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FIRST EDITION.
TWELVE O'CLOCrIC I DX.
THE CAPITAL
• •
Supreme Court—Trading in Hay
tien Piorts—Building Accident—
Indian Delegations—ThetlVhis
-
key Frauds—lin-Klux Blin—
k; Lynch Law--General Grant—
Light House Service. •
(By Telegraph.to the rlttihargh eaxette - .3
—Wasirriverroli, December 21, 1868.
TEE SUPREME COURT
to-day affirmed the decision of the lower
Court in the case of the Rock Island. Bridge
Company versus Andrews. The Court ad
journs en Thursday till January 4th, when
the docket of original motions • arising:un
der the constitution will be called.
SECRETARY SEWARD
replies as follows to a telegram from a New
York firm making the inquiry, "Will the
-..United States government , protect Ameri
can vessels bound to ports in Hdyti held by
rebels there from seizure or detention> by
the Hayden government ?" He says : "The
goverrunent of the United States will pro
tect no United Stated vesseliihich - shall at
tempt to carry on trade in Hayden ports in
violation of any existing blockade or of any
lawful decree of the government of., the
Haytien Republic which has been duly rec
ognized by the United States. All persons
trading in insurrectionary ports in. Hayti
will be liable to be dealt with according to
the process and principles of international
law."
THE RETRENCHMENT 'REPORT.
a
Mr. Van Wyck'sreport of the Com ittee
on Retrenchment on the subject of rev nue
frauds, is printed. It , says : Contin ing
the investigation commenced more th n a
year ago, this Committee find manyfrau ds
yet existing in the revenue departrnen in
kind, as heretofore, but.not to the same ex
tent, by reason of the reduction of the ax
on whisky, and making the estimated -
pacity one ofthe tests of production. W en
the capacity shall be improved and m di-.
tied, as experience has already demons ra
ted to be necessary, frauds will be lea se ed
and the revenue increased. The gr eate st
want is. undoubtedly of honest officials, tit
no improvement can be hoped for in that
direction under the present Executive, a
fact Congress should - have realized and
acted upon long ago, and then devised a
system which human ingenuity could not
easily - circumvent. -
111
EU ELUX-KLAN.
A member of Congress to-day received
from a military officer in the South a pho
tft: raph of two members of the Hu-Kiux
.
• Man. He explais e bivad from
n " which they-were tankenthat
was th one hundred . ' and fifty strong, and is the same that seized
, Huntsville,__ Alabama,. surrounded ---the
4 cotirt.house, murdered the Judge and some
others,etc." - The men captured were not
. Z more lan eighteen years old.
•
... THE LIGHTHOUSE szuvidx.
,
• All light Vessels in the serVice • of the
Lighthouse'floard have been removed from
lixations on the northern coast to localities
-.,,.. where they will not be endangered , from
drift ice. The can and nun buoys have
. 4 ,. also been removed from like precaution,
'...-. and their places to *warily - supplied with
..,, spars. -
. -
PALL OP wawa. ~
The main wall of the new hospital
4 buildihg, belongin 'to the Howard Ifni
!. versity, gave Way tis afternoon. The work
:f men, about fifteen in number; 'one.third
white and the othe s black, who were roof
ing the structure, f 11 to the ground, a die
tance of fifty feet, and - were - all injured,
several seriously if of fatally.
. , INDIAN ELEGATTJ3.
,". Several deiegatio of Indians, represent.
lag the Miamis, C eeks, Cherokees and
other tribes are expected in Washington
~, • during the winter for the purpose of secur
,l ingedditions to existing treaties between
them and the Government relative to ces
sions of lands and the improvement of their
• domestic condition.
LYNCH - LAW.?
The bill recently Introduced in the Sen
ate, by Mr. Trumbull, to prevent the repe
tition of such crimes by popular violence
as that recently committed at New Albany,
Indiana, it is understood is approved by the
Secretary of State.
APPOINTMENT&
_ .
The following Internal 'Cayenne appoint
ments were made to-day: Oaugers—Wm.
G. Wilson and W. P. McCurdy, for the Ist
district of Ohio.
GENERAL GRANT
Was•at headquarters to-day attending to
official business. ,
ST. LOUIS.
• Family Poisoned—Rumored Defeat of Ge
should= by ltadians--Weather and Nay!
gation.
; iBY Telegraph to the Pittsburgh Gazette.)
+.
.t. ST. L 01715,, December 2l.—Mr. Kohl,
and dye children and two boarders wer.
t poisoned yesterday from eating rabbits
The whole party were very sick, bit•
prompt medical attendance relieved the..
and they are ail doing - well.
Rumors are current, in Western Kansas
that General Sheridan had met with defea
at the hands of Indians, but they are un
founded. No battle has taken place since
November 27th, -when General Custer de
tested Blackkettle and his allies.
