The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1867-07-10
Interview with Thad. Stevens.


travelling in the Northern S,a.es, had an
interview, few DAYS since, with Thal,
Stevens, at lis home. We copy Mr..
Drske's interesting report Of the confer
ence:
| visited Lancaster, and in the forenoon
of Friday, 23l ut, obtained An audience.
Let NE first give YOU portrait OF the man
and his household. Rs!icals have good
us. - say about the close relationship
some o: the former slaves hear to their
masters and their masters friends. They
tell Southern people that numbers among
their servile class are too yellow to he
white, and too white to be black. They
must stop this. 1t is horribly unkind to
their great leader and master. In the
city Of Lancaster, Penn, in the Cody
North, nigh unto the pare city of Phila'
delphia. Thaddeus Stevens has for years
lived in open adultery with a mula,to
woman, whom he seluced from her nus
band, full blooded negro. THIS mulauo
manages his households, beth at Lancas
ter ana Washington, receives or rejects
his visitors at will, speaks Of Mr.. Stevens
and herself as i've" and in all things
comforts herself as il she enjo,ed the
rights Of a lawful wife. | have no word
of upkiu}ness or,slWse M"happpSs o ts
as polite ms weu trained negroes general
lY are. As to Mr. Stevens connection
with her, it is his own business, and en-
tireIv matter Of taste. | only mention
the fact that the ultra godlY, super sancri
fed saints of the African ascendancv NAV
get the beam out OF ,he'r own eve before
they gouge so merciessIy at the mote iL
ours.
Mr. Stevens wa: in his fine library, quite
feeble physically, but intellectually more
vigorous, promps and lucid than is usual
in men seventy four wears old lie i,
tall and has the bone Of large man, bn,
Is now very thin in 1esh. The face and
head are both good--'he eve uncertain ::
the mouth, with it's thin 'losed lips. aud
the strong jaw tell the secret Of the bitter
ness and love Of deSpolrc power and re-
verge that fill his heart and keep the man
alive. Upon first entering the room hv
door, which gave mo ful view Of the
man, there was something so lik- a smilD
on his face, that ! thought his heart and
his speeChcs, his conscience and his words
were not in harmony. This soon fitted
and from that time to the close Of the in.
terview, the whole c0urtenance--from the
grand, arched forehead 10 the hard chin
was the very ideal of cold, pitiless in
tellect. told him who was, the views
entertained, and requested that he would
say nothing to me which he would desire
Kept secret. As he had been Ia kinv a
great deal and was quite exhausted. was
forced to question rapidly and confine NV
sell to the leading topics The mos, of the
conversation was heard BE- a gentleman
who called with me, ard who can vouch
Tor its correctness, which is almost yer
bal.
told him had come 10 hear from
him, whom regarded as the great hesd
and mas'er OF his party, Just what his
party demanded and where their demands
would st"p-upon what terms aud at
what probable time his party would re
cognizA the Southern State, as eonal
members Of the Government-and 20 ask
his Interpretation Of tho present measure
of reconstruction. Then pr-f+cinr the
question with the remark that il WAS an
indefinite one to put to a gentleman, !
asked.
"Do you pursue your harsh policy as a
party measure for the purpose Of intimir
daiion 2
lie answered at once. ~ do nothing
merely for party purposes. Iregard nv
proposed action as equitable, and resting
upon principles Of law"
"But Mr. Stevens, by what provision
OF the Constitution are You warranted in
perVeriing war made To resolve doubt
ful question, and the right Itself TO make
which was doubtful, into an excuse for
going beyond i's purposes, in treating the
defeated 20 harshlv as Won propose :"
"Ihe Constitution does not eater into
the ques'ion-has nothing to 90 with it
at ali. Yon made an issue of war the
Notify whether wisely or unwisolv it is
no use now 10 nquire-accep,ei the issue
and conquered YOU. BY thousand scrs.
which some OF my party seem now to
forget, the Government re,o,nizal you as
beIIigerent nation, and your defaa, left |
you no rights under the Constitution for |
any claim TO he treated hv its Drovi. ions.
While-vou were heligerputs, | regarded |
You also as great criminals, who had for
feted all rights Of person IA well as pro
Perty. propose TO Geal with Won entirel,
by the laws Of war, and thorqh not Gazing
10 have those laws executed 10 the fail
extent of hanging the poor devils. rs
gard 1t as matter of the simplest equity
TO punish you bv fines at least suffi len,
TO indemnify loyal men for the damage
sustained 80 your hands
"WilI yon p"reiss in your oonfsra,ion
measure, Mr.. Srevens-wiIl you be salts
fled with no less 2"
mo, sir! ANYTHING less would be uu
just to those wronged bv yout crime"
"WiiI you 6e able TO bring your party |
to your support 2"
II do not Enow-we had A hard work |
TO secure the passage Of the Military bill |
but | shall take care OF mvself. and de,