" what hope would I have that they would not bring un- told hardships upon the people in their efforts to give us one of their own modeling ? " ^^ ^t the same time he was an ardent advocate of slavery, believing — with Lee — that slavery presented the most satisfactory solution of the difficult relation between whites and blacks and that it was the duty of the superior race to protect and care for the inferior. On behalf of his State he resented the usurping attitude of the Richmond Government. Yet when the state governor began to act as the president had acted, Stephens was just as hot in opposition.
All these things he did in perfect good temper and kindliness and he could not understand why his oppo- nents would not take it so. He was only acting from his convictions. He supposed they were acting from theirs. Why should they be angry with him ? Yet they were, and too many of his compatriots sympathized with the caustic remark of General Taylor, " Mr. Stephens, with all the impartiality of an equity judge, marked many of the vir- tues of the Government north of the Potomac and all the vices of that on his own side of the river." ^'^
First, last, and always the compass of Stephens's po- litical life was his belief in human liberty, as expressed in the compact between sovereign States known as the Constitution. Admirably characteristic is the account of his youthful interview with President Jackson. Stephens expressed some doubt as to the action of the troops against the Indians, in view of state jurisdiction. *' Juris-
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