- The weather continues warm. The ice
in the river has disappeared and naviga
tion is fully resumed to points south, and
boats have departed for Quincy and Kea
, Yuk. The Illinois river is reported open
4 to Peoria. .
FLORIDA AFFAIRS.
(By Telegraph to the Pittsburgh Gazette. I '
TALLAHASSE, December 21.—Telegraphic
information was received here to-day that
Judge Miller, of the United States Su
preme Court, on the plea of Lieutenant
Governor Gleason, has signed a citation in
quiring as to his title to .office under the
State constitution.
The United ; States District Court lain ses
sion at Jacksonville.
It is currently reported that efforts will
be made before the jury to indict Governor
Reed for some failure or excess of duty
while agent of the Postoffice Department
previous to his el_ection as Governor; also to
indict Senator Cistx)rn forsome misdemean
or-while register in bankruptcy previous to
his election as Senator.
The Peruvian Fleet Difficulty.
rßi Telegraph to the Pittsburgh Gazette.)
No OnfmArts, December 21.—The Col
lector was to•day informed by Secretai7
McCulloCh that the Peruvian transport
Havana is covered by her flag, and shels
not to be seized.
FORTIETH CONGRESS.
ITHIRD sEssioN. i i
Senate Proceedings Adjourn
ment Till January sth.
Cliy Telegraph to the Pittsburgh Gazette.)
WASHINGTON, December 21, 1868.
SENATE.
Mr. THAYER presented a remonstrance
against the ratification of the Osage Indian
treaty, except on certain terms. Referred
to Committee on Indian Affairs. '
Mr. SUMNER offered two resolutions,
one directing the Secretary of the Senate
to inform the Senate what has been done
in pursuance of a -resolution authorizing
him to furnish each State a set of standard
weights and measures on the metric Elva.
tern, and the other directing the Postmaster
General to give information of wha has
been done to farniah•postal balancesi f
the
same kind. Adopted.
Mr. PATTERSON, of New Hampshire,
introduced a bill to reorganize and increase
the efficiency of the Medical Department of
the Navy. Referred.
Mr. RICE called up his motion to add
two members to the Committee on Pacific
Railroag, as representatives of. the South.
It was adopted.
Mr: yVILSON offered a resolution, which
was ailopted, directing the Secretary of the
Interior to report what Indian agents or
superintendents are absent from their
posts. _
Mr. THAYER offered a resolution re
questing theTresident to instruct the
the
Union
who have the
Union Pacific Railroad west of Omaha, and
and eastern division of the Union Pacific,
to examine in the same way all the Pacific
Railroads so far as constucted, and to re
port what amount is necessary
rd of a first
to complete
them according to the standa
class class railroad, as required by law.
Mr. STEWART objected to the consider
ation of the resolution and it went over un
der the rule.
..Mr. offered a resolution re
questingOWAßD
the Secretary of the Treasury to
communicate to the Senate the reports of
of the Union Pacific Railroad and Its branch
es, as already requested by a resolution
passed last July..
Adjourned to the sth of January.
NEW YORK CITY.
Cl3y Telegraph to the Pittsburgh Gazette. 3
NEW YORK, December 21, 1808.
Thomas 0. Acton, Esq., President of the
Board of Police Commissioners, has an
nonnced his intention of resigning. -
There are more rumors of an organiza
tion in this city to aid the Cuban insurgents.
The Congressional Committee on alleged
New York election frauds to-day examined
District Attorney Courtney, Marshal linr
ray,and others.
- Vice President elect Colfax and wife ar
rived to-day and are the guests of Elliott
C. Cowden. - They will remain until Thurs
day.
At a meeting of the General Committee
of the United States Indian Commission
to-day # Col. Wynkoop-was,requested to ad
drew that body on , Wednesday evening on
the cause of the recent trouble with the In
dians and the remedy therefor.
- A report says the New York _Central
road will hereafter pro rats with Western
roads in freight, close relations having been
made with the Michigan Southern, Mich'.
gan Central, Lake Shore, Cleveland and -
Toledo, and the Wabash and Northwestern
roads. Gossip says for inangurhting the
present bhll movement, Broad street bor
rowed ten to twenty millions of gold and
exchange on stock mllaterals and sold it
for currency, thereby putting theselveS
in a strong financial in
position to hold their
Central stock. It is reported the gold and
exchange are to be returned in January.
The steamer America, from Europe, has
arrived.
The Boston Advertiser says the balance
of State scrip Atte the Hartford and Erie
Railroad Company was issued on Thurs
day, making the total received above FOO,-
000 currency, or $500,000 in sterling ex
change.
Hon. Schuyler Colfax, J. Lathrop Mot
ley, Rev. Dr. Bellows,
Rev. Dr. Hitchcock
and others will speak in the New England
dinner to-morrow night.
BRIEF TELEGRAMS.
