Litchfield enquirer., 1868-08-27
Thaddeus Stevens.

Thaddeus Stevens was called the cold Commoner," as an acknowledgment of his pre-eminent ability as popular leader, and of his untiring devotion to the cause of equal rights. He was, in almost every sense, with the men of all parties, the best liked and the most popular man on the floor of the House of Representatives dur ing the last four or five years of his Con- gressional career. His age and great ex- perience. as we'll as ready tact in legisla- ton, inspired respect, while his fund of wit and cheerful good nature "begat him troops of friends" It rarely happened, during the 3Sth and 39th Congresses, when he rose to make speech, that the mem- bers present did not, without distinction of party, gather about him and listen with ab- sorbing interest to what the " old man elo- auent" had to say. This mark of respect was not very often accorded to any other member of the House.
 It may with truth be said, that he was the leader of his party, because no other Republican member appeared to have quite as much influence as he; but his party did not follow him in all things; and his meas ures were sometimes killed outright by a strictly Republican vote-ior which he would generally take revenge by charging upon his friends an alliance with the otber side-a charge to which he was occasional T. |. to fillibuster with the Democrats for hours together, to prevent the passage of Q meas ure, about which he disagreed with his par ty. There were generally occasions of great glee and fun with the Democrats. They wuuId open rnelr ranks, when the venera- ble old statesman would limp over to their side of the House, take his stand in their midst, assume the leadership of the De- mocratic party, and with the utmost sang .froid, while all was laughter and confusion about him, commence throwing his shafts of wit and sarcasm into the ranks of his Republican friends. It may be doubted if any other Republican could have done this without losing caste with the party: but he was above fear, and wholly regard less of his status in the House.
 Few members ever doubted the purity oi his motives. His hatred of Slavery knew no bounds, and he never hesitated to de nounce with whitening invective all its apologists, as we'll as its advocates The Declaration of Independence was regarded by him as the only true exponent of tn Constitution, inasmuch as the god-ik principles enunciated in that great charte of human rights became the animatin spirit of the war of the Revolution, who's sword achieved liberty; and he held that
 was the intention of the framers of tn Constitution to secure that hbert and transmit its blessings to future gen ration.
 As speaker, Mir. Stevens had the po' CT of concentration to an eminent degre and his speeches rarely ever occupied mo than fifteen minutes in the delivery. soul was full of generosity, and he attackt no man without cause. But when pr voked and excited to reply, it may just
 be questioned whether his invective al
 sarcasm have ever been equalled by al
 American statesman since the days
 Tristan Burgess and John Randolph. H
 services during the Rebellion were of
 estimable value to the country, and
 name and fame will shed brighter al
 brighter lustre upon the history of Ame
 vance. J. H. H.