The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1868-08-18

rom the Board OF Aldermen Of Washington
,ity, the Republican Invincibles, Union
League of Philadelphia, with draped banners,
Mayor and Councils of Philadelphia, Bar OF
Lancaster, Gov. Geary and State Officers,
Committee on Arrangements, Clergy, PAIL
bearers, hearse attended by COMMITTEES Of
rscort from washington, and rcla tons Of de-
,cased in carriages, The proceedings with
which It was intended TO close the procession
were abandoned, as the crowd was so great as
to make 1t impossible to form a line, and they
moved on In masses toward the burial ground
In advance Of the procession proper.
The line marched up South Queen street to
Centre Square, out East King street to Lime,
up Lime to Chestnut, and down Chestnut to
the cemetery. where the various organira-
tions divided to the right and left. The clergy
and hearse, with attendants, passed through
and the procession closed up In the rear.
Not one tenth Of the vast assemblage could
find standing room within the grounds, and
the streets on all sides were blocked up during
the entire progress Of the ceremonies.
The burial service OF the Lutheran Church
was read by Rev. W. V. Gotwald, after which
DR.. Mombcrt delivered the following address:
We are here to commit to the earth the
der our sincere coincidence to the bereaved
family, and to utter in few words the grief
with which this city-the chosen home;
and great American Republic, the true
fatherland of the departed--give up their
illustrious dead. You have already heard the
accounts OF sorrow, commingled with those
of admiration and respect proceeding from
numerous public bodies, and rejecting the
thoughts and feelings with which the Ameri.
can people respond to this providential dis
will be pronounced by eloquent tongues in the
halls OF Congress and the Legislature; and
aught besides q short, a parting word, uttered
IL In aas tae
would be beside the purpose. Thaddeus Ste
vens was born on the 4th OF April, l792, at
Peacham, Caledonia county, Vermont. His
and lame, but the strong intellect with which
God had blessed him was early detected by
his loving mother, who toiled with all her
strength to secure for him the benefit OF an
education. .#
Thaddeus was ambitious, and turned the
few opportunities for improvement to such
good account that he speedily proceeded to
qualify himself to enter Dartmouth college,
Immediately after leaving Dartmouth, he re-
moved to York, in this State, where he taught
a school for a livelihood, and read law care.
fully and steadily through the intervals OF the
day and night. Admitted after many discour-
agements to the bar, he soon attained good
Practice, and rose to eminence In his profess
sion, which for many years he followed with
out participating In politics.
The election Of John Quincy Adams to tho
lowed the triumph of the Democrats In the
election OF General Jackson In 1928, and his
decided action, aroused the political fervor OF
Mr.. Stevens, and he threw himself into the
contest with all the zeal and ardor OF his ma
ture. He took sides with the Adams party,
and when that party merged into the Whig
a.. ~ t. 10 he,
was elected to the Legislature by the wings
of Adams county, and was returned by the
same party during the years 1884, 1885, 1881,
In 1885 he was member of the Pennsylvan
State constitutional convention, and took an
active part in all the important debates In the
framing Of that instrument, but being then, as
always since, hostile to slavery, he refused to
sign the document because 1t restricted suf-
frsge on account of color. After the adoption
of the constitution, Mr.. Stevens was again in
political excitement. For thine two Legis.
iatures were in session, Mr.. Stevens being the
leading spirit in one, and an equally ardent
n ahe 5a on
OF a speaker, and in other acts OF legislation.
In 1888, Mr.. stevens was appointed canal
commissioner and managed, so far as he had
OF Penusyi vania, with skill and ability. In
1912, Mr.. Stevens removed to this city, since
which time Lancaster has been his home. He
was engaged in many important cases.
The interval from 1912 to 1913 was devoted
by Mr.. Stevens to his profession, but In the
latter year he was elected to the Thirty.See-
battle against the repeal of the Missouri com
promise, the fugitive slave law, and the Kan
sas-Nebraska bill. In 1850 Mr.. Stevens was
again returned, and has been reelected ever
since, and at the time OF his death was serving
his seventh term. This is the briefest possible
outline OF his public career. Passing from 4
to his character, we note the traits which will
enshrine his name In the hearts OF his country
men SO long as this great Republic shall endure.
He was an honest man. He loved his
country, loved mankind, loved liberty. Dur
kind and degree of temptation, he never once
sweryed from the path OF rectitude, and
neither the bitterness of party strife nor the
yentured to accuse Thaddcus Stevens
of dishonesty or corruption. He always
acted on conviction; and, however men have
convictions or the expediency of his measures,
1t was proverbial that no pecuniary or selfish
consideration could move him from what he
deemed the path Of duty His stern H, sense Of
fearless resoluteness lifted him far above self
ishness and proclaimed him at all times true,
faithful and honest servant of the Republic.
The light In which he viewed an action
prompted by selhshness and the gold so much
coveted aud priced by more dwartish natures
than his, Is best portrayed In his words taken
4
no honor, can long be perpetuated by mere
matter. OF this Egypt furnishes melan-
chOly proof. Look at her stupendous pyramids,
whichwere raised at such immense expense and
toll and treasure! As mere masses of matter,
they seem as durable as the everlasting hills;
yet the deeds and the names they wer e.intended
to perpetuate are no longer known on earth.
That ingenious people attempted to give i'm
mortality by embracing their great men and
monarehs. Instead of doing deeds worthy to
be recorded In history, their very names are
,,Iyn aaAn L. aft 90 III h,,t
their disgusting mortal frames to stare at
What rational being can view such soulless
material perpetustionl II you can enjoy 1t,
laneum, and to Pompeii, those eternal monu-
ments OF human weakness; II you set up such
value on material monuments or riches, may
OF wealth, the gold OF Ophir, and the rubies OF
the East presented in understandable lava,
along with their naughty wearers, the cold ,
OF the dead. Who would not shudder at the
idea of such prolonged material IDENTIFY Who
would not rather do one living, deed than to
nished goldi Sir, trust that when we come
TO act on this question, we shall all take
lofty ground, look beyond the narrow
space which now circumscribes our Wis.
Of time upon which We stand, and SO
cast our votes that the blessing OF education
shall be conferred on every son OF Pennsyl-
yAnia-shall be carried home to the poorest
child Of the poorest inhabitant of the meanest
hut Of your mountains, so that even he may
be prepared to act well his part in this land OF
freemen, and lay on earth broad and solid
foundation for that enduring knowledge which
goes on Increasing through eternity.
He loved his country, and this 10 the secret
OF his wonderful success.
He was an ardent patriot, whose name
would have illuminated the annals Of ancient
Rome as 1t does and will illuminate the annals
of the United States.
His massive intellect grasped the great and
momentOus questions OF the day, and never
let them go until in his devoted and enthusiast
tic attachment to the Republic he made them
yield the greatest possible good, not to any
one section, but to the whole country lttakes