The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1868-04-29
BEN. WADE.
BY SAMUEL WILKINSON.

being the Dill To authorize Tile people vi Tile
Territory of Kansas to form q constitution
and State government-the number OF Sen
ators opposed to the extension of human
slavery being thirleen-the Southern repre-
sentatives and the Northern allies OF the
slave power, who sat in the hall domineering
and determined, bein. in number thirty
Benjamin f. Wade, of Ohio. arose to make
his final plea Tor freedom and justice for tue
incoming State and for freedom and con-
cord for the existing Union. In the course
of his imprisoned speech he said D.
"Sir, ] am no sycophant or worshlpper OF
power anywhere know how easy it is for
some minds to glide along with the current
of popular opinion, where influence, respec-
liability, and all those motives which tend to
seduce the human heart are brought to bear
l am not unconscious of the persuasive power
exerted by these considerations to drag men
along in the current; but am not at liberty
to travel that road | am not unaware how
unpopular on this floor are the sentiments
am about to advocate. I well understand
the epithets to which they subject their sup
porters Every, man who has been in this
hall for one aheur krows> tile difference be-
tween him who comes here as the defender
and supporter of the rights OF, human ma
ture and him Jwho comes as the vile syco-l
plant and fatterer of those in power. |
know that the one road is easy to travel;
theIother is hard, and at this time perlous
But, sir, I shall take the path of duty, and
shall not swerve from it." Iii. So. ..l1..
Ben Wade steps out of these words an
outlined and characterized figure, for all to
see who have not seen the man. He stands
before the reader statue of proud and
honest manhood. Walk part way around
this figure, and take another view at it. MIR.
Wade, continuing his Speech said
II am amazed at the facility with which
some men follow in the wake of slavery
Sometimes it leads me even to hesitate
whether am strictly correct in my idea that
all men are born to equal rights, for their
conduct seems to me to contrayene the doc
trine. l see in some men an abjectness, IL
want of that manly independence, which
enables man to rely on himsefand face the
world on his own principles, that don't
know but that l am wrong in advocating
universal liberty. l wish to heaven all such
were of the African race"
Look at the high, massive forehead of the
Senator; see the blazing intensity of the
look out OF his great black eyes feel the
force of the set of his square jaws, and hear
the defiant tempest of his voice; and you
will know of verify that this man WiU face
the world on his own principles, and that he
is among the appointed Of God to advocate
universal liberty.
Before the thirty -two-dueists, slavehol-
ders aristocrats, and autocrats-stting in a
crescent and enveloping the thirteen. Ben.
Wade thus baptized himself and gave his
politics name:
Il come before the Senate to-day as Re-
publican, or, as some prefer to call me, a
Black Republican: for do not object to
the term. care nothing about the name.
come here especially as the advocate of
Liberty. instead of Slavery"
A sufficient baptism. one would say but
he renewed the right by immersion, going
all in under, and came up before the scowi-
ing oligarchy the "blackest of black Repub-
licans" He said:
"5When, however, you undertake to extend
slavery into territories now free, l must meet
you, and ON that issue the North will meet
you. Is this Abolitionism? | believe it
marks strongly the character of those you
call black Republicans cannot defend
them against the charge. nor do wish to do
so /; for lam one of the blacklist of the
black, if that be the criterion of Judgment"
The portraiture of this captain of the anti
slavery fight in the national legislature can
beacompleted with few historical strokes
of the brush. In the debate upon the Kan
sas,Nebraska bill. Mr.. Wade was interrupt
ed by Brown of Mississippi, as he closed this
sentence: know very well, sir, with what
ayell of triumph the passage of this bill will
be hailed both in the South and in Pandemo-
MUM"
Mr.. Brown" Do you know what is 60
ing on there?" Laughter
Mr.. Wade do not pretend to know
precisely what is on foot there's but think
it pretty evident that there is very free
communication between that country and
this body, and, unless am greatly mistaken,
see the dwarfiish medium 10y which that
communication is kept up" (Great laugh
ter, and a voice from the shareholders side
reckon he's got you BrownrO
y X
Ben. Wade made the break in the shame
full submission of Northern senators to the
insOlence and bullyIngs of the lords of the
plantation. His newspaper hiographer re-
lates that soon after taking his seat, ii fire
eating Southernor in debate grossly assailed
Free State senator As no allusion was
made to himself or his State, Wade sat still
but, when the Senate adjourned, he said
openly, If ever Il Southern senator made such
an attack on him or Ohio while he sat on
that floor, he would brand him as a liar
This coming to the ears OF the Southern men
asenator took occasion to pointedly speak "a
few days afterward, of Ohio and her people
as negro thieves. Instantly Mr.. Wade sprana
to his feet and pronounced the senator liar
The Southern senators were astounded, and
gathered round their champion; while the
Northern men grouped about Wade. A
teeler was put out from the Southern side
looking to retraction; but Mr.. Wade retort
ed in his peculiar style, and demanded an
apology for the insult offered himself and
the people he represented The matter thu.
closed, and fight was looked upon as Ger
tain. The next day a gentleman called or
the senator from Ohio, and asked the usua
question touching his acknowledgment o
the code
III am here" he responded, sin doubl,
capacity. represent the State of Ohio, anC
lrepresent Ben Wade. AS Senator, | an
opposed to dueling AS Ben Wade I re
cognize the code"
My friend feels aggrieved," said tn
gentleman, " at what you said in the Senat
satisfaction" ttsa -y
Il was somewhat embarrassed,n contin
ued Senator Wade, "by my position yesteI
day, as thave some respect for the Cham
Der. l now take this opportunity to sd
what I then thought; and you will, if yo
please, repeat it. Your friend is a fou
mouthed old black guard"
Certainly, Senator Wade, You do ne
xuio To- =