The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-07-12

line tTlT0 lNlOiefhnCc Mln winch MT. Stevens
upholds a principle, reckless OF all incidental
consequences to public measures or men, is
undoubtedly a mere phase of that stern Tin
tegrity" elsewhere welt upon, for 1t is certain
that II has no analogue in his merely personal
relations. A signal example is familiar among
Washington gossips. When Beal the chief con-
spirator for tne burning of the Northern cities.
was about TO pc executed, extraordinary efforts
were maze to induce some clemency. But 1t
was the prevalent opinion, that unless swift
example was made, only more offenders would
have to perish, 10 say nothing OF the ques
ton OF Justice. AT almost the last hour
procured ii Thaddeus Stevers could be
got 10 ask II. No person in the United States
would have been popularly believed to be more
inaccessible to such an appeal Tor sucn culprit.
The attempt was devolved upon an aged friend
OF Mr.. Stevens, widely differing from him in
politics. Mr.. Stevens without hesitation de-
claTed his readiness to sign any paper, however
strongly drawn, by a friend whom he deslg-
mated, well known tor the tervor of his feelings
and the eloquence of his appeals. The letter
was drawn with extraordinary warmth. MIR.
stevens signed 1t with great feeling and 1t was
carried to Mr.. Lincoln. Yet, strange to say, the
moving tenderness of the sternest of men left
mistaken the resolve of the most amiable of
men. Beall was executed forthwith.
3. Principle:-Call 1t the principle of expe-
diency, the principle of consistency, or moral
principle-the quality we are getting at is an
integrity OF action IN furtherance of an end. 1t
Is ridiculous to speak OF good-hearted, impul-
SlNe, ITeBuldT, DuJ lnO0enslVe man, as man OF
integrity" He may be a man of truth man
OF generosity, a man of purity, but If he acts
according TO the preponderance OF impressions,
his Integrity" depends on that Of external cir
cumstances, and consequently is an ything good
but integrity. The term principle" )" rule" or
system may be substituted, and the PROPOSE
ton is the same. On the other hand,
.'Devil with devil damned -.
Firm concord holds"
There may be integrity or principle in the ac-
tlODs OF bad inst q hkplv in those of
good men. The atectation of society has FOR
generations rendered these simple distinctions
obscure, by dropping the prefix good" or an
equivalent qualification, to The word principle"
or integrity" and otner kindred words. In
truth, integrity is the mere uniformity or con-
tinuity OF character in action and is as destitute
OF ethlcal quality as memory or constructive
genius, and is as distinctly separate trait of
personal constitution. And as such, the same
tran usually goes under the name OF steadtast-
ness, tIueness, hdelity-quaslties emincntly re-
quislte in spies, detectives, and other practi-
TONERS OF professional treachery. The Incen-
tive of Paul in lighting the good tght,n and
that OF vile detective in faithfully comprising
the betray al OF conddine offender. differ with
all the shocking contrast which suggests the
comparison. But the mere quality OF idehty
was Identical III both
This quality attains an ascendancy in the OBJ.
iect OF our rude analysis never surpassed by any
man. 1t seems so natural to him to conform TO
prlnc,ple that we may hazard the strong eX-
preston that nothing which he says or does,
considerable enough to he consciously volun.
taTy, is without relation to principle. Or all
the words, and deeds, and looks, and motions,
10 public, OF this powerful man, not one is
lost. The casual emanatious from the mind
and will of other men are like the seed of
the thistle, that floats hither ani thither
en- the idle breeze, or lodges on adveDttious
objects, with here and there one that reaches
the ground, and takes root. But from him,
every outgo. be it never so small, is lodged, like
the tags OF the buTdock, on the body Of some
iC fn 11la ir in r,ra
season where 1t is intended to grow. II we con.
slider the extraordinary resources of bis energy,
and superadd this consideration of strange
economy of them, we may conceive the weight
OF an effort made in earnest by him.
But there is mightler result. The consist
ency OF man OF principle becomes a landmark
Tor others. The principle may be theirs, or
opposite to theirs. 1t may be good one or a
bad one But whatever ii is, ii q man is
known to be faithful to it, others, intrinscally
less stable, necessarily reckon their course by
his. He becomes an equator, whereof they cal
culate even the reflections OF their own. From
the nature OF things, animadversIon and oppO-
sition vastly augment this moral influence, be-
cause they are continual assertion of it. They
know where to find him.. e., in given CIR
cumstances-because they know his principle.
But the circumstances must be given,i. e., safely
assumed, otherwise they are swallowed up.
81 care nothing about who votes in Washing
ton City" said MIR. Stevens Colloquially, over on
the Democratic side OF the House, when the bill
granting suffrage to the negroes Of the District
of Columbia had been reported from the Com
mlLtee, and was earnestly desired by the
radicals to pass, for Interior effect, while con-
servative Republicans were exceedingly averse
TO acting upon il, and the Democrats we're thus
in situatlon to easily stave Off q vote on it
indefnitely-"I care nothing about who votes
in Washington CITY, but 1 am determined to
force these skullks on our side to a test of prln
ciple. So, whatever becomes oil this bill, you
may have all party advantages and shall know
who's who on our side, eh?"
The Democrats, assuming that the bill was
sure to be defeated il voted on forth with, when
hall the Republicans were known to be opposed
to it, and eager Tor the unhoped-for triumph,
promptly agreed to unite with the radical
leader, and force a vote on the spot. Any other
member on the radical side would have been
suspected at once had he opened such a PROPOSE
ton. But they knew his stern devotion to prin-
ciple. The Democrats supported him in the
preliminary motions for bringing on a vote. In
vain the conservative Republicans, between two
fires OF such extraordinary co operation pro-
tested, upbraided, and appealed. The Demo-
Gratis were unyielding, and the great radical un-
sparing. After the defeat of a motion to postpone,
aDemocrat, in high glee, stepping out ofthe door,
met citizen of the District, who was ignorant
OF the proceedings; and rubbing his hands, an
nounced, to the great Joy of the latter who had
been long in state of evaporation on the sub
ject, the certain defeat of the bill, explaining
the manner in which Mr.. Stevens, with charac-
teristic integrity, had been entirely willing to
sacrifice the measure in order TO enforce the
principle. The citizen hurried to his neghbors
TO communicate the good news, and the mem.
ber returned to his seat. Mr. Stevens moved
the previous question, and was seconded by the
requisite majority. He then rose Tor his GUS
tomarv appeal on such occasions. This time,
like the circumstances, his beginning was out of
his usual course. A vague apprehension had
begun to take hold OF the Democrats. Anxious
and hurried colloquies disturbed order. The
radicals, themselves hitherto not clearly in