Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1901-10-10
~THE GREAT .COMNONER,
eY cAAalea EDeEwoRrA JoNEs.
Auguta, GeOrsls

say that he was cordially congratu-
lated by the famous VIM. H. Craw-
ford, then presiding judge of the Nor
thern Georgia Circuit, and by Hon.
Joseph Henry LumplSin, and was per-
sohally assured by them that his was
the, best legal examination they, had
ever had the privilege of hearing. AT
ter a year painstakingly and most
carefully spent, this delicate youth be-
gan to win fame IN his chosen cali
ing: and lucrative practice soon en-
abled him to own his fathers old
homestead, as well as TO purchase the
estate which is now periodically desig-
mated as Liberty Hail. In 1886 our
subject enjoyed his earliest political
distinction. At that ,time, he was elect
ed TO membership in the Georgia House
of Representatives; his triumphant ele-
walton to that Office, which he held IN
til 1870, being effected only after the
most bitter oppositipn =. This status q
affairs was sHperinduced by the simple
reason that, while believing In state So
ereignty, he sturdiIy an agonlzed NULL
fication: he utterly discountenacing
vigilance cemmitteesss and the = then
common sticking clubs which were
the parents Of the Ku-I1lux- Khan. His
first speech in the legislature was ef-
ficaeious; and as a fruit of its eloquent
delivery, we point to the granting Of
the earliest appropriation for the Yves
tern and Atlantic or State railroad,
the foremost impetus as impaired to
the construction of which being dis
tlnctiy referable 10 his great genius
To hts efthaeiAstio advocacy 10 was
that the Georgia Female; College at
Macon, was, furthermore. Indebted for
r its cefporate charter This Institution,
as is known. has the honor of being
the oldest regularly established col
eye in the world for the graduation OF
young ladies in the classics and scien-
ees. and So the noteworthy service as
here performed BY Mr., stephens win be
appreciated
III 1872 our INDUSTRIOUS subject had the
honor to be advanced to the post of
Georgia state Senator; and a few
months later. or In 1888, occurred his
nomination and election as a whiE rep
resentatlYe for congress, UNDER the
general ticket system, there being, as
mo congressional district. organiza-
ton in the Cotnmopwe alth.,. Upon his
admission to that body as We are told,
his first speech had reference to. au-
thorizing the Federal Legislature to,
pass, an act compelling the several
states to comply with the terms Of ats
statutory. mandate. As Georgia had
for ons,o not obeyed the Congressional
requirement. for the division Of her
territory into the specified districts
(see Tvs. Act of June rs, 1SA2), Mr.
Stephens appeared to question. his right
to sit in that assemhlaBe. His speech
was completely successfuls he winning
as well the point atswhich he aimed as
the seat whereto he aspired.I And as an
= Of flTr, No
er on the part OF the general gov
eminent to legislate in state domestic
affairs. under the plea ofnregulating
Its own organization, this able effort
NAV properly be regarded. While OPP
posing the John Tyler Texas annexa-
tion treaty in 1874. in association With
seven other southern wings, he Sc
cured the passage, In the following
year. of the Milton Brown resolution
which provided for a similar end. Dur
ing the conflict with Mexico, our sub
1ect bitterly antagonized the war
policy, as advocated by President Polk.
CWitness, in this connection, his IA
nous Mexican appropriation bill
speech of February ~, 1S4I, which
fearless as we'll In it's attacks upon, the
administration and the dominant party,
as in its warnings to the people Of the
country. is regarded as one of the
most eloquent he ever deliyeredl on
the triumphant outcome OF hostilities.
however, he promptly accented all Of
the incidental results, as God-send,
from territorial standpoint, to his be-
loved SOUTH .s,--e ~. sf,rfii -a4ia
In 1s4s, or midway in his earlier con-
gressional incumbency. MIR, stephens
hadqa personal. encounter with Judge
Francis III. Cone, of Greensboro,
Georgia, which illustrated the physi-
cal courage wherefor he had been
noted from his youth, the courage that
comes, not from principle OF duty, but
from utter Indifference to conse-
quences The difacuity originated, as
we are told, in quarrel in regard to
the Clayton compromise of the same
year. Cone stabbed the distinguished
object Of his political venom most dan
gerously with knife, and cried: Re
tract, or I will cut your throatl" The
g