Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-07-05
From the National Intelligencer.
The Few issues rendered by FIR. Wade
Their Cause and Sincerity.


1t was seen, pretty soon after the cleo
ton Of Mr.. Wade to the position of Presi-
dent pro tenn. of the Senate, that his char
acter and quality as the great Radical lead
er in that body had received p severe check.
Making himself an object of ridicule be-
fore the country as presiding officer was a
very different thing from being thunderer
in the scene on the floor AS time went on
Mr.. Wade consequence faded almost out of
sight, while, to the modification of friends
and merriment Of his rivals, the latter
doomed up to the public view Hence it
could not be but determined that this an
noYing state of things shCuld be terminal
ed by an announcement of views by Mr..
Wade, which should ''tower the mountain
peaks above the table lend" Of the most
advanced positions of his competitors for
the Presidential nomination. That the
purpose has been thoroughly accomplished
must be confessed. Butler and Stevens
are far overleaped. It is difficult to see
how the record can be exceeded, except
that General Butler may propose to put an
end to the system of killing the South
by slow processes, and revive the idea of
':marching an army southwark from Wash
ingtOn III three cOlumns-One to kill, an
other to burn, and third to possess the
land"
After all, this relates to the2 destruction
Of the South alone. Mr.. Wades pro-
gramme deals not alone with the South
but reaches to the inmOst recesses of North
ern interest and property. We again pre-
sent to the people condensed statement
of Mr. Wade's speech
AS regarded the political situation, he
would only say that the Southerners now
had the mildest terms offered them they
| oat To
them well and good they might have all
the advantage of such action; if they re-
fused them, another turn would be given
to the screw, and they would be compelled
TO yield, whether they wished to or not
Congress had thus far been with the peo-
pie, and would not now desert them under
the lead of Johnson or the devil. His
hearers might rest assured of one thing,
that reconstruction was as certain to take
place as that the sun was shining.
Mr.. Wade then said that as he had kept
| in advance of the people in the great strife
between freedom and slavery, he meant to
DO the same Thing In tie contest aOhich had
just commenced for ectending tie right Of
favor of equal rights for ali, not only with
out regard to nationality and color, but
without regard to sex.
Senator Wade then proceeded to say that
there was another question upon which he
would express his views, although his hear
ers might differ from him in opinion. We
had disposed OF the question of slavery,
and now that of lab0r and capital must pass
through lie 0rIleW. The shadow of the ap-
preaching struggle between these two great
interests was already upon us, and it would
do no good to turn Our backs upon the ques-
ton. 1t must be met. Property ecas not
eI'clalY 0irj(eH, and O more eguaL distribution
Of capital must be "rOuyht 0m. That Con-
gress which had done SO much for the slave
cannot quietly regard the terrible distinc-
ton which exists between the man that la-
bors and him that does not. Applause. |
eff you dullheads, said the speaker,
Sc can t see this, the women will, and will
act accordingly" 1t will not be long before
the laborcrs will demand of canvassers, up
on the eve OF an election, " What will you
do for us ?' and they will have satisfac-
tory answer. 1t is not right or just that
any man should be compelled to labor until
| life is worn out and being is curse. The
{ Almighty did not intend that this should
be the case, nor will it always remain So
More leisure must be given to people for
mental accomplishments, and iabor-saving
machines had not yet fulfilled their mis-
sion, since they had failed to effect this re-
lsut.