Newspaper Page Text
the ATLANTA SUN
DAILY ANDrWCkKLY.
thk sfn publishing co.
Hon. A .H. STEPHENS
POLITICAL EDITOR.
JUB. PTBPHER* AND 1118 AStAILANTN
O.ICK MURK.
In another column we give-our
readers to-day two communications
recently published in the Macon
(Ga.) Telegraph and Messenger, in
which “Mr. Stephens” is brought
prominently before the public. In
the first he is fiercely assailed, while
in the latter he is boldly and ably
defended.
With the accusations and the
reply we might well leave the argu
ment, so far as his Democracy is con
cerned. But we are not disposed to
let one signing himself “Georgian”
pass, by closing his mouth upon
that issue. By what authority does
lie indolently assume to characterize
“Mr. Stephen’s” as “Sir Oracle A. U.
S. of The Atlanta Sun ?” When
did “Mr. Stephens” ever proclaim
that “Governor Smith did wrong in
not granting a pardon to Miss
Eberhurt,” “because A. II. S. thinks
so?” When did he ever speak or
write in any such “oracular” tone?
Wus it merely in saying in response
to enquiries growing out of inferences
from an editor'al in The Sun which
he did not write, that he individually
did not approve of the refusal of the
Governor to grant a pardon to Miss
Eberhart, but thought hers a case
eminently commending itself to Ex
ecutive clemency ? Is “Mr. Stephens"
to bo charged with setting himseh
up as “Sir Oracle ’ for barely giving
his individual opinion, to prevent an
erroneous construction which might
have been drawn from his silence,
under the circumstances, upon a
matte’* then exciting no small degree
of interest in the State? Is “Mr.
Stephens” to be silent., and thereby
subject himself to erroneous infer
ences us tc his opinions upon an\
subject in order to avoid the ridk o!
being arraignea before the public on
the charge of setting himself up in
the <li< tutorial character of “Sii
Oracle?” This seems to be the posi
tion of one who signs himself “Geor
gian,” and we submit to all intelli
gent. Georgians whether he 01 “Mr.
Stephens" has exhibited more of the
spirit of a would-be “Sir Oracle,’
either in this matter or that relating
to Gen. Grant
“Mr. Stephens” has his opinions
of Gen. Grant Some of these he ha;-
givn to the public. He does not
believe him to be either weak in in
tellect. or dishonest in money mat
ters. If lie bus thus spoken in ad
monitory strains to his brethren of
the Democratic Press, warning them
against niakiug personal attacks
upon Gen. Grant's capacity and
financial honesty, and attempts to
bring him in disrepute before the
Peoples ot the United States by ridi
culing his oratory or his “speech-
making.” etc., it has been from his
firm conviction that all such assaults
will bill react, rebound, and “recoil,”
as likc assaults did upon tne “gram
mar” and “rhetoric” of Gen. Jackson.
Moreover, what “Mr. Stephens"
has -aid or written upon this subject
or any other, lias not been from auv
spirit of dictation. It has been and
is, for the calm reflection and mature
judgment of all those who are look
ing in all present political contests
soleiy to the restoration and perpet
uation of good government under
the p*aceful instrumentalities of the
Constitution. This can only be sure
ly done, in his opinion, by the stead
fast maintenance of the foundation
principles of the government, and a
strict adherence to the truth in all
things, whether it relates to the per
son 01 acts of Gen. Grant or any
other public officer.
“Fiat Justitia mat coelnmlet
jus'ice be done whatever be the con
sequences. Justice is what we at the
Soutli now want. He who would
have justice, should himself be just
All that “ Mr. Stephens ” has asked
of lus Democratic brethren in rela-|
tion toGeu. Grant, is simply to ab
stain Irom unjust assaults upon him,
and e jiecially from attacks either
upon him personally, oi upon acts of
his ail ministration which cannot
successfully assailed.
When tlie writer who sigus himself
THE
WEEKLY
SUN.
VOL.IY.NO. II
ATLANTA. GA., TUESDAY, MAY 27. M73.
W H O L *
5 C If B E bOUO
GOVERNOR JAMES M. SMITH.
We present above an excellent likeness ot His Excellency, James Mit-ton Smith, Go-Terror of Georgia,
Governor Smith was born in Twigps com t>, Georgia, oi « gouo lioh, 1 n m n odnKte tiri iimstaLot t— 1 is ti ll ei being a elirg y man ot the Methodist Episcopal
Church. When about 14 years of age the lam h <f Govuuoi Sruiti jemovei toCn onr, Me Lire county, wh, jt \i ui g bmitb received inch an education as country
schools afforded in thes-e days. He was a close -indent, was «ccusn n.i J to studying t-t l ; gl t ly pi e knoi file-, aid s\as < ngi gtd in manual labor when not at school.
