The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1867-03-22
VIce-Prexident wade.

=
Benjamin Franklin Wade, by vote of
the Senate, how the Vice.l'r sident Of the
United 5tatcs, is statesman whose name
has long bosn familiar to the people of tue
United StWtes. Hisb birth was almost ootem-
posdn6Ous with the beginning OF the pres
cut century, occurring at Springfield. Mass,
on the 21th of October, 1900. na was
born son of labor, aud acquired his early
school education from the proceeds OF the
work of his hands. AT one time he worked
with wheelbarrow aud spade in tue exca.
walton of the Erie Canal. aud his summers
were usually Speut on the farm or in the
lumber districts, the winters being devoted
to school. lie studied law at tie age OF
26, with Elisha Wh,tlcsey, Ia Ohio, a, d IN
1928 was admitted to the bar at his present
residence in Ashtabua County, in that
State His political lite proper, commenced
in 1897 when he was elected to the Ohio
Seuate from the counties of GeauJa, Lake
and Ashtabula, but his constituents refused
to re,elect him in the following year, on &C.
count OF his vote and speeches against the
then infamous black laws of tho State.
Thus early in his career did he sigualze his
devotion to those principles of freedom IN
whose championship he has since been so
distinguished. Ilc was subsequently, how.
ever, twice reelected to that body ond,
| ten years from his fret election, was chosen
| by the Legislature presiding Judge of the
Third Judicial District Of that State, a po.
sition which he resigned in 1881 TO accept
| u seat in the Senate of the United States,
which he has worthily filed ever since, and
in which body he has been q prominent
| leader, FIRST of the anti slavery Wings, and
then of tie Republ caus.
! He was Que of tho ak Senators who voted
in 1852 to repeal the Fugitive Slave Law
and his record upon all measures IN the in
| ierest of the slave power of the country has
been complete and consistent. On the alb.
rogation of the Missouri Compromise on
the adoption Of the lIcrompton Constitution
Tor Kansas in 1865 on the bill appropriat
ing thirty millions of dollars for the pur.
chase of Cuba, and against all propositions
Of surrender on tho part OF tho North since
the elevation OF Mr.. Lincoln TO the Presi
dency. his voice was always uplirtod, aud
his voice in the Senate given against the
longer life of slavery. He was the per.
ssteut and ina ly successful champion OF
the Homestead bill, making free giants OF
laud to &C ual settle aud gave powerful
aud efficient support to all such measures
as the Agricultural College bill, intended
fer tie benefit of the laboriug clsseSo of the
c uutry, or the Pacific Rallied bill, dos.
tined Tor tho development OF our reSt urcee.
His career since the outbreak OF the re.
hellion is familiar TO every citizen. He
was one Of the sturdiest opponents OF the
dilatory aud inefficient policy which marked
the condnct Of the war in it's earlier stages,
always demanding vigorous measures in
the prosecution of the operations of the
army and more severe political policy to-
ward the Southern rebels. lie was Chair
man of tho Joint Committee ON the Pro
gress Of the War, and the name of "Old
Ben Wade became terror to the ena
mics of the Government and their sympa
thizers, on account OF the then extreme rad
ical ground he took OH all the leading ques
tions of the day. He urged the passage OF
confscation law for the property of reb
els, and the issuing Of the proclamation o.
emancipation, before the other leaders o
his party had arrived at such advanced po
sItou. lie was also Chairman of the Sen
ate Committee on Territories, and in tina
capacity reported bill, in 1862, abolislng
slavery in all tho Territories then organ
lied by the Government, and prohibiting
it in all thereafter to be acquired
Mr.. Wade is a man Of the most ire
!, proachablo honesty not only 10 his convic
!, tons, but in his personal and official con
duct, possessed of robust physique, backed
by frmness of disposition which renders
him immovable when he has taken u stand
he believes to he right, While he is on'
4. of its earliest and most fearless champions
,, he is also one of the most thoroughly repre-
, sentative men of the radical Republican
!, party, and the action of the Senate IN ele
waiting him to the honorable station he nov
fills VIII be responded to with the uhiver
sal approval of loyal men throughout IL,
nation.-- Chicago Republican,. ..a.l