The Portland daily press., 1868-08-13

A dispatch received in this city yesterday
announced the death of Hon. Thaddeus Ste
VEINS, which occurred at IL O'Clock on Tuesday
night at his residence in Washington. This
intelligence will probably be surprise to no
one, as it is well known that the state of Mr..
Stevens health has for months been so preca-
rious that his death might at any time be an-
ticipated. Yet such was the energy of his
character that, despite his physical infrmities,
he was throughout the past winter, in almost
constant attendance at the chamber OF the
House of Representatives, and on several oc
casions spoke with all his old earnestness and
power He was ALSO as will be well remember
ed, one of the managers of the impeachment
OF President johnson, though his III health
prevented him from taking an active part in
the trial.
MIR. Stevens was born in Caledonia county,
Vermont, April 4th, 1898, and was consequent
ly in his seventy SIKH year. He was gradu-
ated at Dartmouth College in 1914; and very
soon after removed to Philadelphia, where he
studied law and taught in an academy at the
same time. He continued to combine the oc-
equations Of student and teacher until 1916,
when he was admitted to the bar in ADAMS
county From 1888 to 1s41 he was hve times
elected to the State Legislature; and it was dur
ing this period that he accomplished the work
which more than any other of his life entities
him to the esteem and gratitude of posterty.
This was the Introduction into the State of
Pennsylvania of a system of common schools,
similar 20 those of New England BY his un--
firing and successful efforts to this end he con-
ferred upon his adopted State benefit, the
value of which is simply incalcuable.
In 1886 Mr.. Stevens was a member of the
Convention to revise the constitution of the
State of Pennsylvania In 1912 he removed
to Lancaster where he has since resided In
1858 he represented his district in the Thirty
First Con gress. He also served IN the Thirty
Second, Thirty Fifth. Thirty Sixth. Thirty
Seventh, Thirty-E Eighth and Thirty Ninth
Congresses, and was reelected to the Forte. h
Congress, as Republican, by very large ma
iority over his Democratic opponent. He
served for several terms as chairman of the
committee of ways and means, and during
the present Congress has served as chairman
of the special committee on reconstruction,
and chairman of the committee on appropri-
atoms.
OF Mr.. Stevens Congressional career, ex-
tending with but brief Interruptions over pc
riod of almost twenty years, it is hardly neces-
sary to speak. His history is part of the his
tory of the country and is not unfamiliar to
our readers. He was keen and ready de-
batter, and, when warmed by an earnest inter
est in his theme. a vigorous, effective, and even
eloquent speaker; and for years he was in the
House of Representatives the ablest and the
most fearless of the champions of liberty and
of human rights. Inclined, through the ardor
impractcable views, and fearless even to RASH
ness in the expression of them, it was newt
able that he should call out the bitterest ami
mostly of political opponents; but not even
these were able to with hold the tribute o.
their esteem for his sterling integrity, and his
uDfnching adherence to the political prin.
cples in which he believed. But it was his
patriotic course during the four years of the
war, his uncompromising devotion to the
cause of the nation, and his unfaltering and
courageous belief in the sure triumph of that
cause which constituted his chief claim on the
affections of the great body of the American
people. -s--rf ..r-J..-...
Mr. Stevens last hours were peaceful. He
was attended by his nephew, Thaddeus Ste
vens, Jr., and another relative, his housekeep-
err, two Sisters OF the Providence Hospital, Mr.
j. Scott Patterson of the Department of the
Interior. and the servants of his household
He breathed his last quietly and calmly, with
out struggle, as though falling asleep.