Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1868-03-18
Anecdotes Of Senator Wade.

. Senate IN tnoee days. a Southern fire-eater
made an attack on Northern Senator. and
Wade was amazed and disguised at the
bringing cowardly way in which the North
Arn man bore the taunts and insults of the
hot headed Southerner As no allusion was
made to himself or State, Mr.. Wade sat
still, but when the Senate adjourned be
said, openly, if ever a Southern Senator
made such an attack on him or his State
while he sat on that floor, he would brand
him as liar. This coming to the ears of
the Southern men, Senator took occasion
to pointedly speak, few days afterward of
Ohio and her people as negro thieves In
istantly Mr.. Wade sprang to his feet and
pronounced the Senator liar The South
ern Senators were thunderstruck. and
gathered round their champion, while
Northern mon grouped around Wade A
feeler was put out from the Southern side
looking to retraction, but Mr.. Wade rotor
ted in his peculiar style, and demanded an
apology for the insult offered himself and
the people he represented. The matter
thus closed, and fight was looked upon as
certain. The next day gentleman called
on the Senator from Ohio and asked the
usual question touching his acknowledge
ment of the code.
~ am here" he responded, g in a double
capacity. represent the State of Ohie,
and represent Ben. Wade. As a Senator,
am opposed to dueling. As Ben Wade I
recognize the code"
My friend feels aggrieved," said the
| gentleman, at what you said in the Senate
yesterday, and will ask for an apology or
satisfaction"
II was somewhat embarrassed, continu-
ed Senator Wade by my position yester-
day, as have some respect for the cham
Der, | now take this opportunity to say
what then thought, and you will, if you
please, repeat It. Your friend is foul
mouthed old blackguard
"Centainly, Senator Wade you do not
wish me to convey such message as that p
Most undoubtedly I do; and will tell
you for your own benefit, this friend of
yours will never notice it. l will not be
asked for either retraction, explanation, or
fight"
Next morning Mr. Wade came into the
Senate, and proceeding to his seat, DELHI
erately drew from under his coat, two large
pistols, and unlocking his desk, laid them
inside. The Southern men looked on in
silence, while the Northern members enjoy
ed, to the fullest extent, the fre-eater's sur
prise at the proceedings of the pluczy Ohio
Senator. No further notice was taken of
the affair of the day before. Wade was not
challenged, but ever afterwards treated with
the utmost politeness and consideration by
the Senator who had so insultingly attack
ed him !
x
In the struggle over the Kansas Nebraska
bill Mr.. Wade came fully before the country
as debater The Southern fre-eaters and |
Northern doughfaces combined to break |
him down, but he hurled them back with |
surprising ability, and for the first time the |
southerners learned they had Northern |
master in the United States Senate, and |
were overmatched whenever they came in |
contact with the old Ohio Senator The |
New York Tribune, speaking of has first
great speech on the Kansas-N ebraska bin |
says:
"There are many fine orations and good |
arguments delivered in the United States |
Senate from time to time, but not often a
real good speech. In order to have a good |
speech, there must be man behind it,
Such speech we have in the powerful eff
fort Of Judge Wade, and in this case the |
speech is but the Just measure Of the man"
x K II
While the Lecompton bill was under dis |
cussion, Mr.. Toombs, of Georgia, referring |
to the minority, of which Mr.. Wade was |
one, said The majority have rights and |
duties, and trust there is fidelity enough |
to themselves and their principles, and to |
their country, in the majority. to stand |
ogether at all hazards and crush this fac |
tious minority"
Instantly Mr.. Wade sprang to his feet, !
and shaking his fist at Toombs, roared out |
g Have care, sir; have a care You can't |
crush me, nor my people You can't never |
conquer us, we will die first | may fall /
here in the Senate chamber, but | viii never
make any compromise with any such men
You may bring majority and out vote me,
but SO help me God, l will neither cora
promise or be crushed That's what have
to say to your threats
A Southern Senator one day said roughly |
to Wade, of you don't stop your abolition
doctrines, we viii break up the Union.-
We will secede, STRIP Wade held out his
hand, and said, oomically, Good-by, Sena-
tor, If you are going now; ] pray you
don't delay a moment on my account.
Senator Evans, of South Carolina, very
grave and good old man, one day was ex-
hibiting in the Senate Chamber and speak
ing Of copy of Garrison's Liberator, with
its horrible pictures of slavery. Turning
to Mr. Wade, who sat near him, he said
f" Is It not too bad that such paper should
be allowed to exist Why viii not the au-
thorities Of the United States suppress such
a slanderous sheet? Can it be possible
that any patriotic citizen of the North viii
tolerate such an abomination p Senator
Wade put on his spectacles and looking at
the title Of the paper exclaimed in sur
prise: Why Senator Evans, in Ohio we
consider this one Of our best family pa
pers !" The Senators roared but Mr.
Evans, who had a great respect for Mr..
Wade, turned sadly away, saying, a" am
sorry to hear you say so, Mr. Wade il
shows whittier we are drifting.
Notwithstanding Mr. Wade's bitter oppo-
sition to the.slave power, the Southern men
always respected and liked him. Mr.. i
Toombs, the Georgia FIRE eater said Of him,
in the Senate " Ny friend from Ohio PUTS
the matter squarely. He is always honest,
and straight forward, and | wish
to God the rest Of YOU would initiate him.
He speaks out like man. He says what
is the difference, and it is. He means what
he says, you don't always. he and l can
agree about everything on earth except our
sable population
Such was the opinion the fire eaters en-
tertained of Mr. Wade There was not one
Of them but believed him a thoroughly
honest and brave man They respected s
him for his sincerity and fidelity to his {
principles, while they hated and despised !
tba oriooino and faxvniner rotten dougbfares :