Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-12-14
T.,Xi,DECS STEVENS.
Further Demand Tor the publication of H.,
Biography.

Further Demand Tor the publication cf HIS
biography.
New York Sun.
ThaddeuS Stevens WAS buried in the
graveyard for colored people OF Lancaster.
lie declined to lay his bones with those
who were too proud to associate themselves
even in death with the race whose suffer
ings had excited his sympathy. In his
public conduct, in his domestic life, and
in all his tc>tamcntary arrangements. he
made clear his detcstation OF the distinc-
tion whi,!. society had always main-
tanned.
Stevens WAS certainly the great COM
moner nt the war period. He was for u
while in the House of Representatives its
action lay liz his voice. Opposition wiltcd
before his strong will. Weaker men, and
sometimes more conscientious men, ,cOwerld d
beneath his lash, and were driven into
measures they would fain have escaped.
Gen. Garfield, for instance, did not be-
lievc in the ct,ns:itutiOnality OF the recon-
structiou laws; he had. indeed, demon
Strated their uncOnstitutionality in the
supreme coaIt but he voted for them
under Stevens's stern command, as Obe-
diently as if it had been high treason to
have an opinion of his own. Stevens tOl-
Grated mo nonsense" as he called it.
When member offended him. or was
slack in his service of the party, he han no
hesitation in writing to the gcntlemen's
constituents that he had 10 further use for
him and they Lad better keep him at
home. lie never pretended that he thought
the rccons tructiOn laws constitutional. On
the contrary, he candidly stated his Opin
ion that they were entirely "Outside the
constitution" and as candidly expressed
l.. StnI nf
any man who supposed they were inside.
His doctrine Of political necessity covered
the case. He had no notion of pausing to
consider matters of mere legal right when
the interests he had in charge required
him to go ahead.
With muci, of the moral cOaIseness Of
Danton, !ic n:;,! many of the high mental
qualities of Mirabeau. He was one Of the
greatest of revolutionary leaders. He
rode the storm, and rode it for n purpose.
There was time when Mr.. LincOln's
power WAS not comparable to the actual
power wieI,lc.i by Stevens. No other man
in American history has ever occupied the
singular position which courage, genus
and stern conviction gave him.
The story of Mr.. Stevens's life is also
closely into rwOven with the most interest
ing chapters in the history Of Pennsylva-
Ois. With the common school system, the
public works aud the state politics of by
gone age. his name is inseparably con-
nected. On the whole, Thaddcus Stevens's
biography, i: executed with frankness
and courage similar to his own, would he
one of the most instructive biographies
ever written. Mr.. Edward Mcpherson is
his literary executor, and the public expe1:
tatiOn has more than once been aroused
by announcements that he had the work
in hand. The time has arrived for a can
did and dislassionate review of the polit-
lea! conduct o: the group of anti-slavery
leaders. ii whom Mr.. Stevens was tic most
powerful. ;iu:i iGr time the mos: conspic-
uous a..t ii is to be hoped that his ap-
pointed: iiO@rapher will not longer with
hold tic materials for a proper judgment.
Meet;n.. Of the Finance Committee.
Last evening meeting of the finance
committee Of city councils was held IN
select couEci; chamber. The city treas
urer hat, been notified to attend the meet
in. and bring with him the tax duplicates
and a certificate of his banker. showing
the amount o. city funds on deposit on the
list and ;,th Of April last, and also ON the
1,t of November. The treasurer, who is
a,.iup under advice of counsel, declined to
a,pear. The committee approved the bill
o.. Mr.. Clarkson, who had been employed
as an expert to examine the city treasur-
er's books, and having no other business
before them adjourned.