St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1869-01-08
Remarks of Hon. l.. Il. Poland,
IN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, DC. Il.
1868, on TIE DEATI OF THAD-
DEI-s STEVENS

DEUS SrENENS.
Mr.. Speaker. rise to second the res
olurions offered bv the gentleman from
Pennsy lvania. The town of Danville,
where Mr. Stevens was born, and the
town of Peacham. i'll which he lived I'M
I'll he bad completed his education and
attained his majority, are both adjacent
TO the town where | reside, and form :.
part OF the district | have the honor TO
'ePreSent. 1t seems appropriate that Il
representative of Mr. Stevens native
state, and the representative of his native
town and county should perform this
duty, but | regret that it has fallen upon
IN" who had 50 little personal know
edge of him. Mr.. Stevens removed from
Vermont To Pennsylvania before my
b'rtr. and ! became a resident of his ma
I'VE county hut Il few wears since, and
after his youthful associates were nearly
Il gone. | met him once or twice in
Vermont when he came TO visit hi- AGED
mother, but except thi, Lever saw hlm
until | came To the Senate at the begin
uing of the Thirtv-ninth Congress
Since | became Il member of this House
his advanced a-e and broken health pre-
vented his active participation in much
t It's business. and for Il part OF the
me his attendance during i sessions.
| can, therefore, do little more than rx-
press the general estimation of lii pub ic
'iAraCtcr and service entertained by my
: It in common with the people OF his
native State. | have learned that the
arrnt> OF Mr.. Stevens had very small
pecunidry ability, and that lis cducat on
was mainly secured 10y his OWE energy
and ctiurS. When lie removed TO The
State OF Pennsylvania to begin his ca
rrcr of active manhood. he went among
strangers, dependent for trieniS, for sue
cess IN business. for professional or other
Enhancement, for the means of livinL
wen, upon what he might, by force of
ris own unaided efforts and ability. he
Dbl TO win. How hardly he struggled.
now hardly he fought, how successfully
ne won friends, professional distinction,
p'iitIrai advancement, name and fame,
Sc have been told bv hi, longtime tricnd
nd ncighbor and successor ~ this house.
IL, career and his ,urcr,, !. ano;}.r IN
-;aurr of vl,t !, so cnu,,,,n in hi,
'uuutrv, hut 81 uncommon Ia all oth,r-,
It thr attainment OF II I highest probes
-'onal and political di>ti .ctlnn from the
numhic>; condition by the mere force ul
,cr~ md effort and ability.
Mr. Sroyrns WIS anuther trihutc tn
our system ot free institutions. founded
upon the equality OF all men-in-rtu-
r,riS winch hr loved - well. AMI exert
Il hitn-clf 80 t;uthfuiv to eNieud AMI
p,orciuate That Mr. Stevens wa,
nan of marked ability has ever been CON
"ded. ~ we'll hv his political oppcnc l.
- 10y hi~ political and personal friends
:lr had iml"mitahle courage. cnrrgy oi
.'hlrac.er, a"d tenacious will, - that
when he had once >4tilrd upon cOur>r
action hr pursued ii to tlI- end with an
,uparcnt. almost reckless. ,;i-rrgjrI ui
l.c opinions ana judgments o: uthrr IN N.
i = leading AMI characteristic amhl'ior
-'rmcd Ia be To clcNa'c the ma>-r> al hI>
j.i'"W-mrn. lie seemed ever t" dt>'re
% Labor that all mrn >h"nd have an
lual start and fair chrnce il the race
t life. lis early and successful cttprt-
- h- adopted state III ihc cause OF pop
Ular aud general education were a" apt
md cnduri"% Illustration OF tins grrLi
= riiI q! his character IL loved tree
;"m and liberty tor himself and for all
ncm - well lie hated every form ct
/ Hr'mnv a"i oi preston Which ct"Eg'd
aud oppressed III" advancement "t m'"
." better conditions, and especially d'd he
'hh"r and dr'e>t that vast oppression
Wllrh once prrNHileh III thi> country anu
witch seemed ilkelv I" prevail inre'rr-
human slavery. Accordingly when that
'n>'ll"'l"h came |" or one "' Tue Sn'9'c.9
/ political controversy IN The country.
'e was found am""@ us most d trrmlhrI
md "dHancrd opponents II Is not >'I-
In@ more lhan heliev I" be- just l" ''lh'
lat t" hl~ efforts as muci H. |" tll"Ne "'
my one man. Is the c"nn'ry Iiieo' +
~ hnai etertllrow. heh 'il' 'ohh'y
"Hd hec"me INV OWED IN Il VII war "i
'pptiln" magnitude upon thr qh'> ION
~ slavery anu 'ne Stt'' q'e>'''" VI '"e
time, whether The mon "r slaIe'E
-hnuld z" down. W.T.. stevens sef'ii'" |"
lie 1T once '' ''ie Ill ''i'''''e ''"'' ni''
y OF 'ne orcaS!oa'
Ills iea"'r'n'P oi inc t"'o' 'i''' anu
"PP"he''@ VI S'"se' anu 10 .''',Io'''
my the lerI"d oil 'he war; |" ,N' s'ea'
\ n 4 an
American Co"'''i'''S, was PS'n'i,I' I', /, a.
"'''iI'h' ana S'''e,' 'u' d. ',' "o' W '','o -.
ever seem inousn l nave "o '','>. a. II ~
dou"t he lo't'i MS 'ou''''l' ''' ''eI Iu III II.