—The united States Supreme Court will
adjourn on the 24th inst. until the 4th prox.
—At Philadelphia on Sunday, a Mr.
Keating fell down stai s
rs and broke her neck,
causing instant death.
—The bill, appropriating cannon for the
erection of a monument to Gen. 'Kearney
has been approved by the President.
—The Sheriff of Coshocton county, Ohio,
absconded on the 18th. taking with him
ten thousand dollars in public finds.
—The British Minister on Sunday sent a
dispatch concerning the Alabama claims to
England, at a cost of one thousand dollars.
—The Reconstruction Committee of Coe
gress has deferred action in the cases of
Mississippi and Georgia until after the holi
days. I •
—A Havana letter says it is rumored and
generally believed that the Havana „lottery
is to be suppressed by the home govern
ment.
—A clerk in the Treasury Department at
Washington is said to be missing, and his
accounts show a deficit of several thousand
dollars.
-:111p to yesterday morning a Jury had not
been obtained in the Twitch° homi
cide case. The case is exciting extraordi.
nary interest.
—The bridge at Elmore, Ohio, on the
Cleveland and. Toledo Railroad was burned
yesterday. Connections will be broken
until Tuesday.
—The Woman's Suffrage Association of
St. Louis is actively engaged in prosuring
signatures to memorials to Congress and
the State Legislature, praying for the priv
ilege of voting.
—The case of T. IL Brennan, charged
with rape upon Mary Ann Sheehan, which
resulted in her death, was concluded at
New Haven, Conn., yesterday. The de
cision was reserved until Wednesday.
—The total assessment in the Second Dis
trict of Ohio for November was $370,000.
Of this amount $324,000 was on whisky.
The tax paid on whisky by stamps during
the same month in the Second District was
$170,000.
—Horace Greeley publishes in the New
York Tribune a three column letter to Sena
tor Morton on his (Morton's) recent speech
upon the resumption of specie payment.
Mr. Greeley , differs from the Senator in
that the former believes that prompt re
sumption is practicable, and argues upon
that point at length.
—Sixty of the rominent graduates of
Harvard College, Including nearly all the
classes back to 1817, have issued an appeal
to the graduates throughout the world In
behalf of a class subscription fund, for the
purpose of increasing the salaries of the
Professors and the College library. It is
contemplated to raise half a million dol
lars, the interest of which is to be used for
the purpose named,
PITTSBURGH, TU ES fifk.
SECOIII
FOUR O'CLOCK A. M.
F. 11011,! EUROPE.
The War Aspect. in' the East—Ex.
( citement in Athens and Con
' stantinople. President
sores Message Denounced by the
London Times—English Parli
nsentary Election—Speeches
by Messrs. Gladstone and Bright.
By Telegraph to the Pittsburgh "Guelte.)
1 • GREAT BRITAIN.
I
i? ,
LONDO , December 21.—The full mes
ge of esident Johnson was received by
t e Tim to-day. It refers to the Prest
d nt's stu bornness, denounces the repu
d ' tion preposition, and approves of the so
ti n or i the Senate and House In the dis
posal of the doeurnent.
Messrs. Gladstone, Bright and Lowe have
been re-elected to Parliament.
Mr. Gladstone, in 'a' speecli at the Hustings
in Greenwich, said he was not yet wholly
in favor of the ballot, but if free voting
was impossible without such, a safe-guard,
then he was for the ballot. •
Mr. Bright also made a speech Wore his
re-election, at Birmingham, in - which he
explained he had declined hlsfirst appoint
ment as Secretary for India because the
labor of that office was too severe for him
in the present state of his health, and also
because he, thought the views of the coun
try in regard to the Indian policy were not
sufficiently advanced. He argued that the
late Parliiimentary elections offered fresh
evidence in favor of the adoption. of the
ballot. He denounced the profligacy of the
Tory narty, and closed with promising, on
the part of the Cabinet, economical reforms
in the administration of the government.
All the members of Parliament appointed' ,
to positions in the Government have been •
reelected, except Mr. Caldwell, whose elec
tion will take place to-morrow. None of
the elections were contested. It is gener
ally. believed that the Ministerial change
in France is due to the influence of the en
ti-clerical free press.
TURKIFY-,
CONSTANTINOPLN, Decetnber 20--Even
ing.—The Porte approves the conduct of
Admiral Hobort Pasha at the harbor of
- The Ambassadors of the Western Powers
decline to exercise protection over the af
fairs of Greek residents, after their expul
sion from Turkish dominions.
- Pena, December, 21.--.lftetilm..—lt IS re.'
ported Prince Metternich has received in
structions from Vienna to act, in concert
with. France In the Easterri'dilEctilty.