At tho village in whicu he liv#<1 was a debating school, of wl ieh 1 e was a rr.iir.Kr. and so niarktd wtrt 1 is powers ot debate that 6eveial gentlemen advised him
to study law, which he subscqnet.ily d:d in il < lew < fl«« f t f Let j i id T L< yi i, l ev of Gr ffir, aid at'er Ins i.i mission to the bar he soon became a successful lawyer.
Some years before the wai Mr. Mnith removed to Upson county, vLers fie scop became rtgaidfd as cue ol ifie ab'est lawyers in the fourth circuit.
Being nominated for Congresss, although the district was largi’y V hip, y ct the D> mu latic ticl et 1; eked but a few voles of berg elected—the successful candi
date being Judge Trippe.
Mr. Smith was opposed to secession, yet when his State withdrew fre m the Union, though Le was wiibout military trainin'-, he entered the army, and was chosen
Major of the gallant 13th Georgia. He was wounded in the battles mound It'd mend. I ut returned to the army usmn as he recovered. On the death of the Coio-
nel anil Lieutenant Colonel, Major Smitd was appointed Colonel of his repidx-nt, which lie continued lo command until ccmpelled to retire by wounds from which he
has never entirely recovered. Colonel Smith’s regi.oeut belonged to Jackscn’s corps aLd to Gordon’s brigade. His military record was one of which he might well
be proud.
On his retirement from the army he was sent to the Confederate Congress—in 18 13—succeeding bis old-time oppenent, Judge Trippe, who was not a candidate for
re-election.
After the war Col. Smith formed a law partnership with Col. P. W. Alexander, and opened e law etfice in Columbus, where a lucrative practice was soon built yp.
Iu 1871, much against his will, Col. Smith was electeo to the State Legislature, of which body j>e was elected Speaker, and subsequently GoV.rnor, to £11 the va
cancy caused by the iligbt of Bullocx.
Iu 1872, he was elected Governor for the regular term of four years, o^-er Hon. Dawson A. Walker, by one of the larges’ majorities ever given in a State election.
Governor Smith is a little past 43 v e.iT&. He presents a tine personal appeanuce. His manners are modest, end his integrity nnqui stioned. The likeness pre
sented above is lite-like, and pr: sents Governor Smith as near as it is possible to be done on paper.
some ground for his naked, bald,
reckless assertion that A. II. S. “ has
settled it; bayonet rule is right and
the people have no voice in the selec
tion of tnose who are to bear rule ever
them. Long live A. II. S.!” This as
sertion as made is something far be
yond a bare “Sire Oracle” exhibition.
We have no disposition to give it its
proper characterization.
“ Mr. Stephens” stands upon the
truth of his utterances. This he
has done in the past and will con
tinue to do in the future, whether he
liv. long or die soon. A. H. S.
dent. Iu this, as in all matters, we HOW SHOUUU BK PA1D *
are for dealing justly by General
Grant. We are not for condemning
A curious question of the
r'ghts and powers of railroads has
arisen iu Maryland. A company hav
ing abandoned a part of their line,
a miner, situated on the abandoned
part,has brought suit for a mandamus
GHAVI'H FRUCL.fin.VnOX
LOUISIANA AFFAIRS.
Since sending to the press our ar
ticle eutitled “Mr. Stephens and his
rssailants once more,” we have seen
for the first time the proclamation
of General Grant iu relation to the
state of things in Louisiana, which
re j a .; was publish'.d in The Sun on Fri
day last. We have also seen this
proclamation headed iu one of onr
Democratic exchanges with these
epithets : “ A shame and disgrace to
he ' the country — Grant sustains the
usurpers with the army and navy."
Jv'ow as germane to wnat we said
Judge Slrozier, at a recent session
of Bainbridge Superior Court, iu his
him or any man without a hearing | charge to the Grand Jury, used the
He has not proclaimed his intention j following: “ The taxes of the State
to sustain usurpers of auy class, but ate raised for revenue, and the idea
to sustain the judicial decision of the j of taxing the people for jury pur- to compel the company to relay the
courts, and with these to sustain | poses, etc., '8 an innovation upon track. This is under a statute of
those authorities in the State govern-' former usage and is an expense to ^ 1SG4, which gives any person ag-
meut who have been duly declared the county by taxation which I do j grieved by a transportation company
not think legitimate, and as a substi- ( incorporated under the law of
tute and upon the principle of right i Maryland a right to remedy in
and justice the parties who use j equity. The railroad company denied
juries should be compelled to pay j jurisdiction, but this was overruled,
them and not be charged to the pub-1 It now remains to be seen what will
lie, who have no interest in the civil be the judgment of the court on the
matter? of issue between the parties, j merits of the case.
