Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1866-01-31
Mr.. Wade's Speech.

WIZ VSouO 0pCCCus
Senator Wade of Ohio made Wig
orous off-hand speech, last Wednes-
day, on the general question of recon
struction, in which he said:
81 think sir, that l can say with St.
Paul, that we have fought a good fight.
We are not entirely through with it,
admit. We may have a little further
to go in the same direction, but our path
is fortunately easier than it has been.
Yes sir, l keep the faith, and l have
no doubt in its final triumph. | never
feared it,and never had the least doubt
how this thing would be settled, and it
will all come right if we are true to our
convictions. do not fear my asso-
ciates, either, in this great question /;
but there are things in my heart that |
cannot see clearly. | give the
President full credit for all he has done
and honor him for the manner in which
he has insisted on the great guarantees
| have already alluded to. He has
commenced, as it were, to complete
this great arch of freedom right. He
has laid the foundation deep upon the
road of Justice and right. He has de-
manded that before the law all men
shall be equal. He has demanded
that slavery shall be abolished. |
agree with him so far, and honor him
that he stands firmly as he does. But,
sir, he has failed to put the keystone
upon the arch that he has built; and
if you leave it where it is, it will goto
ruin. want, when this question is
once settled, to be entirely done with
it. | don't want eternally to be fight
ing over the question of slavery, and
distinctions among the right and privi-
leges of the American people. Now,
sir, | say to President Johnson, to the
Democratic party, and to the people of
the United States, that | will never
yield the controversy until all men in
America shall stand upon an equal
footing-equal before the law in every
respect"
After alluding to the effort which
had been made to bring the authority
of great names to bear on the decision
of this question, Mr.. Wade said:
Il say to Senators: Look to your
selves; take counsel of our own judg-
ments and your own consciences, and
do your duty to your country, and to
God. Because, if there ever was a
question in Congress before that was
peculiarly our own it is this. Where
in the Constitution do you find that
the President is authorized to invoke
or bring in the States of this Union
and who but we, the representatives of
the people of the United States, are
sent here to do this? We, under the
Constitution of the United Statos, are
the people and the only tribunal that
can settle the great question of the
admission of a State We are the Oh.
ly men who ought in a free government
to declare upon what principle any
State outside of the Government shall
be admitted to it. [ do not care, fol
that purpose, whether it is Territory
of the United States, or whether it il
State that has forfeited all right and
all ability to act for itself. 1t does
not belong to the President Of the
United States, and if it did, then the
free Government of which we boast sc
much would be the most concentrated
despotism of the earth. Now, Mr.
President, on the subject that the Sena
tor didn't touch, have already sale
here are 100000 of people ostra
cized from this Government, to bt
made serf5 for ever, notwithstandin.
your declarations Of freedom, unit
YOU can find some way where thi
right can be guaranteed. Mr.. PreSi
dent, | was one of those who was al
early advocate of bringing these color
ed people into your army, invokin!
their aid to put down the rebellion
i Over and over did urge it upon tn
Executive two years before it took e1
feet. | feel, sir, that according to tn
power with which was invested | di'
as much as lay in my power to brin
the Executive and Congress up to tn
work of invoking and bringing to tn
aid of the Union those colored people
both in the army and navy, and ever
) where else they have assisted. Thei
; employment in that capacity enforce
/ upon me a duty. Would | lend m
4 voice and my vote to induce that pee
o pie to leopard their lives in defense {
: our country, and then turn them owe
!. to the mercy of their enemies? +? Sir, tt
man that would do it deliberately an
e knowingly is the meanest of God
a creatures.
+ Slavery, like turtle, snaps eve
S after its head is off An IriShman W;
J. amusing himself with putting sticl
5 in the mouth ola turtle which he ha
e decapitated several days before
Ii "Why, Patrick" said lady, who sa
= its violent snappings, II thought Il
It turtle was deadr' $50 he is, ma a
a. but the erature is not sinsibte Of st"
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