Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1868-08-29
ATalk With Thaddeus stevens

IncUhe puolishes an account o. so Ih'eI-
view uith Mr.. Thaddsus Stevens about
I~o weeks before his death. from which
we extract the following:
Dropping politics and impeachment
question, We came 10 speak OF ,he course
OF the new spspers toward him, and the
vast amount Of Viluperation which had
been poured on his head. He remarked
that he did not fret al that, it was all he
could expect, "for you know" he added.
",hst have. always been plain speaker
myself" This led to my asking some
thing in regard to his early history. As
| used the word history" he glanced at
Ole quickly, and | thought rather suspl-
ciousIy, and directly said, "You newspa-
per men are always wanting TO get at .
mans history. As said to q young gITl
who came 10 me some time ago tn collect
materials for biography OF me, | have
no history. My lifelong regret is that
have lived so long and 90 useessly."
Ventured to suggest that his friends
were not disposed TO agree with HIM in
the use Of The word "useIessly," as applI.
ed TO his congressional achievements.
81 have achieved n"thing in Congress
Until the war began was ploddCr with
out influence, and since il began have
been so Radical that | had no control over
anybody. Some Of the papers call me the
leader Of tie House. only Laugh at
them. lead them, yes; but they never
follow me or do as want them until pub
lie opinion has sided with me. "
NO." he added, after 2 pause OF mo
ment or two, I'm not over proud OF my
Congressional career. | Ike my State
service better. think aud feel. hope
without vanity, that the crownIng utility
OF my life was the adoption OF the com
mon school system Of Pennsylvania.
THAT is tho work that | take most
pleasure in recalling, cxcep, one, perhaps.
really think The greatest qualification OF
my life resulted from my ability to give
my mother farm OF two hundred and fii-
ty 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 al
tended. This always gave her great
pleasure. and me much satisfaction. My
mother" he suddenly added. was a very
extraordinary woman. and have met ve-
~ few woman iks he'. My fathsr"-
lie hesIiaIed a moment, and several times
commenced the sentence before pursuing
il further; il was evident he was trying to
make a confession be did not like. Al
length the innate love OF the truth and
plain speaking got the better oI him, and
he continued
My father. you see," be said, Twas
not we'll TO do man. and The support and
education of the family depended on my
mother. She worked night and day TO
educate me. | was feeble and lame IN
my youth, and as couldn't work on the
farm. she concluded 10 give me an educa-
ton. tried TO repay her sllerwsrd; bot
tho debt OF child to his mother. you
know, is one Of The debts we can never
pay. Poor woman the very thing ! did
TO crafty her most fastened her death.
She was very proud Of her dairy and
fond Of her cows, and one night going out
TO look after Ihem she fell and injured her.
selfso tnst she died soon after"
had herd The fact mentioned that Mr..
Stevens had on one occasion given $780,.
600 10 the poor OF Lancaster county, and
asked him about the truth OF 1t.
"Oh il was not true" he ssId. 81
have never been able 10 DO any such thing.
have been failure in everything. J
have failed financially three times. The
frs, was through going bal! and security,
and it broke up very fine practice had
in Adams county. The second was ihro'
the csrele.suess OF q partner - some iron
mills. Notes were presented TO me for
payment. which bad never executed or
known Of. went TO my partner. and
asked how il vas. He explained that lie
had been losing money Tor some time, but
az he had induced me 10 embark IN the en-
lerprise, lie had mol The courage 10 tell me
OF the losses. and had signed the firm
name to notes without consulting me.
w els 4 5slut Nbch W DC HOuN AN
began 10 make pileous mouth, bot ! cut
him short :! don'I come TO UpbraId you,
| said. i come 10 get AZ the facts ]
looked over the books and saw that We
were deeply involved. Then ssid 10
him, You take the works snd pay all
claims, releasing ne entirely He de-
cIineJ. and ] al once said Then ] will;
and il was thus the iron works near Cham
ber'burg came into my possession. The
third time failed sss ~hen uIs rebels
burned those works. Ny friends IN Lan-
caster aud elsewhere raised about $780,
600. which they rendered me. bot de-
cIined il, and il went 10 the Poor Fund
bu, did not eiye il. ] managed 10 get
through my uoubIe. and have never TAX
en- advantage of bankrupt lsS yei."
He evidently had some feeling oD this
subject. and asked bin bis views on The
bsnkrupI law.
We'll" he said. "persOnslly, feel
that my creditors are enutled. among my
other worldly goods. 10 my labor uniil J
am dead. II ny debts are not paid. d-en
the bankrupt law OF another world Nil
cancel them.