Parties who use the county officers,
such as clerks ana sheriffs, and who
require extra services of those Offi
cers other than their regular duties,
to he clothed with rightful anthority
therein hi the Stale Courts—Inferior
as well as Supreme. This is his state
ment of the case. We have not seen
the decisions to which he refers.
Neither have we any disposition or
inclination to prejudge the case, and
just as little to pronounce without
evidence who are the usurpers in Lou
isiana. Most assunledly Gen. Grant
cannot be justly charged with usur
pation iu executing tne mandates of
the courts, either Federal or State,
under the acts of Congress of 1S05.
We, therefore, repeat what we said
and for which no compensation is
allowed, should be taxed with the
cos
the
Jrif'’ The colored people in their
recent Cooper institute meeting had
warm words for Charles Sumner, and
not one word for Horace Greeley,
who, as the Springfield Republican
fm* tfc* Umiiaik Rivi.
»«i>(Uiag A boat Al«x. H.SUphcw'
Although Mr. Stephens was Vic© Pres
ident of the Confederate States, and, for
his reason, as well as because he has
lately been called an extreme “Bourbon,”
being ooDsidefed, indeed, the very bead
tnd front of the “Bonrbon party;” and
lonseqaently looked npou with suspicion
and dislike by the body of the Northern
people, yet be will probably exert more
influence in Congress than auy man whom
we have selected, or could select to rep
resent ns in that body.
One oi the ^hief reasons for this is to
~e found in the fact that Mr. Stephens
'akes pairs to impress himself, person-
■lly, upon every one with whom neoo joe*
in contact. He does not consider it be
neath him to converse, earnestly, with al-
moc-t every character that he encounters.
People in humble ftation naturally feel
flattered at such notice from one who has
made such a name aa that of Mr. Ste-
phers. Indeed, there are very few peo
ple in this whole country who would not
’eel comphmeuted by attention from Mr.
Stephens, and in this lies a great secret
of his power, of which his course show?
hat he is aware,
1 w»s one ol a party of three or font
hat happened to gather at onr states
man’s house in Richmond oue evening
during the late war, none of us having
ever been knoyn to “ set a river on fire;”
out, nevertheless, he conversed with nc
atarly the whole night, interestingly,
impressively. So far from appearing an
aoyed at our long visit, he seemed to en
joy talking to us as much as we did list-
-mng to him; and we almost felt as if,
somehow, we were made participants in
the great matters and measures, concern
ing which he discoursed so eloquently.
It is thus with him in his intercourse
with his law students. It is the case
in his conversations with newspaper re-
E orters. He beats every one with po-
tenees. He does not, wantonly, wound
any person’s self-love. What a differ
ence, in this respect, between him and
that erratic, thoagh brilliant genius
General Toombs. Mr. Stephens can be
bitter enough, God knows; and he used
frequently to be so, but never without
what he considered sufficient cause;
while General Toombs is often repeilant
and insolent, for no othei reason on
earth but that he happens to be “*i tne
vein.”
Such a man as Mr. Stephens, then,
while he will be, perhaps, somewhat
dreaded as a debater in the halls ot Con
gress, yet will, by foice of his concilia
tory manners, added to his ability, have
great weight in the counsels of the na
tion. If Gov. Hern'll el V. Johnson
were in Congress at ti.is tim■■, probably
disgusted at the degeueraey, ihe corrup
tion, the rottenness, that pervade the at
mosphere of Washington, he wealds
himself up, like an oyster in his s'.ell,
wrap himself in a thick nide. lit- i b car
maintaining nn imi enetiable res'rve,'
like the former, or grovvLng anc rending’
like the latter—in either ca-eaeeompljsn-
iog but little good. Mr. StepLens will
mingle freely with the Congressional
mob, and, though lie will prove an un
compromising foo :c corruption, he will
notmanifist such overwhelming con
tempt for the corrupted as will
deprive him of ah influence o^er
them, out will manage so as to have
much to do with moulding tlitir opinions.
In speaking ot Governor Johnson, ae
contrasted witn Mr. Stephens, I am re
minded of what I once heard an “Irish
exile” say ot the two men. It was a cer-
ain “Captain Coglaud," who reported
himself as having been compelled to
leave bis native country, in company
with Mitchell and Meagher. As be told
me that Le had come through Washing
ton, and had been introduced to onr dis
tinguished members of Congress, I asked
him what he thought of Governor John-
C. MSI
“1 don’t know what to think - of him,”
was the reply. “He did not afford me
any means of judging. He presented no
salient points.”
