Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1868-08-18
DEATH OF FHADDBUS STEVENS.
His Last Expressed Political Views
Account of the Closing Scenes.

furnishes some particulars. OF the illness ana
last moments of Hon Thaddeus Stevens,
whose deathoecurred at 2 o'clock on Tuesday
night last. Mr.. Stevens has been Ill for some
time, and on Sunday last had relapse, and
gradually grew weaker until death terminated
mis- earthly career. On Tuesday his residence
was visited by many of his personal and
political friends, and about four o'clock in the
afternoon Simon Stevens, a relative of the
deceased, returned to the house. after a
business visit to Attorney, General ERarts, and
sitting blythe side ofthe dying man, conversed
with.hini for nearly an hour, he showing more
animation than for several days previous.
Mr.. Simon Stevens informed him, that he
had just left Mr.. Evarts, and that the latter
| had Informed him of the purport of his opinion
on the Rollins case, and that it was in effect
that Rollins resignation could not be accept
ed, etc. To this Mr.. Stevens replied Il
believe Mr.. Evarts is not onlya sound lawyer,
but statesman, who will advise the President
SO to act as to administer the laws in manner
| that will avoid the necessity of Congress meet
ing in September. Ifhe does Che continued)
| l shall feel prouder than ever that urged
his (Svarts') confirmation"
MIR. Simon Stevens said that he had met
| General Rosecrans, and that the latter had
spoken of Alanson Stephens (nephew of
! Thaddeus,) who was killed at Chicamauga
| Thaddeus looked up and smiling said +: HE
was brave boy. [ like Resecrans 1 hope
| that Mr. Stewards instructions to General
Rosecrans will be such as will tend to build
up and strengthen that tottering sister Re-
public" (meaning Mexico)
| lie spoke several times of his going to his
! home in Lancaster, and had no idea that his
end was so near at hand. He said to his
relative 81 believe Grant will be elected,
Atl,o bo
ton laws"
His relative told him about Morrissey
betting on Seymour.
He replied, 81 like him for his pluck
/ lie spoke of the political prospect in
/ Pennsylvania several times, and said that the
4 great national questions now were, ''recon>
/ struction, finances, and the railway system"
lie then conversed with Rev. DIR. Emory,
Mrs. Smith, his nephew Thaddeus, and his
body servant, Lewis West. None of his
! remarks to these were specially noticeable,
save one to his nephew, to whom he said,
"We'll have a nice trip home; I'll visit the
foundry with you, perhaps and smiled, as
if he knew the impossibility of the suggestion.
At five o'clock DR.. N. Young visited him,
and said he must not be fatigued with talking,
and pronounced him in a sinking condition.
Hewas constantly eating pieces of ice. and
appeared as if an inward fever was consuming
his vitals. When the ice melted in his mouth
he would reach out his hand for more, and
appeared to enjoy the relief afforded by being
famed.
About seven o'clock two colored ministers
Rev. Mr.. Hall and Rev. Mr.. Reed (both of
the Israel Methodist Church, arrived and
requested permission to see Mr.. Stevens and
pray with him: When-aslled if they should
do so he said, "Oh, yess" These colored
ministers then entered his bed chamber and
approached the bedside. He looked toward
them, nodded his head, and smiled Rev
Mr.. Hall said, "Mr. Stevens, you have the
prayers of all the colored people in the coun-
try" He again nodded his head They
then praye at his bedside until eight o'clock,
when they retired
About nine o'clock DR.. Young again called
and had brief interview with his patient
The doctor announced him dying, and so told
him. Nj Stevens looked at him, nodded his
head, but made reply. DIR. Young in
formed the household that his patient would
in all probability die before morning.
Sisters Loretta and Genevieve, of Proyi-
ience Hospital, came in aud at once proceed
ed to read the prayers for the departing soul
In the meantime Mr.. Stevens lay quietly on
the bed, and when asked by his relatives
would say ''Yes" or ''No" quite distinctly
The sisters desired to perform the baptisma
rite, and no objection being made, Sister Io-
retta performed the ceremonies in an impress
| sive manner.
At IL o'clock it was observed that he
opened and closed his eyes with nervous
twitching, but still appeared conscious and
still continued to swallow the small pieces Of
ice that were placed in his mouth.
There were in the room at this time the
two Sisters of Charity, Simon Stevens, Thad-
deus Stevens Jr., Mrs. Smith, Mr.. j. Scott
4 Patterson, OF the Interior Department, his
body servant Lewis West, his ooachman John
Cephus, and several of the house servants
/ Simon Stevens sat upon the bed tanning him,
| young Thaddeus stood by the bedside hold
ing his hand, Smith knelt at the foot of the
| bed, while the Sisters also kneeling, eontin>
ued to read the prayers for departing soul
| The servants were kneeling in various parts
] of the room. About ten minutes before IL
o'clock it was evident that the time of disso-
luton was nigh. His breathing was hard;
he took no more ice, and his eyes were closed.
By time piece in the room it was just three
minutes past II o'clock when Mr.. Stevens
exclaimed, ssIe is dead %
The Sisters of Charity at once commenced
to recite the prayers for the dead, while those
ii. the room remained, Mrs. Smith and Simon
and young Thaddeus being much affected
with grief at the loss of their best friend
One of the most important features of the
death-bed scene is what may be chronicled
as the great commoner's last words At IL
o'clock Mrs. Smith said to him sWhat can
do for your lie replied, 'Nothing in the
world
Although it was at the dead hour ofnight,
it was but a short time before the news of the
event was known at the newspaper and tele-
graph offices, and with the mornings dawn
the news had doubtless reached every section
of this country, and been flashed across the
broad Atlantic to the Old World
Surgeon General Barnes detailed Surgeon