Page:Confederate Portraits.djvu/27

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CONTENTS
xvii
citement — his family relations — not an unscrupulous adventurer — nor a mere advocate — genuinely loyal to the Confederacy — but not a great man.


VI.  Alexander H. Stephens
151

Contradictions in Stephens's character — his delicate health — his energy of soul — recalls Voltaire — but Stephens had spiritual as well as physical ills — his melancholy — conquers this by effort — by religion — by action — by social interests — his humor — his popularity — his affections — for home — for persons — for animals — his philanthropy — his tolerance and gentleness — essentially an intellectualist — follows his conviction — to the death, if necessary — his intellectualism in business habits — in religion — in law — in politics — no partisan, but follows truth as he sees it — believes in eighteenth century abstractions — his book — Stephens politically ineffectual, but historically significant.


VII.  Robert Toombs
183

His impressive physique — a fighter — in law — in politics — delight in opposition — follows own course in all policies — prominent on Southern side before war — speakership contest — Tremont Temple speech — Sumner assault — other qualities besides fighting — humor — love of simple country life — hospitality — domestic affection — professional -honesty — balancing qualities and conservatism in politics — opposes even secession till the end — under Confederacy fails politically — fails militarily — cause of failure — lack of discipline — fighting qualities come out again after war — does much of value for Georgia — dies an unrepentant rebel — Milton's Satan.


VIII.  Raphael Semmes
217
Romance of Official Records — names — Raphael Semmes — not a pirate — in spite of his own views of privateering — general character of Alabama's career — Semmes not romantic adventurer — elderly, respectable professional man — his intelligence — his humanity to prisoners — relations with