Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1867-03-15
VOLUME 40; NO If.
A PEN PICTURE OF THADDFUS
STEVENS

EMS.
Thaddeus Stevens is Just coming in from
/ his committee-r room, and looks feeble. the
great old msn, it makes me sorry. The men
abroad who assai him with such ferocity. if
they could see him now, would be quite dis
l armed. Ills spirit is not abated, his sarcasm
cuts as keenly as ever, his wit flashes as
brightly, his great intellect seems in no wise
/ dimmed yet the hand of Time lies heavy
upon him. The will which never sweryes
which always conquers and rules men, is
poWerless to resist the pressure of pain and
the iniirmities of age. Although DO easu-
| al observer would think it, Thaddeus Ste.
| yens is over seventy years Of age A come
1 ~ wig Tobs him of the hoary crown which
/ always halows the head Of aae. His face,
! IN outline approaches the Indian type The
/ square perceptive brow, the deeply set eyes,
/ the high cheek-bones, the broad jaw and
Gaturnine mouth are most marked. The
| face in repose, is stern, but not savage. The
/ 'sard0nlc smile that we read so much about
| is very human and kindly face after all.
Thaddeus Stevens inimitable sarcasm and
wit seem purely intellectual gifts, flames of
the head, free from all smoke of personal
malice. He viii say the most savage things
I Of mans acts or opinions, without one
I
/ aunlhllate a member in a speech. and then,
| clapping him on the shoulder, ask the dis
/ oomfted brother to 60 with him to lunch.
/ You hear of his many kindly deeds from
! those who know him best of the gentle
| charities which blossom along his private
| path, OF the many poor boys whom he has
| lifted from poverty and obscurity to give
| them help and motive in life. For many
| years be has been power in the nation, a
| leader in the House, marshahng In the van
the hosts Of liberty. No man is more ca
| gerry listened to. No man perhaps would
be so positively missed if he we're to pass
| forever from the Congressional Hall. He
| has stood there so long, his intellect Is so
| powerful, his personality so positive, his ut
| terance so unique. his spirit so masterfuL
| his memory will not pass away with his
| presence, nor his name with his generation.
| lie Is one whose sayings will live long af-
ter him. His jeWeled Witticisms will set in
many a speech, and gleam in many Con-
! gress, when the brain which gave them
! birth has gone back to dust But the old
lion of the House is fighting his last battles
| One who has fought so long and so bravely
does not ike to confess that he is at last
worsted by Time-that even he has found a
conqueror. To have lived in the world. to
have been with it, and of it so long, to love
1t only to leave it, how hard To a heart
broken by its own burdens, death comes a
healing and consolation but TO a man who
has sought the satisfaction of life in pub
lie spheres whose activities have been ex-
1 pended on the issues Of the age, while the
grand problems of his time remain unsolYed
1 and the cast victories of the future yet un-
communicable him death is as unwel-
come as it Is irrcmediable Such man has
M time to dia -ALa,a- I-...L L,.zz.>4..4la..4
BRITISH REFORM.
The Government PIan-ResoIutiOns In
trOduced by Mr.. DisraeH.
The following is a copy of the reform reso-
lutions moved by the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequeT in Committee Of the whole House,
on Monday, February %.
This House having, in the last session of
Parliament, assented TO the second reading
ola bill entitled a blu to extend the right
Of voting at elections of members of Parlia-
ment in kngland and Wales, is of opinion.
J.. That the numbtr of electors for counties
and boroughs in England and Wales ought
to be increased.
.. That such increase may best be effected
by both reducing the value of the qualifying
tenement in counties and bOroughs and by
adding other franchises not dependent on
such value.
s. That while it is desirable that a more
direct representation should be given to the
laboring class, it is contrary TO the Constitu-
tion Of this realm to give to any one class or
interest a predominating power over the
| rest of the community.
t. That the occupation franchise in coun-
ties and boroughs shall be based upon the
principle of rating.
5. That the principle of plurality of votes,
adested by Parliament would facilitate the
settlement Of the borough franchise on an
extensive basis.
e. That it is expedient to revise the exist
ing distribution of seats
7. That in such revision it is not expedient
that any borough now represented in Parlia-
ment should be wholly disfranchised.
s. That, in revising the existing distribu-
ton Of seats, this House will acknowledge,
as It's main consideration, the expediency of
supplying representation to places not at
present represented, and which may be con-
sidered entitled to that privilege.
g. That It is expedient that provision
should be made for the better prevention of
bribery aud corruption at elections.
lQ. That it is expedient that the system
of registration of voters in counties should
be assimilated, as far as possible, to that
which prevails in boroughs.
IL. That it shall be open to every parlla-
mentary elcctor, if he thinks fit to record
his vote by means of polling paper, duly
signed and authenticated.
T. That provision be made for diminish
ing the distance which voters have to travel
for the purpose of recording their votes, so
that no expenditure for such purpose shall
hereafter be legal
49, That an humble address be presented
to Her Majesty, praying Her Majesty to is
sue Royal Commissien to form and submit
to the consideration of Parliament a scheme
for new and enlarged boundaries Of the ex-
isting Parliamentary boroughs where the
population extends beyond the limits now
assigned to such boroughs; and to fix, sub
iect to the decision Of Parliament, the boun-
daries of such other boroughs as Parliament
may deem fit to be represented in this
House
THE LoRD's PRAYER you ever
think, short though it is, how much there
is in it? Oh, it is beautiful Like dla-
mond in the crown of a queen, it unites
thousand sparkling gems in one.
1t teaches all Of us, every one OF us, to
look to God as our parent-HOur Father. y
1t prompts US to raise our thoughts and
desires above the earth-"Who art in
heaven -