The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1869-01-01
r II NJ a r X S
S E N AT0R BUCKALEW
on THE DEATH OF THADDEUs STE
VEINS,
Delivered IN tie Z. s. Senate.

New England has given to Pcnnsylva-
MIA two mon of great distinction, though
of unequal merit.
In provincial times Franklin clme
from Boston to Philadelphia, fugitive
| youth, and entered upon that career
which has been given to the history of
the world. As author and publisher,
as representative in tho Colonial As.
sembly of Pennsylvania, as member
and president of the State constitution
al convention of 1776 and chief execu-
tive officer in the government establish
ed by that convention, as colonial agent
in Great Britain, as delegate in the
Continental Congress and signer of the
Declaration Of Independence, as organ
izcr of the postal service in the country
under the Confederation, as a scientist
and member of learned bodies at home
and abroad, and finally, as our illustri-
Gus and successful minister at the
French court in the dark hours of the
Revolution, he is known of all men
and his name will go down to future
ages. 1t is the pride of our people to
contemplate the colossal reputation
which he achieved and left behind him,
and they dwell with pleasure upon the
lnlnutest particulars concerning him
from that hour when, obscure and
| friendless, he appeared in the city of
his adoption to the time when "full of
years and full of honors" he passed
away to his appointed repose.
Thaddeus Stevens came from Yer
mont TO Pennsylvania at the age of
twenty-one. He came unheralded and
unattended, to carve his way to fortune
among strangers.
Adams county, Pennsylvania, lies
upon the Maryland boarder, and Get
tysburg is the county town-the seat of
justice for the county. At that place
Mr., Stevens settled after a short resi-
dence at York, and commenced the
practice Of the law. 1t was not place
TO make great gains at the bar. The
town was not large, the county was not
populous, the people were not wealthy.
1t was rural section Of the State rail
roads were unknown, manufactures, ex-
cept in small way, had not been es-
tablished; farmers and shopmen main
ly were the clients of men "learned in
the laws" But there were sound ele-
ments OF population in he town and
county-ths German and Scotch Irish
being Observation-Disclosures for in
dustry, frugality, fidelity, an sound
sense. And it was a pleasant region,
broken but fertile, farm and woodland
alternating in the landscape, with hill
and mountain in the distance, forest
clothed from base to summit. There
were few scattered villages for the
convenience Of merchants, backsmiths,
carpenters and other traders and work
men, and mills sounded along the
streams. Cemetery Hill then, as now,
overlooked the town Of Gettysburg;
but no war-at least no war Of civilized
man-had ever echoed upon its heights,
nor had its soil received, as harvest of
battle, the bodies of our patriot dead.
Mr. Stevens's long residence in ru-
raj district, such as have described it;
Influenced in great degree his subse-
quent character and conduct. And it
gave him wider knowledge Of men
and affairs than he could have acquired
if he had been at all times the resident
of a city. He knew the men of the
country as city men cannot know them,
and with him always "knowledge was
power" and he gave it prectical appli-
cation to the management of men.
Mr.. Stevens entered public life at the
ripe age Of forty as Representative in
.hc Pennsylvania Legislature from Ad-
ans county. I shall not detail with cX-
actncSs or at length the facts of his pub
lie career; nor shall | pronounce an
eulogium upon him or express emotions !
Of personal grief at his removal by
death from field of action and service
in which he was conspicuous. His la
bOrS will be detailed more fully by 9th !
ers, and his character is one not so much |
for eulogium as for analysis and for re-
Election. And as TO manifestations of |
sensihiity at this time, l have to say
that | think it will be proper to regard |
some what his example upon like occa-
sions, and hi7 general views concerning |
funeral solemnit cs. He did not res
poet insincere or undue praise of the
dead, and he always refused to wear
Grape in honor Of theit memory.
But some notice Of his life and char
dcter by the two Houses Of Congress is
most becoming in view Of his eminence
and of the influence which he exerted
upon legislation and upon popular
thought. And such notice may be
made instructive to men of the present
and to men of future times.
The frs knowledge / recollect 10
have acqu ired of Mr.. Stevens was in
1888. 1t was from speech which had
been delivered by him in the Legisla-
ture of Pennsylvania upon the subject
of education. After the lapse of thirty
years | can remember that he spoke of
the time when "the atoms of creation
shall bubble in the crucible of the Al
meaning the time of the final
destruction of the earth. When read
li"', tH'u5hliN WIN thc ld9tc VI q ooSi
that it was a most eloquent and admir-
able passage. do not think so now.
Mr.. Stevens for many years both
within and without the Legislature)
or assisted to conduct Il war
upon the institution of Free Masonry,
and eventually set on foot a legislative
investigation of its mysteries. In those
years he showed himself to be sn able
and eloquent leader of party, and OBJ
tained for the first time distinction and
influence. But his efIrt were unsuc-
cessful. Masonry stands as it has stood |
for ages among the benevolent institu- |
tions of civilized States.
Mr.. Stevens contributed some bril-