New-York tribune., 1868-08-14

an anecdote of Mr. Stevens which illustrated at once
the humor and indomitabe spirit of the man. Gen.
! Logan stated that on occasion while he was
being thus carried by his servants. who are both
young men hardly yet in the prime of life, Mr. Ste
vens turned to them and said dry but hesitatingly,
showing by his feeble manner and tone his exhausted
condition:
"Boys, wonder how I'll get to the House when
| you two die" 90
He seemed to think he was never to die but always
| to be member of the House.
| 1 found the Pennsylvania statesman-it is hardly
proper to speak of him local character for, be 1t
of good or evil report, Mr. Stevens certainly has
national reputation as a lawyer and legislator, and
in time shall all come to recognize the wisdom OF
his views though we may not all be able to forget
the bitterness of his partisan expressions-I found
Mr.. Stevens in small shabby, lOw-roofed
room of small, dilapidated brick house
! in q not very plcasantlooking and GER
tainy an unfrequented street. He had evil
IDENTIFY chosen it for convenience rather than comfort
or style. very plain, Owposted bedstead, small
| wardrobe and bureau, desk and an easy chair,
formed the furniture of the room, The decorations
consisted only of photographs of Mr. Lincoln and
| himself and one of Miss Winnie Reams busts, but
whether of Mr.. Lincoln or himself cannot re-
member. Mr.. Stevens was lying on the bed his head
1
| pair of plain slippers; he minus coat and vest.
So nearly complete was his dishdbile that he alluded
TO it on my entry, and said he compelled to rest
| all he could and that when not ut the Capitol he
was seeking renewed strength in repose. 1t was not
sleep he wanted only rest for his bones in reclining
attitude and he was ready and able to talk long
as he had interested hearers. Then ensued conver-
sation-conducted principally by him-which proved
so interesting that 1 Immediately made full notes of
it, and have hero written them out not perhaps in
the order in which the remarks were made but with
accuracy as regards his expressions.
| During the first part of the interview something
was said by me relative to Mr.. Stevens's famous
speech comparing Mr.. Johnson to Charles |, and de-
claring the formers usurpations greater than those
of the English King and in any other country would
| have cost king his head. He said that the cases
were parallel in great many pariculars-in the con-
tending parties the personal actors and the prlncl-
| pies involved. Something of the same idea had oc-
Cured TO my mind day two previous, while read,
| ing Goodwin Smiths Three English Statesmen
then Just published in this country and which had
read in the cars en- route to Washington. l inter
| rupted him by remarking that had come to look
upon him as the John Pym of this Impeach-
| ment and read TO him from notebook passage
| from Smiths volume which seemed to me to apply
! as well to him as TO Pym: He had stood" says
| foremost Of those evitempered spirits who pro-
| tested that tho liberties Of Parliament were not
the favors of the crown but the brhright of English
| men, and who for so doing were imprisoned without
| law lie had resolved, as he said, that he would
rather suffer for speaking the truth than the truth
should suffer for want of his speaking" Iwould
| have gone on with further quotations. but Mr..
| Stevens interrupted me
That is unmportant: the parallel is not strong
not so strong as would like 10 think it, for greatly
admire curt and crusty old John Pym; it is not as
strong parallel as Macaulay unconsciously drew
twenty years ago. His arraignment of Charles l., in
the first volume of his history, applies with hardly
change of word, except names, to Andrew Johnson.
| 1t is really remarkable document Give me that
volume of Macauay and will show you the passages
| handed him q volume of Macauay, and turning
10 some marked passages he read rapidly, interpo-
| lating his explanations.
"'The day on which the houses met again Che is
speaking YOU know, of the Long Parliament-this Is
| our Long Congress; your paper at New-York, The
World, calls us the Rump just as the Royalists de-
nominated the Long Parament The day on
which the houses met again he repeated. is one OF
| the most remarkable epochs in our history From
that day dates the corporate existence of the two
| great bodies which have since alternately gov
erned the country THAT is prophecy with ms, and
true prophecy too you'll see) His first measures
promised well (so did Johnson'sl. He declared his
| determination TO govern in harmony with the Com
mons that is Congress- and, for that end to call
| 70 his counsels men in whose talents and character
the Commons mig place confidence. Had he kept his
promise il cannot be doubted that the reaction which
was already in progress land Reconstruction was
| making most favorable progress under poor Lincoln
would soon have become quite rs strong as the most
respectable Royalist SAY oyalist) would have de-
sired That the fair prospects which had begun to
open before the King that is King Andy were sud
denly overcast that his life was darkened by adyer-
sity and at length shortened by violence is to be
attributed 10 his own aithlessness and contempt of
| law. The truth seems TO be- The read very slowly
| and emphatically) that he detested both parties
| into which the House of Commons was divided.
Nor is this stranger for in both those parties the love
of liberty and the love of order mingled though
in different proportions. The advisers (Stanon for
| instance whom necessity had compelled Charles to
call around him by no means men after his own
heart. They had joined in condemning his tyranny.
| in abridging his power and in furnishing his
| Instruments Accusations and recrimnations
passed backward and forward between
| the contending parties All accommodation
| had become impossible. The sure punishment which
waits on habitual perfdy had at length overtaken
| the king The dstrust with which his adversaries
| regarded him was not to be removed by oaths or
treaties They were convinced that they could be
| safe only when he utterly helpless. Their de-
mand therefore that he should surrender, not
only those prerogatves which he had usurped in yio
lation of ancient laws and his recent promises.
bpt also other prerogatives which the English kings
| had possessed from time immemorial, and continue
70 possess at tho present day No minister must be
i ataA NTH fhn