The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-08-17

The two extracts below are peculiarly
just and accurate--so fair withal that we
make room for them:
From the Philadelphia Age (nemocratic).
Thaddeus Stevens was man who won
regard from his opponents. He was utterly
reckless in pursuit Of the ends he aimed at.
The Constitution, the laws of God or man,
could not stop or hinder him. Where he
had no political end to compass, he was
kind, courteous, and in his manners sin
gularly winning. Anecdotes abound Of his
coarseness in language but in the most
polished society he could pass as high
bred gentleman. In Congress, to be Penn
sylvanian was tie with him that political
differences did not sever. In parliamentary
tactics he was unsurpassed, yet not unscru-
pulous. His word pledged to the minority
was always as good as his bond. He would
crush them and their rights remorselessly
for any political purpose but he disdained
to cheat them. When he said there should
be chance for debate, or other fair play,
his opponents expected it, and surely got it..
He was not, we think, bitter in his resent
ments. He lately published letter to
show that he had not impeded, in the House,
resolution of respect to Mr.. Buchanan.
1t is, we think, about year since we
heard Mr.. Buchanan, in this city, acqui-
escequite phatically in a favorableo opinion
of Mr.. Stevens, to at least the extent here
uttered. They had long been townsmen,
and contemporaries in private and public
life. We will not end this brief notice with
out adding that, to the extent of our know
ledge, the personal integrity of Mr.. Stevens
was unimpugned. He cared nothing for
mere money. He had too low an opinion Of
human nature, n contempt for it we might
say, to demand honesty from his followers.
He let the hounds that he hunted with de-
YOUR at their will. But he was himself per-
sonally honest that is to say, he scorned to
profit by jobs and thefts, on which, however,
he looked with Indifference, if practiced by
the men who served him. We dare not call
such a mangreat orgood, but he hadqualities
that often commanded respect, which now
predominates in what we utter over his bier.
He was a man, and he often seemed giant
among the pigmies whom he ruled.
From the New York Evening Post abolition
Free Trade adical-Democrat).
AS statesman, Mr.. Stevens was singu-
larly ignorant and narrow-minded. The
skill in management, and the tact which
he knew how to use in the preparation and
passage of his favorite measures, he never
thought to use in the framing of policy.
He had so long fought the shareholders that
he never would do anything else. What
was love of liberty in some other men was
in him rather hatred of oppressors-a gene
rous sentiment, but not wise or safe one
for statesman, &"
Of the questions of political economy
which necessarily, during and since the war,
became an important part of statesman
ship, he appears to have known absolutely
nothing. He imagined that the price of gold
could be kept down by statute forbidding
men to buy or sell it. He did not scruple
lately to assert that the national bonded
debt ought to be paid off in greenbacks,
which are only other evidences of debt. He
attempted at one time to abolish by law gold
as standard of value.
lii fact, he thought laws could accomplish
anything; and he imagined liberty to con,
sist simply in the abolition of chattc
slavery. Of any other kind Of slavery he
knew nothing. He never ceased his effort:
| 10 enslave trade. He would have made u:
the slaves of the most vicious and ruinou:
currency, if he had been able.
1t must be said for him that he was mo-
much more ignorant than the majority O.
American politicians of both parties. Like
the others, he grew up and was trained il
the great contest for and against slavery
and, like the others, he knew that question
and none others: But his ignorance wa!
more conspicuous because he was more
energetic, more enterpriSiug than others
because his filth in himself was unhesi
tating and in his mind, faith withou
works was useless and despicable.