The .Prewe represents the war excitement
as intense In Constantinople as in Athena,
and states the Rusatart-lituritte been btzrnt
in the streets of Constantinople. ,
CONSTANTINOPLE, December 21.—The
Greek subjects of the Sultan have sent a
'immortal to Athens praying the Govern
ment to avoid , war with Turkey.
SPAIN
-MADRID, December 21.—Disturbances
growing out of the elections , are reported
in some towns, but are of an insignificant
character.
GERMANY.
)3 z Era I.; December 2l.—The Prussian
Diet has adjourned for the holidays - unlii
January 7th.
MARINE NEWS.
UT fr o m De
- c. 21.• The 'steamer
Deutschland,o New York, arrived yes
terday:
QUEENSTOWN, December 21.—The steam.
er Tripoli, from New York, arrived here
to•day.
• FINANCIAL AND COMMERCIAL.
LONDON,
.December 21.—Evening—Con
sols at 98%. Money market quiet; 5.20
Bonds at 7434; Erie, 25X; Illinois 954'.
FRANKFORT, December 21.—Bonds 79X.
LIVERPOOL, December 21.—Cotton quiet
and steady; middling uplands at lOya
ior i d., Orleans 10Xalld. Sales of - 12,000
bushels of California white wheat at - lls.,
11d., red western gs, 10. > Flour 265., sd.
Corn 385., 6d. Oats 35., 7d. Barley '5B.
Peas 458., 6d. Pork 86s. Beef 10.58. Lard
68a. Cheese 695. Bacon 545., 6d. Petrole
um unchanged. Tallow 495. Linseed 011;
sales of 80 pounds at 10s. Calcutta Linseed
at 578., 6da588. Tallow 48a., 3d., heavy and
weak. Petroleum at Antwerp 51 francs.
Cotton at Havre 24 franca on spot.
FRANKFORT, December 21.—Evening
5-20's closed at 78a78X.
CHICAGO.
Presentation to 10 Governor Oglesby—Can.
vassing_ the Vote of Illinois—Commis
sary abuse at Fort Snelling' Destroyed
—Death of a Commercial Editor.
(By Telegraph to the Pittsburgh Gazette.)
Cuinituo, ecember 21.—Gov. Oglesby,
••
of this State, as the recipient this niont
ingot' a silve pitcher, inlaid with .gold, a
silver delver a d two goblets, from the Re
publicans of ttle Creek, Michigan, In re
cognition of hi services to the Republican
cause by a ape oh which he delivered at
that place on t e 24th of August last.
The Govern r, Secretary of State, Audi
tor and Treasu er met this morning at the
State House a d canvassed the votes for
Congressmen nd State o ffi cers, except
Governor and leutenant -Governor, which
will be done the General' Assembly.
1
The Republican majority for Secretary of
State is 50,167; for Auditor, 49,900; for
Treasurer, 50,113; for Attorney General,
49,119, and for Penitentiary Commissioners,
50,360.
The Commissary House at Fart Sneing,
located on the bluffs between St. Paul ll and
Minneapolis, was destroyed by tire last
night. It was with the utmost difficulty
that the fire was'kept from the woollen° of
the Fort. All the guns, etc., in the round
house were destroyed. Loss abOut $50,000.
The fire had its origin in a defective chim
ney.
Chas. FL Wignall, for the past eleven
years commercial editor of the - Chicago
Tribune, died yesterday, aged thirty years.
Hie disease was ,consumption. H e was e _
christlan gentleman and an able and trust
worthy commercial reporter.
New Trial Refused the Assassin Whalen.
Elty Telegraph to the Pittsburgh Gazette.l
Tonowro, - December 21.—The Court Of
Queen's bench. to-day refused to grant a
new trial to Whalen, convicted of the mur
der of D'Arcy McGee, Chief -Notice Rich
ard and Judge 'Wilson , sustained the ver
dict of the Ottawa Jury, and Judge Morri
son dissented. The prisoner was remand
ed until Thursday, when he will appeal
against the ruling of to-day to the Court of
Errors and. Appeals,'
, •DECEMBER 22, 1868
SENATOR CAMERON'S YANEC,YRIC
ON I'IIADDELTS STEVENS.
We furnish our readers this morning with
lhe able and eloquent panegyric pronounced
in the Senate by the Hon Silcox CA-IfEEON
on the lamented Mr. STEVENS, together,
with th resolutions of respect introduced
and adOpted./ Mr. CemEnon's remarks are ,
clear, eloquent and comprehensive, and a
fitting ,tribute to the memory of the brave
old Commoner who now rests quietly in
death: -
DEATH OF HON. THADDEUS STEVENS. '
Mr. McPherson, Clerk of the House of
Representatives, appeared below the bar
and announced that he was directed to
communicate to the Senate the resolutions'
adopted by the House , of Representatives
on the announcement of the death of Hon.
Thaddeus Stevens late "a member of the
Housie - frcim the S tate of Pennsylvania.