Now, cannot every one, who knows H
V. Johnson’s peculiarities, readily im
agine what must have been bis manner
toward one whom he regarded as an ob
scure adventurer ? *
“Well, what of Mr. Stephens ?” was
my next inquiry. “Ah !” exclaimed the
Hibernian, brightening up, “he’s a splen
did man ! He made axi impression on
me that can never be effaced.” Does not
everyone, who is acquainted with Mr.
Stephens, believe that he treated this
captain as he would any other captain,
even if it- were “Captain Coet’gan” him
self, of “me daughter” notoriety—with
distinguisaed politeness and considera
tion ? Who doubts that Sir. Stephens
pa’d the foreigner the compliment of con
sidering him worth talking to, and worth
impressing ?
The fact is, our distinguished repre
sentative Las always been ambitions of
living in history, of leaving a world-wide
reputation, and this is one reason why he
is courteous to all with whom he meets.
Of course, though, he has o'her motives.
He is by nature polite, kind, and to my
certain knowledge, benevolent. Befides,
although he may frequently be annoyed
and bored by dull, common-place people,
yet, in the course of bis life, he has ac
quired a vast iund of information by
thoughtful conversation with all sorts of
persons.
Still another reason may bi mentioned
why he may regain a good part of his
old pr< stige and influence. It is known
to the Northern people that, iu spite of
hio late position, he opposed the policy
of secession, and that daring the strug
gle which followed the withdrawal of the
South, he made several attempts at ne
gotiation with the North, when to do so
exposed him to unpopularity, if not
odium. Other and better reasons can be
assigned, but this article is already long
enough. In view of those already ad
duced, who would be astonished it see
ing Alexander H. Stephens once more
remarks, “ did most toward creatine: i occupying the position of a leader in
... __ , • , • , , ; Congress of the United States of Ar
t of such extra services, and not . ... . , , . , , : Congress
, , , , the public sentiment which made ,
i public taxed who have no ,n- ,, ^ w , ., ica r
last December iu Atlanta: “if Gen- ter J in thema ttsr. This is justice." ^ recognition of their rights at A1
cnl .l.soc nnthinor worse : DanV DOSSlDli*.' -
the
Amer-
PoXNTW.
execute the mandates oi tho courts,
£tate or Federal, we shall have no 1
quarrel with him. ’ a. h. 6. i
Personal.—P. E. Corcoran, Esq.,
“Georgian* shall produce an utter-fin the article
ance ev,*r made by “Mr. Stephens ” j prop rintlTi
endotMug or suuctioninf' any usurpa- we dt
tion of Geu, Grant, Kellogg, Dunll
or auxtody else in the Federal or
Stab iiovernme.it, then he may have
porarv. or
who :! h e
thus den on n
relcrred to, we deem it
connection t • say. that
•j with our said ec tem-
iiv other cotemporaries
icteriae thi- j r,m *
.- tnis act of the Pn-si-
FflOM BOSTON.
Boston. May *24 —TLe B d of Trin!
of i i“ MiS'ii'hnsrtU Medi »l Society,
sphv r c •>> v trita ee ’mu members oi
i; »< o.rty ' urtcticii g »< iruei patiiy
u ; e rrouLd t’m sneh j-r-ietice v.i.-
In'-ti tLt-; rignv c.i rs hip, ren
Ir-.-i d h d ••*' >a to-day, exp i n g fev-
, ,u. i. !ui-;aot rttup iu aai; 6 i-
cierv.
There are at present 130,000
miles of railway on the globe, whereof
about 68,000, or more than one-half
are in the United States. In coun
tries where government management
23F”A great calamity has laden on j of Lome, Ga., is on a visit to Colum-
a town in Peru called Piscobamba bus, the capital city of Ohio, to at-
: caused by a landslide from a neigh- tend to hi3 brother, Hon. T. A. Cor- . . ,
boring mountain. Forty-four houses j coran, a member of the House of exists l ^ ere are altogether a -ou
' were dishoved and thir:v-sixp *rsons Representatives of that State, who °°° mi e3 0 rai] " a N he
1,1. Th» mt... vhieh I..., w. very seriously ill for some goTcmment Us the gre«£t ptfoor-
cij .li « j tionate ownership. In AustrWi there
are 7,000 miles cf railway, amd Rn*-
i r, , ,. . ' V , ... . i sia possesses 8,000 miles open fo r
I • Pnbb - mee’ivgs have been held at t J , - vj..-, . 1 .
were expeted tube. f| V 3.v rly Hati to secure traffic ’ and °» 000 more course of
added to other misfortunes. uo> .ptions to the stock of a rsilrond. construction.
have pens’,' The great mu-s-which j has been
destroyed the town also damned up rime,
the river, and the distructive effects j
of inundation
