South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1891-07-10
Alexander 81. Stephens.

L. otCpu6uS.
well. } never made any depar.
tures. L never depar cd from princi-
pies. never shall =
This was the reply Of Alexander Il.
Stephens. the Southern statesman. 10
friend who asked him why. when
serving his country in the House of
Representatives at Washington, he
did not depart from his his h princi.
pies OF honor, as other statesmen did.
and devote part OF his time to secur.
ing emoiuments for himself. The
answer was thoroughly characteristic
OF the man. Mr., Stephens conscience
was to bin tho voice of God. He
could no more have obeyed or delied
it than he could have effaced the i'm
age of the Almighty from his heart.
a more thoroughly conscientious mau
than Alexander II. Stephens. or enc
who had more Of The courage of his
convictions. never lived. Here is a
quotation from his Atlanta speech
of 1882: ~ hen l went to Congress-
/ made a solemn covenant with nv.
self, signing 1t the day before I took
the oath of Office. to this effect: sEx-
cept my pay. wilt never make dol.
lar in Washington city while mem.
her Of Congress. This covenant
MIR. Stephens strictly and uncompro-
mising'y adhered to.
1t is we'll TO set the example Of such
8 man before our American BOYS. es.
pecially in these days of Political self.
seeking and the prostitution OF per-
sonal honor for unworthy ends. Be-
sides. there are other qualities in A.
lexander II. Stephens life which make
h m an admirable model and example.
He was truly se!f.made man. He
fought his way TO the front, in def.
nnce of obstacles which would have
discouraged and defeated q spirit less
brave and manly. lie was always
true to his ideals. aud bis ideals were
high. A successful man, his success
was won ny fair, honest and noble
means. He had the old chiyalric
spirit, which would rather jie than be
consciously wrong. Replying, once
TO limited suspicion that he might
have had something to do, while in
Congress, with the fraudulent Bullock
bonds bonds, he said: my past life
10 q sufficient guarantee against any
such imputation or suspicion of my
connivance with them, else life is net
worth the living
Alexander II. Stephens was born in
log cabin near Kettle Creek, TaIias
ferro county, Georgia, on the 1lth
day Of February, 1912. His father,
Andrew Il. Stephens, was a good. and
In small way, successful farmer I.
The mother of Mr.. Stephens. Marga-
ret Grier, was the sister OF the com
piler Of tue famous 'Grier's Almanac
Who made fame and fortune by exact
~ predicting severe spring frost 10
1886. Dir. Slepens' mother died
when he was yet on infant, ard his
father, when the boy was in his 13 b
year. THUS orphaned, Alexander
sought o home with his uncle, Aaron
w. Gtier. The boys Inheritance
from his fathers estate was only four
hundred and forty-four dollars; but
his uncle clothed him, sent bin to
school, and kindly gave him tho in.
teFest OF his patrimony at eight per
cent. Other friends became interest.
ed in The boy. Dir. Charles G. Mills,
his Sunday school teacher. and Rev
Alexander Hamilton Webster, pastor
of the Washington, Wilkes County,
Presbyterian Church, took fancy to
him, and he was put at the high
school taught by the latter. These
friends also secured q loan from ths
Southern Home Missionary Society
TO complete his education at the
State University. then Franklin Col
lege. Il was in gratitude that hs took
bis middle name, Hamilton, from this
clergyman and not from the states.
man. lle intended 10 study for the
ministry bu, changed bis mind from
repugntnce TO tho theological idea
0fs viudictige God, and being trusted
with his own money, repaid bis debt.
Mr. Stephens believed In future pune
ishment. bat not in any sense save as
the inevitable effect Of sin itself.
! What money be needed to complete
| bis studies was borrowed from his
older brother. Aaron G.. Stephens.
He graduated With honor in 1882,
and taught school 10 Madison
Georgia, until he paid this and all
other debts. His health was feeble
from infancy. Having prepared for
/ college ia nine months ct school, his
preparation for the bar was rapid. He
began 10 study law the twenty, sixth
OF May. 1884, and was admitted TO
Practice he twenty. second OF July,
ia the same year, with no preceptor.
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