The resolutions of the House of Repre
sentatives were read._
MR. CAMERON. Mr. President, it is my
sad dutyito announce to the Senate the
death of that eminent Statesman, Thad
deus Stevens, a member -of the House of
Representatives-from Pennsylvania. This
great man died at midnight on the 11th of
August last, at his residence in this city,
during the recess of Congress.
Thaddeus Stevens was born on the 4th
of April, 1792, at Danville, in Vermont,
where he received his primary education.
He afterwards went to Burlington and
Dartmouth, where he completed thatpor
tion of Ms education which the schools can
confer. After leaving Renege he followed ;
the American instinct to move westward;
and so came to Pennsylvania, residing first
at York, afterward removing to Gettys
burg, and finally settling, RS Lancaster.
His adopted State received him in a differ
ent spirit from that with which many States
now receive men of talent, energy and
ability; and the veneration in which his
public charaCter is held in Pennsylvania is
a fitting rebuke to the stupid bigotry which
repels such material.
Shortly after his arrival in York, Mr.
Stevens, at the age of twenty-two, began
.the study of the law, teaching a school in
the meantime ,to maintain hinaself.while
prosecuting his studies. Born and reared
in the free mountains of Vermont, where
slavery was a tradition merely, and com
ing to the Maryland border, where its
effects could be seen in the fence-corners, it
was natural for a man of Thaddeus Stevens'
sturdy and combative nature to detest that
institution. • It was impossible that he
could uphold or quietly tolerate so unjust
a system. He became an anti-slavery man,
of course; and it is questionable if so un
compromising a foe to slavery or an abler
one, ever lived in America. .He was a
powerful defender and a terrible opponent;
and it may be justly said of him that he
was mere successful, iv sustaining than in
originating measures, more powerful to
overthrow, than to build up institutions.
After his admison to the bar lio rose
steadily until he r e ach ed a leading place in
his profession: and he maintained this con
spicueas position til he ceased the active
practice of the la . His intellectual gran:
'dour alwaye =subidratiOn.- Re'
was .always thorough. His conduct of a
ani z aded
case in the petty sessions was not unlike
his management of a great debate on ques
tions affecting the deepest interests of man
kind. Without wasting his own force or
wearing out the patience of his auditory,
he wintt, directly to the core of the subject
in hand. Never dissipating his thought
over a great variety of points, he fastened
upon those most important and etential,
and pressed these home with resistl ss vig
or, logic, eloquence and wit; and from the
time of his entry into public life no man
assailed him without danger or conquered
him without scars. He retained his men
tal vigor to the last, and with his eye un
dimmed by'age he has passed from the
scenes of a busy and useful life full of
years and of honors. -
In 1833 Mr. Stevens was elected to the
Leslature of Pennsylvania, and at Once
,took a prominent part in the deliberations
of that body. His moat signal service was
the defense of our common-school system
from the attacks of its enemies. .A system
of public education had been
,provided for
in Penn't frame of government for the pro
vinde, by the provisional government
framed atter the Declaration of-Indepen
deuce, and by the Constitution of 1790. By
virtue of this authority the provincial coun
cillorganized a school in Philadelphia on Oc
tober 28, 1883, the date' of Penn's charter
being April , 25, 1.882. i Other sch6ols were
instituted as they became necessary. In
1762 an effort was made to provide for a
comprehensive system-of publid - instruc
tion; but the coloniali, wars firsVand the
Revolution afterward frustrated ,this wise
design. But public opinion was never
wholly diverted from this scheme. :Ali the
Governors of our State under the Constitu
tion, I think, pressed tho importance of this
great measure on the Legislaturefaricrone
with greater force and pertinacity a n
Governors Snyder, Shultz and Wolf, t h e,
representatives of that good and but often'
neglected German element In the popula
tion of Pennsylvania. 1 ,
Until the year 1834 'Old' public schools
suffered from a radical defect. They only
provided for the education of the poor
gratis. The advaneing intelligence of the
age demanded a more enlightened, policy.
A committee of the two Houses of our
Legislature, containing, among others,Dr.
Samuel Brack, James Thompson and Wil
mer Worthington, of West Chester, framed
the law of 1834, the foundation of our ad
mirable school system. The first named of
these gentlemen has passed away,but then,
his youthful colleagues still live to enjoy
-the lasting honors in which their fellow
citizens hold their services in the cause -of
education Hon. James Thompson now
adorns oar supreme bench, and Hon. Wil
mer Worthington is the Speaker of the
Senate of Pennsylvania. 1
The change from the "pauper" System--
as it was called—to one of. general educe-
cation impressed many with the belief that
the *additional burdens of taxation conse
quent on such a change would prove_ too I
onerous, and a furions opposition to ' the
law of 1834 arose in some parts of the State.
