The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1907-05-09
'!!'l|l,|'fyADVOOATn.
why dcr Stephens Was Not
EieNA Of tho Southern
- N.Y. COnfctleraCy,

! SoEsSAANH Twiggs Hamilton Of
Georgia tells this story of why Alex
+ ander, HSAephens was not elected
President 6f the Southern Confeder
| Rcy:
The subject was preached to Mr.
etepnens Snthe way to Montgomery"
says Cols Hamilton. "Mr. Toon,bs took
the train yfith us at Crawfordsyllle
and we found Mr.. Chestnut Of South
Carolina aboard. He came over and
took seat In front Of Mr.. Stephens
ana me. Mr.. Toombs was in the seat
behind. ASaSq / -.
Mr.: Staphens. said Chestnut, the
delegattonsSrom my State have been
| concerning and have decided to look to
| Georgia fora President
| we l. Sir Mr.. Stephens replied,
we have Mi. Toombs. Mr.. Cobb, Gov.
jenkins and Gov. johnson. Either
WY suit will give my vote to
1--WE are only looking to you and
Mr.. ToombS, Mr.. Stephens Chestnut
answered positively. No other names
| were mentioned, and the majority of
the delegation favor YOU
| mo, that can never be, that can
never be- Mr.. Stephens replied excit.
eddy. And ! thought his face turned a
little PALE
what is is, Alec Toombs asked
leaning over the back of our seat
| Come over here Stephens told
| him. =.
! Il started to get up to give Toombs
my seat, but>,Mr Stephens put a hand
on my knee. and Mr., Toombs took the
| place besidaIMr. Chestnut, who repeat
ed the proposition, very candidly say
ing that q majority of the South Caro-
| lima delegation favored Mr.. Stephens.
That settles it, Alec said Toombs.
You are the choice of the Georgia del.
egat1on; we have talked it over, so
you must lot us present your name to
the convention
No. replied MIR. Stephens. No, I
| have not. been in this movement.
was opposed to secession I cannot
take any Office under the Government.
1t would not be judicious, it would not
| be good policy to put me forward for
any position
'Alec-7rT'' Mr.. Toombs began, but
Mr.. Stephens would not let him speak,
so he laughed and changed the sub
| ject 50.
That was the last of it on the train,
but we hadn't been an hour in Mont
gomery when Willy P. Harris and Col.
| A. M. Camphell called. Harris was the
first spokesman and he went straight
to the polnES
The mississippi delegation prefer
you for President, Mr.. Stephens said
| he. And We are come to ask you if
you will allow us to present your
| name -
Gentlemen, I cannot be a candi
date for the Presidency of the South
| ern Confederaey,' he replied. L was
opposed to secession. You must elm
mate my name as candidate for all
| offices under the Government 1t
would be bad policy for you to pre-
sent my napna'
| "Campbelkhan forward, listening to-
Stephens earnestly. The instant the
last words, fell from his tongue he
| spoke.
| "'You are mistaken, sirl' he cried
1t would be good policy the very best
policy. sir. You opposed secession.
You had good reasons, weighty rea-
sons, sir. The whole country-North
and South-the whole world, knows
your reasons. You are the only man
to whom the Unionists will give their
cordial support. You are the only man
who can take away from this move
ment the character of a rebellion
MIR. Stephens had by this time re-
cove ed from hfs,irritation and appear
ed more wiling to argue the point.
! think you do the Unionists in
justice, Col. Campbell he replied
While they earnestly opposed the
movement, when the ordinance of Sc
cession was passed they bowed to the
will Of the majority and have all ex-
pressed their determination to sustain
and defend their otate.
| You understand of course that
speak only of, the party In my own
State. | am told that the Union feel.
ing was not so strong in Mississippi
Conditions are doubtless different with
! you -. - IT, - Z FL"
mo, about the same, about the
same Col Campbell rejoined. The
Union feeling is!jHst as strong, though
their votes are NOT so numerous as
they were when they elected Henry s.
Foote and defeated Jeff Davis for Gov
| ernor
They acted in Mississippi just
about as they did in Georgia. They
declared their willingness to sustain
and defend; but for success in this
| movement We must have more than
their willingness. we must have their
enthusiasm
I'VE need. and must have, the en-.
thusiastic support of the Unionists OF
the Southern States. 1t is our best
policy, Mr.. Stephens, and you are the
best man Tor furthering that policy
sir
After arguing for about two hours
they got him to the point Of saying he
would consider, then very wisely with
drew.
'The next day Judge Chiffon and
Colin Mc2ea Of the Alabama 0e,ega
tion called for the same purpose. Their
shadows had hardly, left Stephens's
door When ,Keitt Of South Carolina and