Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1869-01-09
Cameron on Stevens.

mented Stevens. IT is worthy of the
/ great "conmoner" who represented his
section with upgagging zeal up 10 the
hour of his death This fine cplogy
comes with propricty from Pennsylva-
Mas greatest statesman
"Mr. Mcpherson, Clerk of the House
OF Representatives, appeared below the
bar and announced that he was directed
TO communicate to the Senate tI,e reso.
lutions adopted by the house of REPRE-
seDtatiyes ON the announcement Of the
death of Hon. Thaddcus Stevens. late
member of the House from the State of
Pennsylvania. . Ii
The resolutions Of the House Of Repre-
sent tativcs were read"
"Mr. Cameron President it is
my sad duty TO announce to tho Senate
| the death of that eminent statesman,
Thaddeus Stevens, member of the
/ House OF Representatives from Pcnnsvl-
vania. This great man died at midnight
on the 18th day Of August last, at his
residence in this city, during the recess
Of Congress.
Thaddeus Stevens was born on the 4tl
OF April, 1876, at DanviIlc, in Vermont.
where he received hIs primary education.
lie afterwards went to Burlington and
DartSmouth, whore lac completed his
education which the schools can confer.
After leaving college lac followed the
American instinct to move westward !:
and SO came to Penn, ylyania, residing
first at York, atterwaId removing to
| Getty sburg, and finally settling at Ian
caster His adopted State received him
in Il different spirit from that which many
States now receive mon of talent, enei-
gy and ability; and the veneration in
which his public character is held in
Pennsylvania is 4 fitting rebuke to the
stupid bigotry which rrpels such ma
terial.
Shortly after his arrival in York. Mr..
Stevens at the aye Of twenty-five. began
the study OF law, teaching q school in
the meantime to maintain himself while
prosecuting his studies Horn and rear
ed in the free mountains of Vermont.
where slavery was tradition merely.
and coming to the Maryland border,
where it could be seen in the fence CORE
crs, it was natural for man OF Thaddcus
Stevens sturdy and combatiye nature to
detcst that institution. 1t was imposs-
Bile that lie could uphold or quietly tol-
crate SO unjust system. lie became an
anti-slayery man, Of course; and it is
questionable If 50 uncompromising foe
to slavery, or an ADLER one, ever lived in
| America. lie was powerful defender
and n terrible opponent /; and it may be
justly said of him that he was more sue
cesstul in sustaining than originating
measures, more powerful to overthrow
than build up institutions.
After his admission to the bar he rose
steadily until he reached leading place
in his profession and he maintained this
conspicuous position until he ceased an
active practice of the law. His inteIlec-
tual grandeur always commanded admi-
ration. He was always thorough. His
conduct of case i'll the petty sessions
was not unlike his management of Il great
debate on questions affecting the deepes
interest to mankind. Without wasting
his own force or wearing out the patience
Of his auditory, he went directly to the
core Of the subject i'll hand. Never dis
sipating his thought over great variety
of points, he fastened upon the most i'm
Portant and essential, and pressed those
home with resistless vigor, logic, elo-
quence and wit; and from the time of
his entry into public life no man assaied
him without danger, or conquered him
without scars.
He maintained his mental vigOr to the
last, and with his eye undimmed by age
he has passed from the scenes of a busy
and useful life full of years and honors.
The change from the 'pauper' system
las it was called-to one of general cdu-
cation impressed many with the belief
that the, additional burdens OF taxation
consequent upon such change would
prove too cnerous, and furious opposi-
tion to the law of 1884 arose in some
parts of the State In 1885 this feeling
had gained such strength that there was
danger that the law would be repealed,
obedience to the popular clamor But
ithis noble act had noble refuge. Gov
Wolf had determined 10 veto any legisla.
tion which attempted it. When the time
came Thadtleus Stevens defended the
school law with great power, and the re-
pealing act was defeated by a great ma
.lority. To the honor of Mr.. Stephens it
must be remembered that this popular
outcry against the school law gave him
| the opportunity TO gain single advantage
over his political opponents, but lie scorn-
ed TO use il for such purpose. The time
gained for reflection by the defeat of the
repeating act saved our common school
system from annihilation. The general
sentiment now restraints opposition TO
this institution, and the advanced ard
steadily adyancineing Intelligence -oi our
people stands as the lnOnuiment to tIe
liirise fram0rs OF the law of 1884 ami its
able defender. .. ,s-04ar, l.tar.-
In referring to the life and public ser
vices OF such man as Dhaddeus Stevens,
it isonbecoming to indulge in loose sta:e
lncnt and bombastic praise. There is
enough of the man to furnish material
tor u truihfal and honorable cnconium
without claiming for him exclusively
honors which mainly belong to his con
tempories. This should be especially
avoided in the case of Mr.. Stevens, for
10 man more thoroughly despiscd such
IdniuStraa co.. Hn ALWAYS rnSnutnl laiuo