New-York tribune., 1868-08-14
A TALK WITH THADDEUS STEVENS.
tvpou orp SPECIAL CoRREspONDENTI

WASHINGTON, Aug. IL, lSbo.
About fortnight before his severe illness, which
compelled him TO abandon, one OF the Managers Oh
Impeachment the prosecution Of President johnson,
spent an afternoon with Thaddeus Stevens. IL was
the day before the organization Of the Court Of Inn
parchment and he in unusual spirits at the pros
pect of the early success OF a movement which he
had inaugurated and pioneered. The prospect of
success at that time was very attering to the i'm
peachers; il seemed that the trial. conviction, and
removal of tho President would prove hitting cli-
max TO the career of his most earnest and bitter enc
my; and during our conversation l ventured TO sug'
gest to him that he was almost ready to eXclaim,
with Simeon, Lord, let thy servant depart IN
peaceD He answered. without hesitation that he
had "no wish to go just yet"
"My friends tell me-" he added, that am grow
ing old and weak and must look forward to an early
end TO my career but" and he spoke in matter-of-
fact tone and manner have no intention OF dying
just yet"
The spirit proved stronger than the flesh on that
OCCASION though his illness compelled HIM TO relin-
quish an active part in cause IN which he was I'M
doubtedly enlisted heart and SOUL but he gradually
sunk from that time forward until his death on Au-
eust II. But though the flesh grew weak, even unto
DEATH the spirit does not appear to have faded III the
least If it were possible for him to describe his own
rahing"
81 am going to die like Nicanor" he said to me on
the occasion have alluded to, in harness Il mean
to die hurrahing"
He attached peculiar meaning to this last phrase,
which was favorite one with him, and have heard
of his using it on two three occasions One OF
these is noteworthy. citizen of Knoxville. Tenn,
had visited him, and had conveyed to him message
of respect and good wishes from Gov. Brownlow'
who, by the way is an admirable prototype OF Mr..
Stevens possessing the earnest, bitter and In
domitable spirit alike in hate and in generosity and
not unlike in tugliness of person. When his visitor
was about taking his leave Mr. Stevens said to him:
"Give Gov Brownlow my respects; tell him hope
he will be restored TO health, and live long time
and that / say when he dies to die hurrahing."
1t is very probable that the Governor will
take the advice and die with parting i'm
precation OH the heads of the late Rebels. Mr..
Stevens followed his own advice and carried out
his own determination, by devoting his last breath
to advising Mr. johnson to do nothing more to exas-
perate the country against him. That was doubtless
what Mr. Stevens meant when he advised another
"to die hurrahing"
| first met Mr.. Stevens in the room Of the Impeach-
ment Committee, just across the lobby from the
Sneakers desk in the House of Representatives.
When went in the room the Committee was not, of
course. in session. Only Mr.. Stevens, Gen. John A.
Logan. and Gen. Benjamin +. Butler were present.
Mr.. Stevens was at one end Of the long Committee
table. munching soda-cracker; Logan and Butler
were at the other end digging with huge pen-knives
into large cheese, and eating cheese and crackers
with evident relish. Occasionally they would ad-
dress word two to Mr. Stevens on the all-absorb-
ing question of Impeachment. but at that moment
the lunchng hour-their chief attention was devoted
70 the edibles. AT the moment, Mr.. Stevens was
waiting for his servants 10 come TO carry him to the
carriage which usually conveyed him to his house.
and. not being able to talk to him freely
and fully there, l made an engagement
with him for an hour or two OF the
afternoon. While was still in the Committeeman
talking to him and his associates the servants two
,,orr and salwart white men, came for Mr.. Stevens.
;rhev took him M ~ he sat-olaT and all-and con-