e Legislature of Pennsylvania for five sessions,
where he became the personal friend of the Governor, Joseph Ritner, and
also of Thaddeus Stevens. At the request of the latter, he consented to
occupy the position of Secretary to the Board of Canal Commissioners,
and two years after, by the wishes of Mr. Ritner, took a seat in the
Canal Board, becoming a co-worker with Thaddeus Stevens. Here ripened a
friendship, which afterward became of national importance, for although
a nature so positive as that of Thaddeus Stevens could scarcely be said
to be under the influence of any other mind, still, if there were those
who exercised a moral sway, sustaining this courageous republican
leader, at a higher level than he might otherwise have attained, Elijah
F. Pennypacker was surely amongst them. Almost antipodal as they were in
certain respects, each recognized the genuine ring of the other, and
admired and respected that which was most true and noble. The purity,
simplicity and high-minded honor which distinguished the younger, had
its effect on the elder, even while he smiled at the inflexibility which
would not swerve one hair's breadth from the line of right. The story is
often told, how, when this young man's conscience stood bolt upright in
the way of what was deemed a desirable arrangement, Stevens one day
exclaimed: "It don't do, Pennypacker, to be so d----d honest."
Pennypacker stood his ground, and the life-long respect which Stevens
ever after awarded, proved that _he_ at least, thought it _did_ do.

When it became clear to his mind, that a great battle was to be fought
between Liberty and Slavery in America, Mr. Pennypacker felt it to be
his duty to turn aside from the sunny paths of political preferment,
into the shadows of obscure life, and ally himself with the
misrepresented, despised and outcast Abolitionists, ever after devoting
himself assiduously to the promotion of the cause of Freedom.
Notwithstanding his natural modesty, here as elsewhere, he took a
conspicuous position. At home, in the local Anti-slavery Society of his
neighborhood, he was for many years chosen president, as he was also of
the Chester county Anti-slavery Society, and of the Pennsylvania State
Anti-slavery Society.

Soon after his retirement from public life, he united himself with the
Society of Friends, but was much too radical to be an acceptable
addition. For a long time he was endured rather than endorsed, and it
was only when such a