Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1869-01-07

Mr.. Sherman does not know whether his
propositions are approved by Gen Grant.
Remarks OF Hon. l.. II. Poland, in
House of Representative, Dec. IL.
1865, on the Death Of Thaddeus
stevens.
Mr.. SPEAKER: | rise to second the res
olutions ,offered by the gentleman from
Pennsylvania. The town OF Danvllle,
where Mr.. Stevens was born, and the town
of Peacham, in which he lived until he
had 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 represent
1t seems appropriate that Representative
of Mr.. Stevens native State and the Rep-
resentative of his native town and county
should perform this duty, but | regret
that it has fallen upon one who had so
personal knowledge of him. Mr. Stevens
removed from Vermont to Pennsylvania
before my birth, and / became a resident
of his native county but a few years since,
and after his youthful associates were near
ly all gone. | met him once or twice in
Vermont when he came to visit his aged
mother, but except this | never saw him
until | came to the Senate at the begin
ming Of the Thirty-Ninth Congress. Since
became a member of this House his ad-
yanced age and broken health prevented
his active participation in much of its bu-
siness, aud for a great part of the time his
attendance during its sessions. | can,
therefore, do little more than express the
general estimation Of his public character
and service entertained by myself in com
mon with the people of his native State.
| have learned that the parents Of Mr..
Stevens had very small pecuniary ability,
and that his education was mainly secured
by his own energy and efforts. When he
removed to the State Of Pennsylvania to
begin his career Of active manhood he
went among strangers, dependent for
friends. for success in business, for pro-
fcssional ar other Advancement. for the
means OF living even, upon what he m ght
bYforee Of his own unaided efforts and
ability, be able To win How
l. Idly he struggled. how hardly he fought
how successfully he won friends, profess
sijnal distinction, political advancement,
rlAmeand fame, we have been told by Ii,
longtime friend and neighbor and sue
ce>~1r III this House. His career and his
success Is another instance OF what Il So
common III this country, but 50 unc0m-
mon III all others, of the attainment Of the
highest professional and political distinc-
ton from the humblest condition by the
mere force OF personal effort and ability.
Mr.. Stevens was another tribute to our
system OF free institutions, founded upon
the equality OF all meu>-institutlous
which he loved 50 well and eXertcd him
-4lf 50 #trtI fuli.- r, ,vf Il .t,,l
ate. That Mr.. Stevens was man Of
married aL.lltE Ia eyer been concedtd d..
: well ny, his political opponent as ty
his political and personal friends, lie
had lndomitable courage, energy, of char
acter, and tenacious will 50 that when ha
had ONCE settled upon a couIsc OF action
h. pursued it 10 the end with an appar-
cut almost reckless, disregard Of TIE
opinions and Judgments of other mon
His leading and characteristic ambition
-comeQ 70 bo 70 elevate the uasscs If his
fellow-mcn He seemed ever to d ire
and 70 labor that all men should have an
oq1tl start and a fair chance in.the race
81 m Ills carly and successful efforts
- ms 'io 'e1 y '''' ~ .i' ga ,'-g 81 I'p'
'.' 49,, m
1.-e. - -. M
i",C - ili' gi4'', ~ ~ ~
"f4,' t'i ~ i'i a.,
nd onr mr. ,Iu wh Gc r ,I, and an-
posed the advancement Of men TO, better
conditions, and especially did he .lbhor
and tste~t that vast oppression which
once prevailed il. this country aud which
slavery. Accordingly, when that iIs~titu-
ton came 10 be one of tire SUBJECTS Of
political controversy in the country, he
was found among its most determined
and advanced opponents. 1t Is not saying
more than | believe to be Just to him, that
TO his efforts as much as to any one man
is the country indebted for it's final over
throw When the country had become
involved i'll civil war OF appalling mag
nitude upon this question Of slavery, and
the great question Of the time was,
whether the MON or slavery should 90
down, Nj. stevens sa>s.ed 70 rise at once
to the magnitude and majesty or tho oc-
cAsion.
His leadership Of the union men aid
opponents of slavery and its abctters dur
ing the period of the war, in the great
American Commons, was perhaps az bril-
liant and successful ~ the NO. as over
seen. Though | have no reason to doubt
he loved his country, its free institutions
and its government az well as others. |
''', 80 '1lol17 II, 'iI'.'i
Deh'li 4IIln7 'tl't PRO" "tie "'I'aiSu
as i'"ch " ms h"''''' q shaver a. y i4'S
iog' y. oo'.'tl ~, ~ c....
~ - ~ i"A 'ii'i 'lt"''o - 49, ',I.s'
ConSte57loh"i c1fget' 'i:o-9'i = 'uolis i!it
Is mainly ihci''l'o III H. ou' i'3Fe VA.
70 oIherS whose opportunities 10 know /"
are so iiiucIi oc''or 'iah my own MI
oEa'tns had very warm SlnFa'hl'1 ana
great klhantsS OF heaft' y" case OF a':'-
ieflhS OF I's'-.S9 eyer aPl'taIcu 10 it,lii IA
VAIN MS hedfl anu MS Hat' y II : AWAY
opened 10 Syl9pI'ni3e WIN anu iE'l@ =,
'At LC~''eo' anu 'i'' III" Vi ''ie
e'Tlh. ..,....... a...,..t -.
an 49, ne; III ~, ,,Iat - 49,