Crawfordville [Ga.], Sept. 10th, 1860.
Dear Smith, I am now at home—returned or got here from Appling Court Friday last, but have been too unwell to do any business … or answer letters since. … I went through my business at our court, made a political speech and then went to Augusta where I again spoke Saturday night. I was completely exhausted there—I did not get through with what I intended and wished to say. You have seen a very good report of what I did say in the Constitutionalist. I had not prepared anything further than in thought. I had committed nothing to paper. I however revised the report of it. I do not intend to attempt to speak again unless I recover more strength. I am exceedingly weak and debilitated. . . .
We have no news here. The Douglas cause is gaining daily in Georgia. But then it is fighting without hope. If the indications from the elections in Maine today should be favourable to him it will give a new impetus to his cause in the whole country. But my apprehension is that the Black Republican majority will be increased there. The division in the Democratic ranks will it seems to me tend to that result. I look upon it as the most natural result. Indeed I look for nothing but disasters ahead of us. May Heaven avert them. This is all I can say.
From Annual Report of the American Historical Association for the Year 1911.
Alexander Hamilton Stephens was an American politician who served as the vice president of the Confederate States from 1861 to 1865. After serving in both houses of the Georgia General Assembly, he won election to Congress, taking his seat in 1843. After the Civil War, he returned to Congress in 1873, serving to 1882 when he was elected as the 50th Governor of Georgia, serving there from late 1882 until his death in 1883.
J. Henley Smith was a Georgia journalist.