natural contrasts mentally as physically,
seldom agreed upon public topics, were
prone to disputstion, and yet no two men
ever had warmer or more exalted admiration
for each other. 1t will be remembered how
Toombs interrupted with questions Mr..
Stephens great Union speech to which
have referred, and how deferential the
speaker wss to the questioner, tsrming him
AWAY as his friend.
But Mr.. Stephens admirers and friends
were not confined 10 the distinguished and
honoIed. In no year CT his last twenty-five
wes there not some poor young man scquir-
ing education by assistance from him. When
he was himself poor boy, generous old
man forced upon him tbs requisite aid for
collegiate course. 1he worthy example was
followed by Mr. Stephens, and it is known,
though never from his own lips, that more
than forty youths were recipients OF this
benefaclion from him, some of whom turned
out admirably and repaid him his advances.
The only instance which provoked him is
said to have been when one whom he aided
to a legal education abandoned his profess
SION Immediately after entering it to become
q very Indifferent negro minstrel. But it
was his kind interest in his former slaves,
| continuously HlseI tneiI emhnClpdtlOu,
which commanded nay warmest admiration
for him as a philanthropist. To heads
of families his extsnded the necessary
aid to become farmers on their own account
To the more thrifty he sold land, giving
hem all the time needed for paying the pur-
chase money. And such was the Difference
in which these held his Judgment that his
advice was sought by them upon every con-
iemplated undertaking, from the buying or
selling OF pig to the pitching of crop.
Never an evening came when he was at
home that there was not number of sable
callers at his sittingIoom to inquire after
his health or solicit his advice, and it mat
tered not how distinguished the company
present these callers were given audience.
Mas Aleck, dat Jim boy er mine is givin'
me er powerful sight er trubhul. He done
got so trifin' he won't work. an las Satur-
day he vuz dead drunk"
'What can do 10 help you about it?"
asked Mr.. Stephens.
tiles oive lin, a falkini In sab. dat will