In 1835 this feeling hint gained such
strength that there was danger that the
law would be repealed, in obedience to the
popular clamor. But this noble act had a
noble refuge. Governor Wolf had determ
ined to veto any legislation which attempt
ed its repeal. When the contest came
Thaddeus Stevens defended the school law I
with great power, and the repealing.aot .1
was defeated by a large majority. , To .the
honor of I Mr. Stevens it must be remem
bereft, that this popular outcry against the 1
school \ latV gave him the opportunity to gain
a signal advantage over his political oppo
nents, put he scorned to,use it for such a
purpose. The time gained for reflection by
the defeat of the repealing act saved our
comition-shool system from annihilation.
The general sentiment now restrains oppo
,
and stew s ition td institution ,
this and the advanced
people s ands
th as the' the wise
fly advancing intelligence of our
farmers f e law of 1834 andmonument
its to
'able de-
fender.
• The i portance of - our publics insprove
ments was discussed and established in the
latter part of the last and the system was
inaugurated early in the present century.
Its actiye and successful adyocate in the
Legislature was William Lehman, of Phil
adelphia, who entered in the Legislature in
1818. Active operations were begun in
1826, and continued under the able direr:
tion of Governor Shultz, John Sargent,
William Darlington David Scott, Joseph
Mcllwaine, Daniel ' Montgomery, Abner
Leacock, James Clark, Jonathan Knight,
Charles Mowry, and Francis R. Spunk,
during the twelve years of the administra
tions of Governors Shultz and Wolf. The
works were in full operation in 1835, and in
1838 Thaddeus Stevens was appointed canal
commissioner by Governor Ritner. His
success was not equal to his abilities. Dur
ing his administration of this °Mae addi
tional works were undertaken, but they
proved failures. Various causes Combined
to prevent his success. Intense opposition'
Always confronted him, and an impatience
of details operated against him in every
thing of a business character, .except in his
'Profession, where he was consummate in
his preparation and use of every means of
victory..
In referring to and p bile ser
vices and characterth o e lifef
such a ma p n as Thad
deus Stevens it unbecoining to indulge
in loose statement and bombastic praise.
There is enough of the man to furnish ma
terials for a truthful and an honorable (m
-a:milt= without claiming for him exclu
sively honors which mainly belong to his
contemporaries. This should be especially
avoided in the case of Mr. Stevens, •for no
man more thoroughly despised such injus
tice. He always resented being dressed in
borrowed robes. An observance of this
rule would doubtless have prevented inju
dicious admirers from claiming for Mr.
Stevens the paternity of our common school
system, and our system of public works.
Eulogies of this character, pronounced on
the spar of the moment, though inexcusa
ble, are innocent when compared with the
elaborate obituaries, for it is to these last
that historians are most apt to refer. And
thus the ungracious task:is thrown on some
one of correcting errors and misstatements
which should never have been made.
In 1836 Mr. Stevens was chosen a mem
ber of the convention to amend the consti
tution of Pennsylvania, and here. as every
where else, be displayed high ability. :Un
der our constitution of 1790 negroes enjoyed
the right of suffrage. The aggressions of
the idave influence demanded that this
right should be stricken down. The be
sotted majority in the North were every
where inclined to yield the point. In our
convention this feeling actuated the major.
ity of the members, but Thaddeus Steve,s
battled with all his might against the out
rage. .He was overcome. .The rights of a
portion of our citizens were sacrificed to
the prevailing sentiment, and, the word
"white" was inserted in our constitution as
a condition to the right of suffrage. With
characteristic independence Mr. Stevens re
fttsed to sign a document containing such
an unjust discrimination . against peaceable
and law-abiding men, and he bravely de
termined to forego the distinction of hay
ing his name go down to posterity on that
document. Few young men weuld have
shown the contempt for position which he
then exhibited, and fewer can understand
that true fame can be found more surely
in doing right than in being in oonspicuous
company.
1.85011dr., Stevens was elected to Con.'
g.ress. His ardent loviaof liberty and his
inextinguishable hatred of American sla
very threw him headlong into an opposi
tion to that institution as determined as .it
seemed hopeless. The Sentiment and con
science of the nation was blunted and de
bauched, and the forlorn liope which Thad
deus Stevens then led did not suffer them.
selves to hope fora view - of the bright and
swiftly coming day which his old eyes
were permitted to see in its full glory.
Failing to secure arenomination, he retired
from Congress in 1852, and resumed the
practice of the law. His public career
seemed to have closed in the very prime of
his vigor. But a mighty change was at
hand.
