The Montana post. [volume] (Virginia City, Montana Territory [i.e. Mont.]) 1864-1869, 1867-03-09
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN WADE.

uEyJAUIN FRANKLIN WADE.
The dispatches received announce that
.bfs able Senator, who has for sixteen
rs.rs been one of the ablest leaders of
The parry in favor of universal liberty,
has been chosen President of the
Senate, and by virtue of his Office, the
Acting Vice President of the United
states. This is a well deserved token
,f esteem. bestowed upon one of the
champions of the party by their Sena-
-ors, and his history, which is a record
Of consistent adherence TO fixed princi-
Mes is full guarantee that their conf
dence will not have been misplaced. As
presiding officer of the Senate, he will
occupy the second position in the Uni
ted States, and brief summary of his
life and actions may not be inappro-
pirate.
Mr.. Wade is a native of Springfield,
Mass, and is now in his 67th year. His
father was a soldier of the revolution
whose limited means would not permit
lin 10 bestow upon his son other than
q common school education. He was
cast upon the world, on his arrival at
manhood's age, with what limited knowl-
edge he could gain from this source, and
commenced his career as a farmer, lum-
herman and school teacher, alternately,
and during the construction of the Erie
Canal in New York State, worked on it
for several months with spade and
wheelbarrow as an ordinary laborer. Mi
grating westward, he settled in Ashta-
bula county, Ohio, and at the age of %
commenced the study of law, and in two
years was admitted to practice in the
courts of that county. In 1888, five
years after his admission, he was elected
prosecuting attorney. In 1887 he was
elected, and twice afterward returned to
the Ohio State Senate. In 1S47 he was
appointed presiding Judge of the Sd Ju-
dicial District, and in 1851 was elected
othe United States Senate, to which he
was reelected in 1857 and 1868. Here
he espoused the cause of liberty to all,
and as an abOlitiOnist, fearlessly opposed
the Southern leaders, who found foe
man they could not buy or intimidate
in "the Senator from Ohio" He was
one the six Senators who voted fer the
repeal of the Fugitive Slave law in 1852.
de opposed the repeal of the Missouri
Compromise, and voted against the Le-
compton Constitution during the Kan
sas difficulties which followed. He OPP
posed all the compromise measures sug-
geSted after the election of Mr.. Lincoln,
and the speeches made by him on the
aoor of the Senate have not their equals
on the record for steadfast, fearless ad-
hesion to the principles he advocated,
and argumentative elOquence. During
the war he was Chairman of the Joint
Committee on the conduct of the war,
and the history of that committee dis
closes the indomitable energy, honesty
and loyalty which characterized its
Chairman. No rank was too high to
avoid censure when in the wrong, and
none so low as to be condemned unless
iound guilty. Representing the interior
oi the Union, he could recall the day
when it was but one of the far west
states, and he recognized in the more
remote States and territories, the center,
TO be. of our great country. Every meas
ufe 10 aid and stimulate their growth
aha development met with his heartiest
support, and they have had no abler or
more influential champion than Senator
wade. He supported the Homestead
Ana Pacific Railroad bills, and the Ter
l''ories Of Nebraska and Colorado have
l@a no trmer or hard working friend,
'uu although the one has as yet been
'elused admission, il must be doubly
5'@'iiying to their advocate, that on the
;. e1'ne day he was chosen by the Repub-
''e@h Senators as their leader, the
''ner was declared duly admitted
= Tue sisterhood of States. He is one
'he representative selfmade men of
america. Reared to labor and exertion.
Penoing upon himself alone, without
,'-1ehee or assistance. he has carved
- al honorable name, and fought his
up rom the wheel-barrow TO the
;, ieS'aency Of the Senate. Brave as a
'''n' eloquent. energetic and determined