Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-03-01
A. H. sTEPHENs's REFUSAL.
Why He Was Not President OF the
Confederacy.

Why He Was Not President Of the
confederacy.
Col David Twiggs Hamilton, OF
Georgia, tells the story Of why Alex
ander H. stephens was not elected
president of the Southern Confeder-
acy:
"The subject was broached to Mr..
Stephens on the way to Montgomery,
says Col. Hamilton. Mr.. Toombs
took the train with us at Crawford
Vile, ad we fond Mr.. Chestnut, of
South Carolina, aboard. He came
over and took the seat in front Of Mr..
Stephens and me. Mr.. Toombs was
in the seat behind.
"'Mr. Stephens said Chestnut, the
delegation from my state have been
comforting and have decided to look
to Georgia for a president
"'Well sir, Mr.. Stephens replied
we have Mr.. Toombs, Mr.. Cobb, Gov
ernor Jenkins and Governor johnson.
Either will suit; 1 will give my vote
to either
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
"No that can never be, that can
never be- Mr.. Stephens replied ex-
citedly. And 1 thought his face turn
ed little pale.
What is 1t Alec?' Toombs asked
leaning over the back Of our seat.
"'Come over here Stephens told
him.
II started to get up to give Toombs
my seat, but Mr.. Stephens put hand
on my knee, and Mr.. Toombs took
the place beside Mr.. Chestnut, who
repeated the proposition, very candid
ly saying that majority of the South
Carolina delegation favored Mr..
Stephens.
"'That settles 1t Alec said Toombs.
You are the choice Of the Georgia
delegation; we have talked it over,
so you must let us present your name
to the convention
"No', repeated Mr.. Stephens. No,
I have not been in this movement.
was opposed to secession. cannot
take any office under the government
1t would not be judicious, 1t would
not be good policy to put me forward
for any position
Alec Mr.. Toombs began, but
Mr.. Stephens would not let him speak
so he laughed and changed the sub
ject.
That was the last Of 1t on the train
but we hadn't been an hour in Mont
gomery when Wiley P. Harris and
Col. A. M. Campbell called. Harris
was the first spokesman, and he went
straight to the point.
1.-The Mississippi delegation prefer
YOU for president, Mr.. Stephens said
he. And we are come to ask If you
will allow us to present your name?
Gentlemen, I cannot be a can
didate for the presidency of the
Southern Confederacy,' he replied, ]
was opposed to secession. You must
eliminate my name as a candidate fol
all offices under the government. II
would be bad policy for you to pre-
sent my name
Campbell bent forward, listening
to Stephens earnestly. The instant
the last words fell from his tongue
he spoke.
"'You are mistaken sir! he cried
1T would be good policy. The very
best policy sir. You opposed seces-
sion. You had good reasons. Weighty
reasons, 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 movement the character OF
a rebellion
"Mr. Stephens had by this time re-
covered from his irritation and ap-
peared more willing to argue the
point.
"I 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 state.
"'You understand Of course, that
I speak only of the party in my own
state. 1 am told that the union feel
ing was not so strong in Mississippi.
Conditions are doubtless different
with you
No, about the same, about the
same Col. Campbell rejoined. The
Union feeling is just as strong though
their votes are not so numerous as
they were when they elected Henry
S. Foote, and defeated jeff Davis for
governor
"'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.