Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1868-08-27

- NctttnPoANOhb va iuC LNCW lOlh lll-
bune publishes an account of an interview
with Mr.. Thaddeus Stevens about two
weeks before his death, from which we ex-
tract the following,
Dropping politics and the impeachment
question, we came to speak of the course of
the newspapers towards him, and the vast
amount of vituperation which had been
poured on his head. He remarked that he
did not fret at that, il was all he could ex-
pect, .for you know" he added, "that
have always been plain speaker myself I"
This led to my asking something in regard
to his early life and his history. AS used
the word 'history" he glanced at me quick
ly, and thought rather suspiciously, and
directly said, "You newspaper men are al
ways wanting to get at mans history
As said to young girl who came to me
some time ago to collect materials for bio
graphy ofmc, have no history. My life
long regret is that have lived so long and
so uselessly."
ventured to suggest that his friends were
not disposed to agree with him in the use of
the word ''uselessly," as applied to his Con-
grcssional achievements.
81 have achieved nothing in Congress.
Until the war began was plodder without
influence, and since 1t began ] have been so
Radical that had no control over anybody,
Some of the papers call me the 'leader of the
House. / lead them, yes; but they never
follow me or do as want them until public
opinion has sided with me-"
"No," he added, after pause of rio-
ment or two, sim not over proud of my
Congressional career. / like my State ser
vice better; think and feel, hope without
vanity, that the crowning utility of my life
was the adoption of the common school sys-
tenn Of Pennsylvania.
"That Is the work that / take most plea
sure in recalling, except one, perhaps. /
really think the greatest qualification of my
life resulted from my ability to give my
mother farm of two hundred and flfty
acres, and dairy of fourteen cows, and an
occasional bright gold piece, which she loved
to deposit in the contribution box of the
Baptist church which she attended. This
always gave her great pleasure and me much
satisfaction. My mother, he suddenly added
''was very extraordinary woman, and l
have met very few women like her. NV
father"-he hesitated moment, and several
times commenced the sentence before pur-
suing it further; 1t was evident he was try
ing to make confession he did not like.
At length the innate love of truth and plain
speaking, got the better of him, and he con-
tinued
''My father, you see, he said, sswas not a
well-to-do man, and the support and educa-
ton of the family depended on my mother.
She worked night and day to educate me. l
was feeble and lame in my youth, and as l
couldn't work ON the farm she concluded to
give me an education. tried to repay her
afterward; but the debt of child to his mo-
ther, you know, is one of the debts we can
never pay. Poor woman | the very thing |
did to crafty her most hastened her death.
She was very proud of her dairy and fond
of her COWS, and one night going out to look
after them she fell and injured herself so
that she died soon afterward.
I had heard the fact mentioned that Mr.
Stevens had on one occasion given 100000
to the poor Of Lancaster county, and asked
him about the truth of it.
ooh it was not true," he said. 81 have
never been able to do any such thing. l have
been failure in everything have failed
financially three times. The first was
through going bail and security, ,andit broke
up very fine practice l had in Adams coun-
ty. The second was through the careless
ness of a partner in some iron mills. Notes
were presented to me for payment, which l
had never executed or known of. / went
to my partner, and asked how it was. He
explained that he had been losing money for
some time, but as he had induced me to en-
bark in the enterprise, he had not the cour-
age to tell me of the losses, and had signed
the firm name to notes without consulting
me. 'Well,' I said, whats TO be done?
He began to max piteous mouth, but cut
him short. Il don't como to upbraid you,'
l said, 4 come to get at the facts. l look
ed over the books and saw that we were
deeply involved. Then said to him. You
take the works and pay oil claims, releasing
me entirely He declined, and at once
said Then l will; and it was thus the
iron works near Chambersburg came into
my possession. The third time failed was
when the rebels burned those works. My
friends in Lancaster and elsewhere raised
about 800 600 which they rendered to me,
but declined it, and it went to the Poor
Fund; but did not give it. managed to
getthrough my troubles, and have never ta-
ken advantages of a bankrupt law yet"
He evidently had some feeling on this
subject and Iasked him his views On the
bankrupt law.
"Well," he said, "personally, 1 feel that
my creditors are entitled, among my other
worldly goods, to my labor until am dead.
If my debts are not paid, then the bankrupt
law Of another world will cancel them."