Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1868-08-21
A TALK w1rn THAD. STEVENS.

We extract the following from an article
in the New York TriJlu,eof last Friday:
1t was the day before the organization
Of the Court of Impeachment, and be was
10 unusual spirits at the prospects Of the
carly success of a movement which he had
inaugurated and pioneered The prospect
of success at that time was very fattering
TO the impeachers: it seemed that the trial.
conviction, and removal Of the President
would prove fitting climax to the career
of his most earnest and bitter enemy; and
during our conversation | ventured TO
suggest TO him that he was almost ready
90 exclaim with Simeon, lord, let they
servant depart in peace" He answered,
without hesitation, that he had mo wish
to 90 just yet.
"My friends tell me, +" he added, "that [
am growing old and weak and must look
forward to an early end to my career, but
and he spoke in a matter of-faet tone and
manner, Il have no intention Of dying Just
yet.
The spirit proved stronger than the flesh
on that occasion, though his illness com
PEELED him to relinQuisa an active part in
a cause in which he was undoubtedly en-
listed, heart and soul but he gradually
sunk from that time forward until his
death on August H. But though The flesh
grew weak, even unto death, the spirit does
not appear to have faded ia the least. Ii it
were possible for him to describe his own
death-bed, he would doubtless say that lie
died hurrahing
Il am going to die ike Nicanor," be said
to me on the occasion l have alluded to, in
harness. | mean to die hurrahiUg
This led to my asking something in re-
gard to his early life and his history As ]
used the word History" he glanced at me
quickly, and thought rather suspiciously,
aud directly said, you newspaper men are
always wanting TO get at a mans history.
As ! said TO young girl who came to me
some time ago to collect materials for a
biography Of me, i have no history My
lifelong regret Is that | have lived 50 long
and 50 uselessly
ventured to suggest that his friends
were rot disposed 10 agree with him 10 the
use Of the word 'uselcSsly' as applied to
his Congressional achievements.
! have achieved nothing in Congress. I'm
till the war rbegan was piodder without in
iueuee, and since 1t began | have been so
radical that | have had no control over
anybody. Some Of the papers call me the
Leader Of the House | only laugh at them.
itah NHtIur yes, out tAeA never iuiioh l4iS
or do as | want them until public opinion
has sided with me
''No, he added, after a pause of a mo
ment or two, i IN not over proud Of my
Congressional career / like my State ser
vice better | think and feel, / hope with
out vanity, that the erowning utility of my
life was the adoption of the Common School
System 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 $50 acres. and dairy
Of Il 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
much pleasure, and me much satisfaction.