In 1854
anything th
short e slave of holders
absoluted unsatisfied with
inion,
shocked the lulled conscience of the na
tion by attacking and destroying what
demagogues called the "settlements" of
the slavery question, and what wise men
knew to be but a postponement of an inevi
table trouble. This high-handed outrage
on the vast majority by a numerically con
temptible minority produce`, a revulsion in
our politics, compared with which all oth
ers are insignificant. Old parties melted
away. Old thoughts gave way to new
vigor. The respectability claimed for the
alaveholders was laughed at in the light of
their degrading latitude before the aston
ished country. Their highly extolled honor
became a jibe when compared with their
Punic faith. New organizations wrested
the Legislature from the men who used it
for ourldisgrace. Old leaders, remember
ed for their courage and audacity, were ra
called. 1n,1858 Thaddeus Stevens returned
to Congreis, arid the foremost men of the
now powerful Opposition accepted him as
their leader.
This Crime of he s/aveholders cul
nated in a terrible t war that ended in the mi
de-
struction of the cause which provoked the
Conflict. Daring that period of our nation
al trials the history of Mr. Stevens is in
extriezbly interwoven with the history of
his country. :Space and propriety alike re
quire that I - should leave any elabOrate
reference to his services during that period
to those whom time and freedom from par
tiality shall enable to do the subject, fall
justice.
Since the death of Thaddeus Stevens I
have been pained to notice the vulgar fury
with which his character has been assailed.
I had indulged the hope that vituperation
had exhausted itselfon him during his long
life, but I have been mistaken. If malig
nant and merciless abuse could destroy the
usefulness of men, the services which Mr.'
Stevens has rendered to mankind would
have been prevented. Men every way his
inferiors set themselves up as critics and
censors of his private life. The, manner In
which they have performed their selfien•
posed duty shows they never knew, or had
forgotten, that the strongest virtue consists
in successfully battling against ever-pres
ent temptation, and that those who over
come are more to be honored than those
who lack the inclination to go astray. We
have forgotten the bravery of the Garcon,
and only use hie name now to describe a
braggart. A mere reference to . the fact
proves the injustice; and the same injustice
will be perpetuated if we remember only
the caustic aarcaerns of the dead statesman
and forget his life-long love and devotion
to a down-trodden race.
Mr. President, "move the adoption of the
following resolutions:
.Re4olved. That the Senate has received
with profound sensibility the, announce..
meat of the death of Hon. Thaddeus Ste
vens, late a member of the House of Rep.
resentatives - from the State of 'Pennsyl
vania.
Itablved, That from a sincere &she. of
showing every mark - of respect for - the
memory of Hon. Thaddeus Stevens, the
members and officers of the Senate wilkgo
into mourning by the usual node of wear
ing crape en the left arm.
.Resolved, That as a further mark Of res.
pect for the memory of Mr. Stevens;the
senate do now adjourn.
—There bettyow but two da a hiiif
of staging een the two ends of the-Pa
cific Railroad, and the construction:of the
road is still progressing.
d I „
j CITY AND SUBURB/x.
Forefather's Day.
The twenty-second of Decemberis known
in the calendar of holidays as Forefather's
day. Two hundred and forty-eight years
ago the Mayflower cast anchor in Cape Cod
Bay', and on the 22ndf December, 1620,
the Pilgrim Fathers fire
set foot .on Ply
mouth Rock. The old oe t rtv tells us that
"The heavy night liv i ng dah
Ihe hills and ate wet recoer, •
I Ween a band of exiles meoret their bark
On the wild New Englan a shore.'••
Throughout the. New England States, in
all the large tOwns,the day is generally ob:
served and celebrated by meetings, speech
es anti similar exercises, which mark it as
one of more thah ordinary interest. Bos
tonians especially honor the occasion. To
theta it is *lmo for retrospection, when all
the intervening years pass as a panorama be
fore their vision, and as the representative
of a long line of, noble ancestors, points
with prideto his lineage, so the Bostonian
gazesthis day at Plymouth Rock, and
Plymouth Rock gazes at him, reit .. .doing
with feelings of 'pardonable pride at the his
tory of those years, the history of his pre 7
deceSsors. Outside of, New England the
day is not observed as a holiday, and in
most portions of the country is hardly re
cognized above ordinary days. Over the,,
rock un which the Pilgrims first landed
there Is now built a handsome stone
monument, representing four massive col ,
' umnsi supporting an arched stone canopy,
undernath which is the Rock. This is
preserved from all depredations by the
profanehands of curiosity seekers, • .
Who ould have predicted that from a b-e
-ginning so frail, so feeble, a mere handful as
'arisen in less than
it were, here would havethree 1c nturies, a people whose, renown
I
would fill world; a government whose
benificance would attract the liberty-loving-
of every land, and become the hope and:``::
pride of freemen; a power which would
shake the nations with the earthquake of —.,
its tread, and a land where civilization,
knowledge and religion would have reached
their highest development. No seer, how
ever extatic in his visions, would' have
prophesied such a result, for history in all
her previous long roll of wonders, could
present no such parallel.
A Pleasant Affair..
