STEPHENS, HAMILTON, LL.D., b. Ga.; 1812; graduated at Franklin. college, Athens, Ga., in 1882, at the head of his class. lie studied law, and was admitted to practice at the bar in 1832, in Crawfordsville, in his native comity. In 1836 he was elected a member of the lower house of the Georgia legislature, in which he served five years. In 1842 he was elected to the state senate; and following year to congress, as a Whig, retaining his seat until 1859, when he resigned. After the Kansas struggle in congress he became a democrat, and supported the Lc:common constitution in 1858. On the outbreak of secession in the s., Mr. Stephens oppased it, defending the union in a number of public speeches. He, however, changed his attitude when it was evident that opposition was unavailing; was elected to the vice-presidency of the new confederacy, and delivered addresses at Atlanta and Savannah, Ga., in which he vio lently attacked the north, and sustained the new government in the south. He was one of
those among the confederate leaders who boldly asserted the right of slavery per se; ant• who conceded that the southern design was to found a government upon the SpeCiti3 declaration of that principle. Mr. Stephens was a consistent follower of the doctrines c/ Mr. Calhoun; and his early opposition to secession was doubtless based upon his disbe lief in its possibility of success, and his judgment against the policy of the movement. He continued to hold his office during the rebellion. In May, 1865, after the surrender of gen. Lee, lie was arrested and imprisoned in fort Warren, Boston harbor, but was speedily released. Since the war Mr. Stephens has represented his native state in con gress, where, though in infirm health, lie still retains his seat, being constantly re.eleeted. He has. published A Constitutional View of the Late War Between. the States, its Causes, Condact, and Results.