The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1867-11-20
"Old Ben. Wade" ("

| AICcr u proGTdCGCu SllCIlCo -IhdCh, the
racy correspondent of the Cincinnati Com.
mercial, rcappcars under date of Sd inst
and gives the substance ola conversation
with acting Vicc-Presidcnt Ben. Wade: on
the political situation. AS tho expires
siors of one of the most positive and least
hypocritical Radical leaders, his views
will prove of general interest:
THE DEFEAT-ITs CAUSE AND RESULT.
salutcd the old gentleman, in the Ian
guage of Artcmus Ward, allow do you
like it rs far rs you've got ?" Its the fate
of war;" said he, "we're id badly whip
ped, but it can't be helped. Wemust get
ready for another round at 'em."
"The niger whipped us" said Mr..
Wade. awe went in on principle, and
got whipped. We should have carried
the State by good majority if it hadn't
been for the suffrage issue. Still, l am
not sorry we made the issue. If it was
to do over again I'd be for putting it
again, and III be for keeping it up until
we do win, for, by the eternal God, they
can't beat us all the time on question
like that. I had no idea that there was
so many Republicans in Ohio who were
willing to see negro suffrage in the South,
but wouldn't let the few niggers of Ohio
vote. That's what got me. They all
seemed to be in favor Of it as a measure
of reconstruction, just as much as was.
didn't dream they'd be mean enough to
vote against it here"
In answer to Il question as to whether
he thought the greenbaclS issue had any
thing to do with the defeat, MIR. Wade
said he didn't think it had. 1t was moth
ing but the nigger. The greenback issue
was not fairly before the people, for when
you come to sift the matter the Demo
cratic speakers made very little of an is
sue on the greenbacks. The niger was
the only strong point they had, and they
beat us on that, fair and square; but
they'll have to keep on beating US, for
We'll give them no peace till We beat
them.
Now" said Mr.. Wade, "bccausc we've
been whipped on the first trial, l suppose
some of the weak -knced brothers will be
for backing out on that question. But l
won't back add inch. I'm for it now
as strong as l was before the election, and
stronger, too, because there is more need
of being strong for it, to conquer mean
prejudice. But you'll see men trying to
hush the thing up, and to smother it aud
to dodge it in every way they can, and
men who call themselves Radicals, too.
Hells full Of such Radicals rs we'll have
now. I'm for it because / think it's right,
and know it's right; aud, if a thing is
right, tue only way is to keep at it till it
wins, for it's sure 10 win sometime or
another. There is not great reform in
the history of the world that wasn't un-
popular at first. And not one of them
was ever carried 10y dropping it, and run
ming like scared hounds from it, after it
was beaten once. No, sir, we are COM
mittcd TO the doctrine of universal suf-
frage, and no man is a Republican who
would desert it now. But, although that's
my belief, mark my word, thcrcll be the
damndest craw-fshing you ever saw from
this time forward. Well, let them go.
we can win without them, and VIC will
win, too, just as sure as the Almighty is
lust and Heaven above US. 1t will be-
come harder every year for the Copper
heads TO beat us on that issue, and they
won't beat us very often, either, if we
only make bold front, and 60 at 'em
with fixed bayoncts every tlmc.'
I,pEAcuMENT-wuY IT FAILED LAST WINTER
On this subject of impeachment, Mr..
Wade said he wished TO be distinctly un'
dcrstood as expressing no opinion SO far
as Mr.. Jolnson's guilt or innocence was
concerned. He would, however, answer
my question as to whether the late elcc-
tions would have any effect upon that
matter. He thought they would. "You
see," said he, "these weakened brothers
are taking the back track already. Well
now, what the devil has an election in
Ohio got to do with the matter? If Andy
Johnson is guilty, put him out; if not,
acquit him; that's the way to do it. They
ought to have pressed the investigation
riSht along after they started it. And SO
they would lave done last winter, if there
hadn't been so many mon in the Senate
and House who wanted to keep on good
terms with the White House. There
were too many men from Ohio and other
States, who wanted their brothers anu
friends appointed to office, and knew that
Andy was bidding high for votes 1t was
was one of the most shameful spectacles
in the history of this or any other coun.
try, to see men selling themselves and
their constituents for Office last winter
You pitched into few of them, in the
Commercial, but you only tolda hundrcdtll
part of the truth | wish the papers
would take up every devil of EN- and &C
after 'cm. That thing will ruin the coun
try yet if the people ain't careful. Some
Of; them denied having made any effort tc
get these appointments. but | know how
it was. | know that Andy was mighty
particular to make his appointments tc
| the best advantage, and he didn't give an