The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-03-01
Al H sTEPHENs S REFUSAL.
Why He Was Not President of the
Conf deracy--s' i Will Never
Strike First Blow at Union.

aeorsia, tells this story Of why Alex
nder a III. Stephens was not elected
RelsPIes sident q che Southern Confed-
~ tie subject was broached to Mr..
y 'stephe@$ on the way TO Montgom--
- VI ,5s Says C,E Hamilton. "Mr.
4 ss sS.5i trieaE I * the train with us at
SNy$.ws>i 3v,lle: and wa found Mr..
o i, It South Carolina, aboard.
4 e,.A:c ayesc and took the seat i'll
t NJ. S,aohens and me. Mr..
sstlnl5S was II the seat behind.
BJ5S: s Mr., Stephens said Chestnut,
! M s. he >flele@ation from my state have
VNeen comforting and have decided to
ALI * t. Georgia for a president
AgE Well, SIR Mr.. Stephens replied,
1--WE have Mr.. Toombs, Mr.. Cobb, Gov
f;,,ee.t1,,,i'<, !;iGs and Governor Johnson.
81 Githor will suit; I will give my vote
T., 81 to either -. ... ..-.-r, .
:" We are only looking to you and
sEl Mr.. Toombs, Mr.. Stephens Chestnut
Unanswered positively. mo other names
$$ were mentioned, and the majority of
q the delegation favor YOU
IL So No, that can never be, that can
f never be- Mr.. Stephens replied ex-
Ecitedly. And thought his face turn
ed little pale. ~. 49,.
SaS ?" What is it Alecq' Toombs asked
.HEleaning over the back Of our seat
Ek :" Come over here,' Stephens told
Pkhim. e..
n 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
Il repeated the proposition, very can
saying that a majority of the
yEETsSouth Carolina delegation favored
4.sSir. Stephens.
# - 'That settles it, Alec,' said
Ns'Toombs. FYou are the choice of the
n Georgia delegation; we have talked it
yr over, so you must let us present your
81 name to the convention.'
:" NO. repeated Mr.. Stephens.
! mo have not been in this move
l>ment. 1 was opposed to secession.
y. cannot take any office under the gov
81 ernment. 1t would not be judicious,
\ it would not be good policy to put me
I forward for any position
" 'Alec-' Mr.. Toombs began, but
Mr.. Stephens would not let him speak
$50 he laughed and changed the sub
b >ject.
+ "That was the last Of it on the
1; train, but we hadn't been an hour in
: Montgomery when Willy P. Harris
and Col. A. M. Campbell called. Har-
ris was the first spokesman, and he
Y went straight to the point.
" 'The Mississippi delegation pre-
fer you for president, Mr.. Stephens, ,
/ said he. 'And we are come to ask
if you will allow us to present your
= ,name7'
" fGentlemen, I cannot be a candi-
=, 4late for the presidency of the South
>ern Confederacy,' he replied. Il was
. opposed to secession. You must elm.
b mate my name as candidate for all
81 Offices under the government. It
] you'd be bad policy for you to pre-
sent my name.'
wCampbell bent forward, listening
to Stephens earnestly The instant
the last words fell from his tongue he
spoke. ....
@"'Y You are mistaken, STRIP he cried.
1T would be good policy. The very
best policy, sir. You opposed seces-
sion. You had good reasons. Weigh
ty reasons, sir. The whole country
North and South-the whole world,
knows your reasons. You are the on
ly 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
rebellion
"Mr. Stephens had by this time re-
. covered from his irritation and ap-
pearcd 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 ordinace of Sc
}cession was passed they bowed to the
4 will Of the majority and have all ex-
Epressed their determination to sus-
tain and defend their state.
|,h :" You understand, Of course, that
B speak only Of the party in my own
EzGtntc. T am told that the Union feel