The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1868-08-26
Last DAYS Of Thad. Stevens.
INCIDENTS AT HIS DEATH. )

Thad Stevens are few and not of extraordinary inter
lest. Since the adjournment of Congress, on the I'D
of July Mr. Stevens had been in declining health,
day quite we'll while the next he would be feeble and
depressed in spirits few days after the adjournment
be was attacked by diarrhea, from which, although
slight check was effected, vet he had entirely
recovered At intervals the past week he was able to
sit up in bis ROOM but has not, since Sunday week,
been able to leave his apartment. Last Sunday morn
ing there evident sgns Of serious change torthe
worse. He then became exceedingly feeble and showed
marked indisposition to engage IN conFersaton from
which time all visits Of strangers and others not con-
nected with the family have been prohibited. Mon
day and Tuesday he scarcely spoke to any one, and
most of the time lay with his hands crossed and his
eyes closed as if asleep. The only signs he gave Of
being awake at these times being feeble murmurngs
and slight raising and falling OF the hands Monday
he expressed his anxiety regard to the state Of the
country induced mainly, perhaps, by the current
ports Of apprehended troubles in Louisiana. He
trusted that Mr. johnson might abstain from any nea
sures Of acharacter calculated to disturb the public
tranquility, and hoped that necessity might arise
I for the reassembng ofCongress in September Yes
terday bis condition did to be much better,
thought did not appear to be to him such an effort to
!! talk On one occasion, when his heusekeeper came
in after short ABSENCE she found him manifesting
some little impatience and begged him not to fret
over his condition To this remark he replied, as if
/ construrg her meaning to be that she thought he
would meet his fate calmly Yes it true there can
be no use IN worrying zpFerit 49,
About Pm, yesterday Of his distant relatives,
Simon Stevens, New Yorklawyer, into his room,
aera business visit to Attorney General Evarts, and
| sitting by the dying man, 4eonversed with him for
| nearly an hour Mr.. Simon Stevens then informed
him that he had Just left Mr.. Eyarts and that the lat
had informed him of the purport OF his opinion on
the Rollins case, and that it in effect that Rollins
resignation could not be accepted, etc To this Mr..
Stevens replied " believe Mr.. Eyarts is not only
sound lawyer, but statesman who will advise the
President to act to administer the law in manner
that will avoid the necessity OF Congress meeting IN
September. IL he does he continued, II Shall feel
tprouder than that urged his Evarts0 confrma-
/ ton 49, :. ~,
Mr.. Simon Stevens said that he had met Gen. Rose
crans and that the latter had spoken of Alanson Ste
vens nephew of Thaddeus who was killed at Chicka
manga. The dying man looked up and smilngly said,
g II was a brave boy. like Rosecrans. I hope that
Mr.. Stewards instructions to Gen. Rosecrans will be
such will tend build up and strengthen that tot
terng sister republic" -
He spoke eSerai times Of going to his home in Ian
caster, and had no idea thai his end was SO near at
hand ~ = - 1T.
He said to his relative: !" believe Grant will be
elected, and that he will carry out the great recon
struction laws" 90
His relative told him about Norrissey betting on
Seymour. He replied: ~ like him for his pluck.o
He spoke of the political prospect in Pennsylvania
several times, and said that the great national ques
tons now were Reconstruction, Finances and the Rail.
way system
He then converscd with Rev. Dr. Emory his nephew
Thaddeus and his body servant None of the remarks
to these was specially noticeable save one to his
nephew, to whom he said " Wen have nice trip
home. I'll visit the foundry with you, perhaps, and
smiled as if. he knew the mpossibity of The sugges-
ton being fulfilled s.ss.-s =
At this stage his physician came in and noticed a
marked change inhis condition and declared that his
patient sinking rapidly Ice pebbles were admin
q feye
About o'clock two colored ministers, Rev. Mr. Hall
and Rev Mr. Reed both Of the Israel Methodist Church.
arrived and requested permission to Mr.. Stevens
and pray with him. When asked if they should do SO
be said, "Oh, yes" These colored ministers then en-
tered his bed chamber and approached the bed side.
He looked toward them, nodded his head and smiled.
Rev. Mr.. Hall said, Mr.. Stevens you have the pray
ers of all the colored people in the country He again
nodded his head. They then prayed at bis bedside
until o'clock when they retired. . *.
ct 9 o'clock last night his physician, DR.. Noble
Young, of this city, called and found Mr. Stevens still
sinking and todhim he could not possibly live another
day. Mr. Stevens was still conscious, and nodded bis
head. At IL O'Clock two Sisters of Charity, of the
Providence Catholic Hospital close by, in, hay
ing been daily visitors for many days They proceeded
to read the prayer for the departing soul. In the
meantime, Mr.. Stevens lay quietly on the bed and
when asked any question by his relatives, would say
eyes Or " no quite distinctly The Sisters desired
to perform the bapsmal rite and objection being
pressive manner. There were in the room at this
time the two Sisters of Charity, Simon Stevens, Thad
deus Stevens, Jr, Mrs Smith, his housekeeper, (co
ored Mr.. J. Scott Patterson, of the Interior Depart
ment, his body servant, Lewis West, his coachman,
John Ceplls and several of his house servants ST.
mon Stevens sat upon the bed tanning him. Young
Thaddens stood by the bedside holding his hand Mrs
Smith kne by the foot Of the bed, while the Sisters
also kneeng, continued to read the prayers for the
departing soul The servants were kneeliug in vari-
Gus pats OF the About ten minutes before II
O'Clock it evident that the time of dissolution was
nigh. His breathing was hard He took no more ice
and his eyes closed By timepieee in the room
it just three minutes past lG O'Clock when Dir. ST.
mon Stevens exclaimed, He is dead y" The Sisters
of Charity at commenced to recite the prayers
for tie dead.
One of the most important features of the deathbet
scene is what may be chronicled the Conmoners
last words. At II O'clock to the question, q What
can do fer your" he replied, Nothing in this world"