The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1856-05-03

The memorial asking the admission of Kan
sas as a Free State, was presented by Gen.
Cass,-who held it lightly in his fingers as if
it burned them--and as soon as the false
charge was made by Pro-Slavery Senator
that the memorial was spurious, the valiant
Senator let it drop like hot poker, without
saying one word in defence of the petitioners
and it was withdrawn. A petition was
then sent in by Col. Lane, of Kansas, giving
the facts concerning the memorial in question
and explaining it fully. On this presenta
ton, Douglas made coarse and violent on
slaught upon Col. Lane, imputing to him
perjury and forgery. The correspondent OF
the Tribune describes the way Wade handled
Douglas, thus:
But the telling and noblest work of is
day, or any other day since the war COM
menc.d, was performed by MIR. Wade. He
rose with great calmness, telling the Senate
that he did not know Col. Lane, and was
wholly ignorant of any knowledge of the pa
pers in dispute, except such as he had been
able to CLEAN from the statements on both
sides. This views considering the sudden
ness with which the Legislature of Kansas
assembled and adjourned, the difficulty, now
so much exaggerated, was easily explained,
and especially under the authority of revis-
ion which had been confided to Committee,
and subsequently delegated to the Senators
elect, of which Col. Lane was one. But he
considered the whole pretended objection un-
worthy and "pettifogging." The parts Of
the original memorial which had been omit
ted involved points of constitutional law
about which no two men in this body thought
alike. Inasmuch as Col. Lane could not de-
fend himself, he thought him entitled to this
testimony upon the plain showing which had
been made. There were several hard hits in
the course of these remarks that produced
visible effect.
Subsequently the infnnessimal Douglas
resumed the floor, and charged, as additional
evidence of the desire of those advocating
the admission of Kansas to perpetrate a
wrong, that a clause in the constitution had
been expurgatcd which excluded free negroes
from the State. In applying this charge he
turned with much offense of manner, to the
Republican side of the chamber, and point
eddy addressed the allegation to them as the
guilty parties. With the same courageous
GOODNESS as he before exhibited, Mr.. Wade
again rose and retorted in style and with a
force which will hardly ever be forgotten by
those who witnessed the scene. He told
Douglas there was no proof of HIS allegations
except his own unsustaned declarations, and
he was not willing to rest the case upon any
such "frail foundation" And when Douglas
attempted to eXtricate himself from the di-
lemma by claiming the testimony of Col.
Lane, Mr.. Wade turned upon him with a
scornful and whitening rebukc, to demand if
this was the witness whom he had but Just
now condemned with the most outrageous
imputations.
1t is hard to do justice to this episode in
the proceedings, for there was as much of
character in the exhibition itself, as in the
words which were uttered. 1t is very we'll
known in and ont of the Senate that while
Mr.. Wade is a man of peace and meekness,
he is just one of those dangerous men when
reused, who is not to be put down. In the
stern determination of his bearing through
out the day there was the mark of a purpose
which could not be trifled with. No taunts
were flung at him, and the gingcrly retreat
of such as did attempt tilt proved clearly
how we'll they knew they had ''caught Tar
tar" Douglas became subdued as lamb
and had no answer for the defiant and con-
tChpuOuo Inauguration Will uuiCU uC " do
served.
There was a tone and high dignity about
Mr.. Wade that seemed to indicate something
of that nobility of nature which Cromwell
showed when great occasions demanded his
energies. He marched squarely into the front
Of the fight, threw down the gauntlet, and
dared the best of the enemy to battle. And
when, in speaking Of the outrages commit
ted upon Kansas, lie said if the Executive
would not interpose to restrain the invasions
from neighboring States, the people were
justified in defending themselves, and should
have "the protection of his voice, and the
defense of his arm;" an electric effect was
produced throughout the chamber theeffect
which an earnest and brave man, indicating
a just cause, hardly ever fails to accomplish.
There was neither study nor fine felicities of
phrase in this effort but there was far bet
ter than all the elaborate essays and labored
elegancies of style-the strong words which
came right from brave heart, every one of
which fell like bomb among the dismayed
enemy. Mr.. Wade has this day made him
self great name, and a great place in the
affections of even those who entertain less
extreme views than he does, for he has
proved himself to be "the noblest Roman of
them ALL"