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he said: "This Government of our fathers comes nearer the objects of all good government than any other on earth. The influence of the Government on us is like the atmosphere: its benefits are so silent and unseen that they are seldom thought of or appreciated." To Linton, Aug. 31, 1862: "This generation of men seems to have looked upon the Constitution as a matter of course, without knowing anything of its original cost, its constant hazards, and the only securities for its perpetuation."

He was the one public man of his day who remained throughout the war neither Northern nor Southern but American. He arraigned both Governments for usurpations, but he no more uttered a bitter word against the Northern than against the Southern people. He never seemed able to separate these peoples in his affection, his care, and his desire that the Constitution be preserved as their common heritage. He never ceased to believe that if the true issue of the war-not slavery, not the independence of the Confederacy, but the supremacy of the Constitution were brought home to them, they would see that the cause of the Southern States was the cause of all, they would render righteous judgment and peace would follow.

During the war, his work for the hospitals, the sick and the wounded, and the prisoners of both armies, was unremitting. "Whenever I see a head at an iron grate, my heart is interested," he wrote from Richmond in 1864. We are now to see himself behind an iron grate, a prisoner of so gentle and sweet a spirit that he makes his dungeon walls a home of good influences for our thoughts.

MYRTA LOCKETT AVARY.

PART II

PRISON JOURNAL OF

ALEXANDER H. STEPHENS

Prison Journal of Alexander H.

F

Stephens

CHAPTER I

ORT WARREN, Near Boston, Mass., May 27, 1865.
-This book was purchased this day of A. J. Hall,

Sutler at the Post, by Alexander H. Stephens, a prisoner at the Fort, with a view of preserving in it some regular record of the incidents of his imprisonment and prison life. It may be of interest to himself hereafter, should he be permitted to refer to it; and if his own life should not be spared, it may be of interest to some of his relatives and friends. He knows it will be of interest to his dear and only brother, the Hon. Linton Stephens, of Sparta, Ga., should this brother ever be permitted to see it. He feels sure that all his relatives would be exceedingly glad to peruse it, especially in the event that they never see him again. For these reasons the book has been purchased. In it, he will first transcribe his notes made in pencil from the time of leaving home; that done, he intends to continue it as a daily journal of such things as he may feel disposed to record.

Liberty Hall, Georgia, Thursday, May 11, 1865.— This was most beautiful and charming morning. After refreshing sleep, I arose early. Robert Hull, a youth, son of Henry Hull, of Athens, Ga., had spent

the night at my house. I wrote some letters for the mail, my custom being to attend to such business soon as breakfast was over; and Robert and I were amusing ourselves at casino, when Tim [a negro servant] came running into the parlour saying: "Master! more Yankees have come! a whole heap are in town, galloping all about with guns." Suspecting what it meant, I rose, told Robert I expected they had come for me, and entered my bedroom to make arrangements for leaving, should my apprehensions prove true. Soon, I saw an officer with soldiers under arms approaching the house. The doors were all open. I met him in the library. He asked if my name was Stephens. I replied that it was. "Alexander H. Stephens?" said he. I told him that was my name. He said he had orders to arrest me. I asked his name and to see his orders. He said he was Captain Saint of the 4th Iowa Cavalry, or mounted infantry, attached to General Nelson's command; he was then under General Upton: he showed me the order by General Upton, at Atlanta, directing my arrest and that of Robert Toombs; no charge was specified; he was instructed to go to Crawfordville, arrest me, proceed to Washington and arrest Mr. Toombs, and then carry both to General Upton's headquarters.

I told him I had been looking for something of this kind; at least, for some weeks had thought it not improbable; and hence had not left home; General Upton need not have sent any force for me; had he simply notified me that he wished me at his headquarters, I should have gone. I asked how I was to travel. He said: "On the cars." I then learned that his party had come down on the train arriving just before Tim's announcement. I asked if I would be permitted to carry any clothing.

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