The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-09-27
.0neGntell1qe1reer-
senator wade and the Labor cues

Senator Wade and the Labor 4ues-
tIOn. .-...
AS the Democracy are busy prosecut-
ing one of their cahmelion-colored
dodges in their attempt to array the
laboring men against the Republican
party, we give an extract from speech
of senator Wade at Ciucinnati on the
2Ist inst. B.. s5fEslLHil .aJ" d. tvA
"Sow, sir, If my political life is good
for ANYTHING IL Is because I have been
laboring for the laborer, and for nobody
else; Applause, and intend to make
that appear seeing they have challenged
me on the labor question. This will
compel me, in IA very few remarks, to
speak upon so unimportant subject as
my own course In politics-a subject
which l never touched before, and !
would moi now unless was challenged
tolit by your leading and able paper.
Now asserted, and l again assert, that
1 have been aIaborer-yea, | have Ia
ored upon a canal, helping 10 construct
the great canal leading through the
State of New York. 1t was the proud
est period of my life, for I performed
my duty well, and my employers never
found fault with what did. labored
with Irishmen there, and could handle
the shovel about as well as any OF them.
II forget the condition of the poor la
borer, hope | shall be cut short in my
political course. have Ielt, as that
editor insinuates, The stinRs OF extreme
poverty. 1 know the hardships OF the
man that earns his bread by the sweat
of his brow. l never, sir, in any posi-
ton of my life, have divesIed myself
from his condition, and / have the
strongest desire, lift were possible, to
and render easier that dreary life OF
much trial and self denial.
have told you, and tell that paper,
that never yet have forgotten my old
companions, or those working in the
same vocation to-day. In all my pub
lie life, 1 have had their welfare con
stantly onimy mind, with settled de-
termination, if it were possible for me
to do anything to elevate them or rem
der their condition easier, would not
fail TO do it. l was the first man that
moved to abolish the accursed system
OF imprisonment for debt, which ope-
rated 80 very hard upon poor laboring
men, and got great many enemies
for doing so. / was also first and fore
most, in this State, to increase the
amount of property that man might
hold for his family, independent OF the
rights of a creditor; and when got into
Congress-, bearing In mind this same
great principle, about the earliest efforts
l made there were to get through that
body the Homestead bill, so that
poor man anywhere might go on
10 the rich land OF the West TO make
him a homestead and have it, because
he would take it and improve it; and
on every other occasion, | will say TO
that editor, I have not been unmindful
of my duty, and wish he would not
be of his. ..
Sis sWfs ~
What was the condition of the couu-
try at the time the great Republican
army was organized? One-iifth of the
entire laboring population of this ma
tion was trumpled beneath the heel OF
power, reduced TO mere chattles, and it
was impossible to make labor respecta-
BILE. One-fifth of the entire mass were
treated no better than slaves. 1t was
idle for the legislator, 1t was idle for the
philanthropist, it was in vain for any
body to endeavor TO elevate the laborer
TO that high position which. before
God and man, he is entitled 10 to-day,
until you had rescued this great popu-
lation from the contempt and ignOminy
and hardship to which it was sub
iarta1 -