Yeste day a very pleasant affair came off
at the Allegheny City Academy, on Fed
eral street, above the Savings Bank. Just'
previoto the closing of the day's exer
cises the worthy principal, Prof. R. S. Robb,
worthy
found himself suddenly , surrounded by the
pupils, and before he could recover a
from
.higi surprise one of their number,
Master N. P. Fetterman, Jr., stepped for
ward, and in a few pertinent remarks pre
sented him with a handsome gold headed
maim as a mark of the respect and admira
tion with which he was regarded by those
whom he was endeavoring to lead up the
"rugged 1 hill of science.' The good Pro
fessor was almost overcome with this ma
expected expression of respect froth his
pupils, but recovered sufficient self-comma
mend to return his thanks to the donors In
feeling. and.app i ro_prlate 'language. At the
conclusion alb° 'derefitony a abort time
was pleasiantly spent in social chat and in--
terchangti of feeling, ,after which the .com
pany dispersed, the givers and the recipi
ent feeling that a new bond of sympathy
and love would hereafter bind them more
closely together. i
.'From our knowledge of'Prof. RObb'a
Character We feel that the gift was well be.
Stowed, and we therefore take great Pleas-.
use in recording another testimonial:to his
merits as a teacher and as a genial hearted
companion.
Commendable Enterprise.
The Benefield Presbyterian Church hr
the Fourte'enth ward, which we noticed in
yesterday's _issue as baying been burned,
was insured for $15:000. The edifice origi
nally was erected at a cost of nearly twenty
thousand dollars. We understand that
the, rebuilding •of it will be commenced
immediately and be pushed forward as
rapidly as possible. On Sunday afternoon,
while the 'church was, still burning„ the
children of the Sunday school were assem
bled in a neighboring schoolhouse-and the
exercises Were gone through with in the
usual manner. The Superintendent an
nounced that some of the-nandliy School
property, each as the Organ, Library, Ban
ner, die., &c., had been saved from - the
burning building and that the sessions will
be held in the public schoolhouse until fur
ther notice.l He also stated that the usual
Christmas festival would be held on Friday
evening. Stich commendable enterprise is
certainly worthy of ' all Foraise and speaks
volumes in favor' of the energy of the
congregation. In the meantime, while
their church is being rebuilt, the congre
gation have accepted a cordial 'invitation
from the Session and Trustees of Shady
Side Church, near Benefield, and will wor
ship in theis house alternately with them.
—Mr. Colfax, Vice President elect, in his
speech at a I banquet in Philadelphia on
Saturday night, in reference to the incom
ing administration, said: "The most
searching retrenchment, honesty, efficien
cy and high ;character in all connected with
the public service; the rigid guardianship
of the Treasnry against unwise and-extrav
agant scheMes; a financial policy . which
shall l maintain our credit untarnished, ap
preciate our 'currency, and place us on the
firm rock of; specie payment."
—Orders hare been received at the United
States Arsenel, at Springfield, Mass.,-to pay
the workmen four.hiths - of the usual rate
per day for all - work done since August
10th, when the eight hour law went into
operation. Work will , be 'resumed next
month on the ten hour system.
Markets by Telegraph.
NEW ORLEANS, December 21.—Cotton
firm and higher; middlings 233ic; sales of
7,359 bales; receipts since Saturday 7,923.
Flour firmer and quiet; superfine scarce at:
$7,12; double 'extra $7,25; treble extra $7,7&
a 8,12. Corn easier at 78c. Oats dull at 64a
-650. Bran $1;40. Hay; no prime or choice" -
offering; fair p4a25. Pork quiet -and firrd
at $29. Bacon quiet and scarce; retatlipg
shoulders at 11335 c; clear rib at 18%c, and
clear sides at 194 c. Lard scarce and firmer;
tierce 1810; keg 19e- Sugar lirm; at 9a9ge.
for common. Molasses; common 80a55c;
prime 58a65c; choice 62a64c. Whisky
quiet and firm; western rectified $1,15a •
1,1730. Coffee; 14y,,a143;e; prime 1634a170.
CHICAGO, December 21.—At the evening
board No. 2 Wheat was quiet at $1,08„ sel
lers for the Month, and $1,0934 sellers for
January. Nothing was done in Corn or
'Oats. Provisions were aetive, and Mess •
Pork higher. With sales,*sellers for January
and February, at $27, sellers for February
and March, at $27,25, and- round lots
ported sold at $27,50, sellers for February -
and March. Lard rather easier at 1634 c.
s ALBANY, December 21.—The market for',
Beeves opened dull and lower, with the
supply
i lighter than last week, but the de
mand s also much less; a ear load of very
choice Christthas Beeies, Averaging 2,200
Beevepounds, brought 12e; an extra quality or ;r
Beeves a re selling at 9a930; medium 7aBc;
demandl3gh tA at 'la%
s r Inferior 4a60. Sheep..