The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-01-24
Speech of Senator Wade.

Tho following is brief extract from the
vigorous off-hand speech of Mr.. Wade of Ohio,
in reply to Senator Doolittle of Wisconsin, on
the question of reconstruction:
II think, sir, that can say with Paul, that
we have fought good fight We are not en-
tirely through with it, admit. We may have
little further to go in the same direction,
but our path Is fortunately ca Ter than it has
been. Yes, sir, | keep the faith, and have
10 doubt in its final triumph. never feared
it, and never had the least doubt how this
Whole thing would be settled, and it will come
all right if we are true to our convictions. /
do not fear my associates, either, in this great
question; but there are things in my heart
that cannot yet see clearly. I give the
President full credit for all he has done, and
honor him ior the manner in which he has
insisted on Che great guarantees l have already
alluded to. He has commenced, as it were, to
compete this great arch of Freedom right
He mas laid the foundation deep upon the
road OF justice and right. He has demanded
that before the law all men shall be equal. He
has demanded that slavery shall be abolish
ed. L agree with him SO far, and honor
him that ne stands firmly where he does.-
Bat, 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 20 to min. T
want, wnen this question is once settled. tn
be eatire.y done vito 1t. I don't want etar-
many to be lighting over the question of slave
ry, and distinctions among the rights and priv
lie 5e5 Of the American people. Now, sir. /
say to President johnson, to the Democratic
patty, and to the people of the United States.
that will never yield the controversy until
al men in America shall stand upon an
equal tooting-equal before the law in every
respect.
oil, co. ha nrf xxyl,io no. loo.
made to bring the authority of great names
to bear on the decision of this question, Mr..
Wade said: -t
Il say to Senators: Look to yourselves !:
take counsel OF your own judgments and
your own conscience5, and do your duty to
your country, and to God. Because, if there
ever was question before Congress that
waj peculiarly our own, it is this. Where in
the Constitution do you find that the Presi-
dent is authorized to invoke or bring in the
States Of this Union? and who hut we the
representatives OF the people of the United
States, are sent here to DO this? We nnSor
the Constitution of the Unitel States arc tha
people and the only tribunal that can settle the
great question of the admission of State
We are the only men who ought in a free
government to declare upon what principle any
State outside of the Government shall be adj
mitted to it. 1 do not care, for that purpose,
whether it is territory of the United States,
or whether it is State that has forfeited all
right and all ability to act for ITSELF 1t does
not belong to the President of the United
SJa5es, and if it did, the free Government OF
which we boast SO much, would be the most
cgncentrated despotism of the earth. Now,
Mr.. President, on the subject that the Sena-
tor did not touch, have already said here are
100000 Of people ostracised from this Gov.
eminent, to be made serfs forever. notwith-
standing your declarations of freedom. until
you can find some way whereby this right can
be Guaranteed. Mr.. President, was one Of
those who were early advocates Of bringing