The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-11-12
"OLD BEN. WADE.n

"OLD BEN. WADE"
HIS VIEWS OF THE LATE REAcTIoN-THE NEGRO THE
SOLE CAUSE OF RADICAL DEFEAT-THE PARTY
MUST STAND F1RM-uE DENouNcEs CONSERVATIVE
REPUsLIcANs-Ms VIEWS on npEAcHMENT-oEN.
GRANT, ETC, ETC.
Ahsr protracted silence =" Mack, the racy cor
LrespoHSent Of the Cincinnati Commercial, reap
pears under date Of I'd instant, and gives the sub
stance Oh conversation with acting Vice-Presi-
dent Ben. Wade, on the political situation. AS the
expressions of one OF the most positive and least
hypocrtlcal Radical leaders, his views will prove
CT general interest. We quote as follows from
Mack's letter
THE pEFEAT-Irs CAUSE AND RESULT.
salutod the old gentleman, in the language OF
Artemus Ward, :" How do you like it as far as
we're id badly whipped, but it can't be helped.
We must get ready for another round at EN-"
"lhe niger whipped u.s." said Mr.. Wade. "We
went in on principle, and got whipped. We should
have carried the State b, O good majority If it
hadn't been for the suffrlge issue. STILL, I am
not sorry we made the issue. II 1t was to do over
again I'd be for putting 1t again, and I'll be for
keeping 1t up until we do win, for, by the eternal
like that. 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 mig
gers OF OHIO vote. That's what got me. They
all seemed to be in favor of it as measure ofre-
construction. Just as much as l was. didn't
dream they'd be mean enough to vote against II
here
In answer to question as to whether ne
thought the greenback issue had anything to DO
with the defeat MIR. Wade said he didn't think 1t
had. 1t was nothing but the niger. The green
back Issue was not fairly before the people, lot
when you come to sift the matter the Democratic
nj
greenbacks. The nigger was the only strong polnt
they had, and they beat us on that lalr and
square; but they'll have to keep ON beating us, for
wen give them no peace till We beat them:
NOW" said Mr.. Wade, 'because we've been
whipped on the first trial, suppose some OF tho
weak-knoed brothers will be for backing out on
that question. But won't back Id inch.
I'm for it now as strong as was before the cleo
tion and stronger too, because there is more need
of being strong for it, to conquer mean preJu-
dice. But you'll see men try ing to hush the thing
up and t. smother it and to dodge 1t IN every way
they can, and men who call themselves Radicals,
too. Hels full OF such Radicals as we'll have
now. I'm for it because think it's right, and I
know It's right; and, If thing is right, the only
way is to keep att till it WINS, for it's sure to win
sometime or another. There is not great reform
in the history of the world that wasn't unpopular
at first And not one OF them was ever carried by
dropping it, and running Like scared hounds from
it. after it was be ten once. No, Sir, we are oom-
mitted to the doctrine Of universal suffrage, and
.
But, although that's my belief, mark my word,
tuere'u be the damndest crawfshing you ever saw
from this time forward. Well, let them 20. We
win without them, and we will win, too, just as
sure as the Almighty is just aud Heaven above US.
It will become harder eve-y 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 go at EN- with fixed bayonets every |
time"
1MpEAcuMEyr-wHr IT FAILED LAST WINTER.
On the subject OF impeachment, Mr.. Wade said
he wished to be distinctly understood as express |
ing no op MON so far as Mr.. Johnson's guilt or n-
nocence was concerned. He would, however, an
swer my question as to whether the late elections
would have any affect upon that matter. He
thought they would. "YJu see, said he, "these |
weak-kueed brotners are taking the back track |
already" Well now what the devil has al election |
IN Ohio got to do With the matter2 II Andy john
that's the way to do it. They ought to have press:
ed the investigation right along after they started
it. And so they would have done last winter, II |
there hadn't been so many men 10 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
aud friends appointed 10 office and knew that Andy
was bidding high for votes. 1t was one OF the
most shameful spsctaclss in the history OF this or
aly other country, to see mon selling themselves |
and their cons itueYts for Office last winter. You
pitched into fow Of them, in the Commercial, but
you only told hundredth part OF tho truth. 1
wish the papers would take up every devil OF 'em |
ana 20 after 'em. That thing will ruin the coun-
try yet if the people amt careful. Some OF them
denied having made acy effort to get these ap-
pointments, but know how it was. know that
Andy was mighty particular to make bus appoint
ments to the best advantage, and he didn't give an |
Office where it wouldn't count. II it hadn't been
for that internal thing Of Office getting the i'm
peachment would have been settled last winter, as
it ought to have been. don't know whether
johnson would have been turned out or not, cut
11ka ,AI ar1aE
the other
SUMMERS SUFFRAGE BrLL-sTArE RIGHTS.
He believed that under the last clause OF the
thirteenth amendment, giving Congress power to
enforce tue abolition OF slavery by appropriate le-
Gslation, there was ample authority for the pas
sage OF the bill, for no man vas really free ID this
country unless he had the right to vote. But he
was believer in State righ.s in proper and legl-
innate Nav, and did not know but that this bill
was in violation Of the right Of each StSte to regu-
late suffrage. Some OF his party, he SAID, we're in
favor OF what they called consolidation, but he
never was. He believed 1t was necessary to the
proper administration Of the affairs Of the Gov
ernment that the State should have certain rights,
and he did net believe that SGate rights should
exist only for the purpose Of representation IN the
Senate and be nullty Tor all other purposes.
GENERAL GRANT.
Referring to Presidential matters, Mr.. Wnde said
it had looked 70 hin for year past as II the Re-
publican party would take Grant up for Presi-
dent, and run him in with hurrah. He was sor.
ry TO see that disposition. aid believed no good
would come Of it. 'sIhe trouble with Grant is."
said he, ''you don't know where he stands. It
seems very singular that man could have lived
through this terrible war without Identifying him
self with any party and that men pretending 70 pe
Republicans should try tc rush him into the White
House without asking him single question as TO
where he stands on tho great issues now tefore
the country. Still, have felt it in my bones that
they would do that very thing"
asked Mr. Wsd3 il he had ever conversed with
General Grant OH political topics.
II have tried to do it." said he, "but oever
co,s;, bring hIm out. When I saw the popular
current appearing =: run IN hIs favor thought l
would like to know how he scSoo1 Oh we great
questions before us-whether he was for johnson
or Congress, or who tho devil he was for; but l
never could get anything out OF him. AS quick as
I'd talk politics he'd talk horses and he could talk
for hours on that without getting tired. well
horses are very good, but 10 those times man
tics. Grant may be all right for what know, but
then again he may bo all wrong. If no wants to
be President by my voice, and the voice OF the
men act with, be must not only be right, but ne
must prove that he is"
inquired of Mr.. Wade what proof he would re-
ouire from General Grant before supporting him
as Presidential candidate. Would letter en-
dorsing the Radical policy do2
"No, it won't. We must have his word backed
by some Official act showing him to be in some
sympathy with us and in favor Of the doctrines
we advocate, We won't take any mans word after
what we've gone through. Grant must como out
and show his hand as pronounced Republican or
he can't get my support. I don't know thlt my
support amounts to much, but what little there ia
Of it will go in the right direction"
SHOULDER STRAPS woE'r DO.
MEN vote on principle here and il anybody
thinks that mere military record Is gong to WIN
on the Reserve he's mistaken. The best Republi-
cans in the State will stay at home They don't
care for shoulder straps, but they do care for
straight Republican principl,s, and they won't
form and without pledge, can't moro than carry
the Reserve. pronounced Republican will get
fifty thousand majority; that's just the ditfere ce