The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1867-11-26
Senator Wade on the Political Situation.

senator Wd0o On The fO1Llc4 olIudtion'
A correspondent of the Cincinnati CONNER
cial has recently had long talk with Senator
Wade, of Ohio, upon variety OF topics On
the causes of the Republican defeat In ohio, ne
frankly says: The niger whipped us we
went in on principle, aud got whipped lie Is
surprised that 50 many Republicans are mean
enough to desire to see negro suffrage forced ON
the South, while they object to it in Ohio. Il
didn't dream that they'd be mean enough to vote
against it here" 81 ...@F
AS Senator, Mr. Wade declines to say that
he would vote to impeaeh President johnson,
but thinks his impeachment last year would
have prevented the recent Republican defeat;
and that if he were out of the way, the country
would be better off. This is the substance OF
his conversation on this head. He thinks that
impeachment last winter was defeated by the
distribution of official patronage among the Re
publican members of Congress, whom he de-
nounces for their venaity. He thinks the re-
cent elections have had the effect of making the
Republicans weak kneed"; and that impeach-
ment will not take place.
He would like to vote for Mr. Summers bill
giving colored suffrage in all the States, North
and South, but is doubtful about the constitu-
tional power of Congress to regulate suffrage IN
the States He claims to be a friend of State
Rights, within certain limits
He conld never draw out General Grant upon
politics. but found him prone to talk Of horses
whenever politics are mentioned. lie Is not
willing to support Grant for President unless he
will show by his acts that he is in full sympathy
with the Republican party. He would not be
satisfied with letter. He thinks thorough
Radical would run better than Conservative,
ns the radicals always do the active campaigning.
He has great faith in the western reserve"
He is not the enemy of Chase, as is generally
supposed; but would support him cheerfully If
he were nominated. He don't think Chase very
popular; bat he could nevertheless be elected.
OF Mr. johnson, he relates the following. touch
ing his early career in the Presidential office:
"Three or four days after the assassination,
johnson sent for me- and | went to see him.
He met me very cordially, shaking me with both
hands, and said lie was exceedingly glad to sec
me, and that there wasn't man in Washington
whose advice he would as soon have as mine. |
told him | was very glad and very proud of that.
We sat Down and he said he wanted to hear my
views public questions and public policy.
Well said |, the first thing I've got to say to
you is, be warned by the fate Of all Nice-Presi
dents who have been in your position. Look at
Tyler and Fillmore and pray to God every night
to save you from their fate. johnson seemed
astonished to think that had any apprehensions
of that kind, but | told him he couldn't be too
careful, for that he certainly would be tempted
rs they were. He said need have no fears;
that he meant to stand by the men and party
that elected him. then went on to advise him
what to do | told him the first thing to do was
to order the trial Of few of the leaders
of the Rebellion, before a military commits
sion, and to hang them when found guilty.
He said that he would do that very thing, and
would commence with JEFF. Davis. He told me
to hunt up the law on the question, and | agreed
to do it if he would name to help me.
He named Ben. Butler. Butler and | called on
him day or two after to find out exactly what
he wanted, and We had long talk with him.
He told us he meant to hang the leaders of the
Rebellion right away, as soon as they could be
tried and convicted by military commission
AS we went away Ber.. Butler said he was de-
lighted with johnson; that he seemed to be u
regular trump. We looked up the law of the
case and in a few days | called on him again.
/ talked to him about this very question of re-
construction. He said he was very glad that it
was matter with which he had nothing to do;
that it belonged to Congress exclusively, and he
should let Congress take care of it. We parted,
and after | went home with the assurance
from him that he would take no step not sane
toned by the leaders Of the Republican party
l heard nothing from him until about two months
later, when l met John Covode at hotel in
Cleveland, and learned that the President had
been in close communion with Copperheads and
Rebels, and had said to Covode that he (John-
SOM could do without the Radicals better than
the Radicals could do without him. About
month after | went on to Washington for the
winter, and | called at the White House. I
found the ante-room full of Rebels and Copper
heads, and was soon convinced, from the style
in which was received, that johnson had found
friends and advisers outside of the Republican
party. [ knew then that he had started on the
downward track, and made up his mind to be-
tray the party. and the country, too, if he could
| tried my best t. save him, but it was no GO"
We will not repeat Mr. Wade's unhandsome
illusions to Mrs Linccln. For the sake of her
illustrious husband. and the honor Of the nation.
it Is best that her faults if she has them should
be passed over in silence; at least that is our
feeling on the subject, that it can do no
good to bring them before the public.
Last, not least Mr. Wade censures Thad
Stevens scheme of confscation as folly and non
sense, and says that ''y'h the negroes Of he South
scunt land, let them rork for it,
ALEXANDER IL. STEPHENS TO ADDRESS TIE
People OF NEW YoRK-Several leading gen.
tlemen ofboth political parties, among whom we
are informed, are Messls Brown Brothers and
Peter Cooper, have recently addressed letter to