was a member of the celebrated convention at
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, whose recommendations to Congress resulted in
the tariff act of 1828, which was so obnoxious to Calhoun and the Cotton
States. In 1834 Mr. Lawrence was elected to Congress, where he did
valuable service on the Committee of Ways and Means. He declined
re-election, but afterward was persuaded to become a candidate and was
again elected. By the advice of Daniel Webster he was sent to England on
the boundary question.

President Taylor offered him a seat in his Cabinet, but he
declined--later he was sent to England, where he became a distinguished
diplomat, and was recalled only at his own request. At one time he
lacked but six votes of being nominated for Vice-President.

On the 18th of August, 1855, Abbott Lawrence died. Nearly every business
place in Boston was closed--in fact, Boston was in mourning; the
military companies were out on solemn parade, flags were placed at
half-mast, and minute-guns were fired. Thus passed away one of the
merchant princes of New England.

ALEXANDER H. STEPHENS.

This great statesman was born in Georgia on February 11, 1812, and was
left an orphan at an early age. He studied law and was admitted to the
bar in 1834, having the advantage of a college education. He entered
upon the practice of law at Crawfordsville in his native State, and his
natural ability and splendid education soon won for him a most lucrative
practice.

Mr. Stephens early became a convert to the Calhoun school of politics,
and he remained firmly fixed until death in the belief that slavery was
the proper sphere in which all colored people should move. He believed
it was better for the races both white and black.

Though physically weak he was wonderfully developed in personal courage.
In 1836 Mr. Stephens was elected to the State legislature, to which he
succeeded five successive terms. In 1842 he was elected to the State
senate, there to remain only one year when he was sent as a Whig to the
national congress, there to remain until 1859 when, July 2nd, in a
speech at Augusta he announced his intention of retiring to private
life. When the old Whig party was superceded by the present Republican
party Mr. Stephens joined the Democrats. During the presidential canvass
of 1860 Mr. Stephens supported the northern wing under Douglass, and in
a speech at the capitol of his State bitterly denounced secession. As
the speech so well illustrates