, 1885-02-21
MANNED STATESMEN.
CONGRESSMAN WHO LOST LIMBS IN
THE LATE WAR.
Other Congressional crippies-rhaddsuk
stevens LAmeness-Darwin A. Finney
oliver p. Morton and Alexander
n. stephens-A Phenomenon


Ramsdeil In Philadelphia Presal
Referring to helpless people, I recall an
article In The Post Of this city Of a few
days ago giving a list OF the members and
senator's who lost limbs in the late war by
the way, how long is the term @the late war"
10 be usedD and those who were wounded in
battle. The list, I may say In passing. is by
no means complete. For example, it does
not include ~Bil" Morrison, who, in a cor
tain way, Is the leader OF the house. He
was several times Wounded In battle, but,
with a modesty hat well becomes him, he
keeps all mention Of his service in the
Union army out of his biography in the
Congressional Directory" l have not the
time nor the facts at hand to give the
names OF all thoss who were wounded In
both armies who arc now in congress. One
strange fact l win mention Both senator's
from South Carolina wear each a wooden
leg Strange. isn't iti One OF them
(Butler1 lost his leg hunting Yankees, and
the other Hampton lost his hunting deer
on a mule.
How well l remember what may be called
the total crippies" in congress during the
past twenty yearsl All told, they were four.
First who CAV way was grand old Thad-
deus Stevens. He was always lame from an
Informed foot Ihave heard he did not
walk at ali until he was 0 years old. He al
ways walked with great difficulty, never
could walk far. and, during the last few
years Of his life (he died at TO- be could not
walk at all. Every day be was taken from
his home near the capitol by two strong col
ored men in an easy chair, which they
hoisted on their shoulders, and thus the
great m was borne through the
streets Crowds used to gather TO see him
pass and r~everently lift their hats He was
put down In his place in the house and when
the session was over be was taken back to
bis house and put TO bed. MIR. Stevens often
laughingly spoke OF the two colored carriers
as his pan-bearerH.
Another helpless cripple was Darwin A
Finney, a member for one term from Mead
VILE, Pa He propelled himself about in a
wheel-chair, but his trunk and lower limbs
were helpless from paralysis, and he had to
be holped in and out OF the house Of repre-
sontatives. He died abroad, 1 believe, at
about the Same time as Mr.. Stevens died.
Oliver P. Morton, as l think, one OF the big
gest men ever in congress, was another
helpless paralytic. He was never out of
pain, and, although q young man he died at
tho age OF so, hs was the most dependent OF
mortals In his latter days. He, too, had to
be carried into and out OF thu senate cham
Der In a chair. He was a poor man, and
could Ill afford the low coupe he was Obliged
to own
The other helpless statesman OF the four l
alluded to was Alexander h Stephens. He
was truly a phenomenon. Built of nothing
but skin and bones, he never weighed while
in congress more than from eighty to 100
pounds. Such a little bit OF a thin face, and
such skeleton hands you never saw. Yet
how bright were his eyes, and what exhibit
tions Of energyl His voice was one Of the
strongest and ~clearest / ever heard, and
when he spoke, my masters, wheeling his
chair backward and forward in the space In
front Of the speakers desk, he was listened
to by the whole house. He had to DO taken
home in his chair, too. He had for q body
servant a young negro six feet four In
height, and admirably proportional. Mr..
Stephens used to say, chuckling quietly the
while. that he did not know What he would
do when "Sam" died. All four OF these men
are now dead. Three Of them certainly
were great, and it seems TO me that the
places OF Thad Stevens and Governor Morton
never can be filed.