Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1868-08-18
Death of Thaddeus Stevens.

Hon. Thaddeus Stevens died at precisely y
O'Clock, on Tuesday night last, at his residence
in Washington city, on Capitol Hill, surround
ed by two nephews, his housekeeper clerk in
the interior department and two sisters OF
charity. 1t is said that he passed away calmly
and quietly without struggle, as if asleep
While we do not feel like eering CIR rejoicing
over the dead yet we do feel, that in the pres
ent critical condition Of the nation, the hand OF
Providence is plainly visible in the removal, of
this bitter enemy of the Southern people, from
position where he was during SO much evil, to
an unknown future May God have mercy on
him. The Richmond Enquirer, speaking OF
his death says:
The bitter animosity displayed by Mr. Stevens
towards the people of the South has rendered
it impossible that any of them should sincerely
mourn his death, and they will not pretend to
do it. Yet We cannot withhold from him trl-
butte to his honesty, which placed HIM tar above
the mean acts of the mere politician, and made
him boldly avow the wickedness OF his purposes.
He had the sense to perceive the end at which
Radicalism was aiming, and the courage to
avow it. Unlike the venomous reptiles who
partook of his predatory purposes, but who only
Kissed their hatred, while cautiously creeping
around their victim, he always gave the yell OF
the tiger, and bounded in fierce wrath directly
at his prey, regarding not the restrictions OF
rights Or the obligations of pledges, but. boldly
treading all these under foot while acting out
side the Constitution. Such character can,
not but stand out on the canvass OF history and
be remembered for boldness and audaclty, when
the Summers, and Ashleys, and Buffers, and
nghams, and Logans and other such like
vermin, shall have sunk into their merited OBJ
livion. In contrast with their sneaking mean.
nesses his ruthless intrepidity is like the fire OF
the volcano to the torch of the incendiary.
| As the great leader of the Radical party, Mr.
| Stevers's career has been not able one: Asa
public man history is net without its lessons,
and biographical sketch OF him is net without
| interest He was born in Caledonia county,
Vermont, April 4th, 1893, and was, therefore,
over IS years old at his death:
He graduated at Dartmouth College In 1914,
and Immediately afterwards removed to Penn
sylvania, where he studied law while teaching
school, In 1910 he vas admitted to the bar; IN
| Adams county, PENNSYLVANIA, and IN 1880 81
| 35-'37, and A, was elected to the State leg
islature In 1886 he was elected a member OF
the convention to revise the State constitution,
and in 1888 was appointed canal commissioner.
| He removed to lancaster, Pennsylvania, In
! 1912, and in 1913 was elected Representative
| to the Thigty-frst, and subsequently, to the
Thirty second Congress. IN 1858 be was elect
ed to the Thirty sixth, and afterwards to the
Thirty seventh Congress; during which he was
chairman of the committee of Ways and Means,
which position he also occupied in the Thirty
eighth Congress.
His career in the 39th and 10th Congresses,
as chairman of the Infamous Reconstruction
| Committee" which devised the atrocious meas
ures which have been imposed upon tie South,
is still fresh in the public mind. His active
participation in the impeachment business, and
his prominence as member Of the committee
on that subject, will not soon be forgotten.