Buchanan County bulletin and guardian. (Independence, Iowa) 1866-1869, 1867-03-12
vICE-PREsIDEHr WADE.


Benjamin Franklin Wade, by vote Of the
Senate, now the Vice President Of the Unit.
ed States, il n statesman whose name has
long been familiar TO the people Of the
United States. His birth was almost con
temporancous with the beginning If the pres.
ent century, occurring at 81 ringfeld, Mass.
oh the 18th Of October, ls0e. He was q
born son of labor, and acquired his early
school education from the proceeds of the
work Of his own hands. a, ore time he
worked with wheelbarrow and spade in the
excavation Of the Erie canal, ard bis sum
rners were usually spent on the farns or in
the amber districts, the winters being de-
voted To school. He studied law al the age
Of %, with Elisha Whit,lesey, in Oio. ana
in l52s vas admitted to the bar at bis pres
ent residence In AshtabHla couutF. ia that
State. His political lie, proper, evss nsvscd
IN 1881, when he WAS elected sAs tJlio
siate Senaia. frcn the count:escf Gcausa,
Lake, and Ash.abula, but his constituents
refused 10 reclect him in the folio wing year
on account u his vote and speeches against
the then Infamous black LAWS OF the State
Thus early in his career did be s.gualize his
devotion to those principles Of freedom IN
whose championship be has been 50 dist;n.
guishei. He was subsequently,, however.
twice reelected to that body and ten. years
from his frs. election, was chos1n BIZ the
Leg slatnre presiding judge Of the Third
Judicial District Of that state, q position
which be resigned in 1851 to accept q seat
in the Senate Of be United States, which
lie has worthiIy filed ever siuce, and in
which body be has ever been prominent
leader, first Of the anti-slayery Wings, and
then Of the Republicans.
lie was one Of the SIX Senator'S Who voted
in 1862 to repeal the Fugitive Slave law,
and his record upon all measures il the in
terests Of the slave power Of the country
has been complete and consistent. On The
abroeati0n Of the Missouri Compromises
on the adop.oin Of the Lecompton ConSs4>
ton for Kansas in 1855; On the bill appro
! priating 30,G0G,000 for tie purchase Of
Cuba, and against all propositions Of surrea
der on the part Of TIE North since the ele-
vation Of Mr. Lincoln to the Presidency,
his voice was always up.ifted, and his vote
! in the Senate given, against the longer life
of slavery. He vas the persistent and
finally successful chomp;on Of the Home
stead bill making free grants of land 70
I actual settlers; and gave powerful and et-
( ficieut support TO all such measures as The
| Agricultural College bill, intended for the
benefit of the laborinr classes Of the coma
try, Or the Pacific Railroad bill, designed
/ for tie developemeut of resources.
His career SINCE the outbreak Of the rebe.
lion is familiar to every citizen. He was ons
Of the s'ur1isst opponents Of the dilatcr.
and Inefficient policy which marked the con
duct Of the war in It's earlies. stages. alwaT.
| demanding vigorous measures in the prose
eution Of the operations Of the army, and q
more severe political policy toward The
Southern rebels. He was Chairman Of ihe
Joint Committee on the Progress Of the
| War, and the name Of .Oli Ben Wade :
| became terror to the enemies of the Coz
1 efnment and ihei sfnpathizers, On accouli
/ oi the then extreme radical ground lie tool
on all the leading questions Of the day
! lie urged the passage Of q confsea.;on las
for the property Of rebels, and the issEin:
Of tie proclamation OF emancipation, be
fore the other leaders Of his party hsd arriv
ed at such advanced position. He was ais
Chairman Of the Senate Committee OF
Territories, aud ia that capacity reported
bill, in 1862, abolishing slavery in ali tn
Territories thea organized by the Govern
ment, and prohibiting il in all therefore t
be acquired.
Mr. Wade Is man Of the most IRE
proaehable honesty. not only in his convie
tions bat in his personal and official con
duct possessed of robust physique, back
ed by frmness Of disposition which rea
dars Lin immoyahle when be has once
taken stand he believes to be right
While be is one Of lis earliest and mos
! faarlp4t rLarntiong ia Il also one ar -lf
most thoroughly representative men Of thi
Of the Radical Republican party, and tht
action of the Senate iu elevaiing him to tht
honorable ard responsible station be nov
fisls viii be responded to with the gnivers.
approval Of loyal men throughout the
nation.