Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1868-08-20
CORRESPONDENCE.
THE FUNERAL OF THADDEJIS
STE VEINS.


STEVENS
LANCASTER, Pa, August IL.
From our olpn Correspondent
1t was my peculiar good fortune to be present
at the funeral obseques of the honored remains
of all that was mortal of him whom the solid
yeomanry Of Lancaster loved TO honor, in whom
the loyal millions had unbounded confidence, and
whose name had been terror to evil doers."
As | neared the solid old town of Lancaster,
from York, evidences of the profound grief Of
the people began 10 be apparent by seeing here
and there in the towns along the road private and
public buildings arrayed in the dark habiliments
of mourning; flags along the route were display
ed at half mast, and the people looked thoughtful
and solemn as If great calamity had oyertaken
them.
A mighty man had falen.' These words had
often aroused the sympathy of the people, but
when the wires flashed the news over the country
that Thdddeus S.rsas is dead the people felt that
a place in the councils of the nation was vacated
which could never be filled; humanity had lost
its best friend, and justice unfatering advocate.
On entering the town on Saturday the first i'm
pulse of your correspondent was to visit the re-
mains Of the departed statesman, at his residence
in South Queen Street, whittier | wended my
way. Pardon me II pause a moment to describe
the appearance of the house In which the Old
Commonei" lived for nearly quarter of a CEN
fury. No marble palace rises majestically before
the eye bespeaking wealth and opulence within.
No granite pillars studded the frontal view as a
passport to the gilded halls of arstocracy. No
lvcred servants there to bow the visitor politely
into the chamber of Death No, none Of these,
but instead, there stood plain substantial two
storied brick dwelling, before whose portals no
one looking for great men in these days of para
phernaia and show would think Of stopping.
am reminded that this is the place by the con-
slant stream of people continually pouring in TO
take last look ut the distinguished remaius.
Taking place in the line l soon fluid myself in
plain and neatly furnished parlor standing be
side the remains Of the iustrous dead. Before
me in state, in handsomely mounted coffin, lays
the old man eloquent" calmly sleeping the
great sleep of death. His features are the same
as when the blood Of life ran lingling through his
veins his lips are compressed and close, denot-
ing the same lirmness in the final hour OF disco
luton, as when confronting the enemies of his
country on the floor of Congress. He was plain
~ dressed in the same suit which he wore in the
discharge Of his duties.
A silver plate on the top of the coffin had on it
the following inscriptions
"THADDEus STEVENS.
BORN APRIL Arm, 1892; DIED AUGUST i1Tm, 1868,
Al WASHINGTON.
Tho cof,in aud room in which bn Law ,vos deoo.
rated with numerous wreaths of 'Immortcllcs''
and boquels of choice flowers, which loving
hearts and willing hands had placed there. Many
colored persons We're continually passing in Ia
take last look at him who had been to them
their true aud sincere friend.
One old intelligent colored man remarked il
my presence that there lay man who had
long ago ceased to be partisan and become .
statesman"
On Sunday thousands Of persons called to see
the remains, but in accordance with the wish o
the family, the doors were not thrown open, bu
early on Monday morning the doors were agaiI
opened, and perfect stream of the hardy yeo
many from the country poured in 10 see the re-
mains. Every road from the country is crowded
with people coming in to attend the funeral.
Every train of cars from Philadelphia Harris
bur. and other towns contributes TO swell the vas
numbers already congregated.
\ The funeral exercises took place at the hous,
at O'Clock, but ii was three before the corteg,
moved.
4 Immense crowds lined The sidewalks all alon.
the route of the procession. The number 0
visitors was variously estimated at from tweni,
to twenty-five thousand people.
AT the request Of the Mayor all stores, pub
houses, and places of business were closed with
out regard to partisan feeling. The firenen 0
Lancaster were the largest element in the process
sion. Mr.. Stevens had been Tor many years
member and President Of the Shiilier Fire Com
pany, and had always taken an active part in al
that interested the fremen. Owing to the anti
Masonic views of Mr.. Stevens. and his genera
opposition TO secret societies, the Masons, Cd
Fellows and other secret orders did not turn gu
i'll the procession,
Space will not allow me 10 give you the detail
OF all who formed the procession. As usual o
all such occasions ali departments and interest
were represented, and as rather unusual larg
delegation OF colored people from Lancaster
Philadelphia and other places, were to be seen
the line OF the procession, At 4 clock the pre-
cession reached Shrieners Cemetery, where NJ
Stevens had some years ago purchased 10
Here the remaias were quietly lowered into the
last resting place. The Rev MI. Mowbert and ii
Rev. Dir. Neyin OBLIGATED al the grave.
As an instance OF the deep-ssated conviction
Of duly and justice which actuated MIR. steyei
throughout his whole eventful life would stat
tlat when he was about TO purchase a lot /,
seputure he first applied to the Woodward Iii
Cemetery Company, but on examining the Cha
ter of the Company he discovered clause whic
forbid the burying Of colored persons in Il
Cemetery; he then applied to the Lancaster Co
but there the same objection met him, but on c!
aiming the Charter OF Shriencrs Cemetery
found that this Objectionable feature did NJ
exist, and there the cid Commoner'' purchas,
his lot, where yesterday his remains were d
: posted.
, On Saturday, the nomination election of Il
: Republican party for Congress, and County OF
! GERS was held. Mr.. Stevens having been nam,
e for Congress before his death, no one could
: induced to enter the field as his competitor nc
G withstanding that very many Republicans we
: opposed to his views on the financial policy
!, the country, and even afIef his death, the eli
3 containing the names of the candidates were n
ii altered, and Thaddeus Stevens, though dea
e received again the unanimous vote of the par
i for Congress which had so often before sustain
e him. He is no more, but his deeds will live aft
/ him. RAMBLER.
a The conservation Of the Rev. Thomas
e Becker as Bishop of the new See of w
2 mington, and the Rev. James Gibbons
n Vicar Apostolic, of North Carolina to-
I, place at the Cathedral in Baltimore, on Su
= day. The ceremonies were imposing a.
y solemn. The Cathedral was densely crow
- ed and thousands were unable to gain n