Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1886-04-03

Wing senators, whose seat was disputed
was about TO be sworn in, when the
crowd In the lobby broke into the chamber
under the lead of Washington Barton and
others, and Mr.. Stevens, who was present as
a spectator, had to save his life by max ing
his celebrated escape through the back win
dow. For three weeks tho Legislature was
at a deadlock, and mems passions ran hieh.
The Stevens contingent of the House organ
lied house of their own at wilson's, now
the Lochiel house. but finally recognized the
Democratic organization. Stevens was ex-
PEELED for his conduct but was reelected
and took his seat again few days before the
session was ended.
COMES TO LANCASTER.
The fiery politician removed to Lancaster
in 1912, where he soon built up large law
practice. This must have been ve-y neces-
sary, for il IL related that at that time he was
S20O0O In debt, which amount he reduced
to $50, 900 In 1919. In the latter year he took
his seat in Congress, there remaining Tor
four years piling up additional Indebtedness.
In that Thirty. first Congress were some nota-
bic men. In the Senate sat Hannibal HAM
lin, OF Maine; John L. Hale, of New Hamp-
shire Daniel :. Dickinson and William III.
Seward, of New York Salmon i. Chase,
OF Ohio Jefferson Davis, OF Mississippi !:
Thomas II. Benton, of Missouri Lewis
Cass, of Michigan Sam Houston, OF Texas,
and the great riumvirate, Webster, Clay
and Calhoun. In the House also were some
brilliant lights Eldbridge Gerry, OF Maine /;
Robert G. Winthrop OF Massachusetts, !;
Alexander stephens and Robert Toombs, of
Georgia Joshua Giddings, of Ohio, and
David Wilmot, of Pennsylvania.
With these skilled statesmen Stevens had
to cope to make his way, and in this his en-
ergy and rugged personality largely aided
him. 1t il uniruitful to go over his con-
gressional career from his defense of the
Missouri compromise through all the vary
ing phases of his intense anti slavery ideas
to the johnson impeachment, rs they are a
matter of recent history. In all he displayed
rare ability, united frequently to rare un-
wisdom. His dogmatic ideas and total un-
scrupulousness untitled him for ruling his
fellows, and II il Just as well for them that
be never had a very good chance in his pub
lie life to exercise arbitrary authority. His
hostility to the South was one of his greatest
hobbies and had he remained longer in public
affairs, he would probably have done what
lay in his power to delay the era OF peace and
reconciliation.
Buchanan and himself, political opponents,
were also tar from personal friends. The
story of their last meeting at Mountville at
DR.. Henry Carpenters wedding in 1867 has
| recently been told in these columns. a year
after both were dead, Stevens expiring In
| Washington, August IL, ls5S. The colored
| race found in him a warm advocate, and he
| provided generously in his will for the
| establishment of an institute for their in
| struction. Through the waiting for the
| bequest to accumulate TO the required sum
| nothing has yet been done to carry out the
| testators purpose. O. ]. Dickey and An
| thuny T.. Roberts, of the executors, are dead
aud Hon. Edward McPherson is the sol'
| survivor. From present appearances, many
a year will roll by before the walls of the
proposed institute rear their faces upward
to the sky.