The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1868-05-28
BEN. WADE OF OHIO.

VIC year LOW. IIe was the youngest oi
ten children. His father was soldier
who fought in every revolutionary battle
from Bunker Hill to Yorktown. His
mother was a daughter of Presbyterian
clergyman, woman Of vigorous intellect
and great force of character. She fed
and clothed her brood while the father
was in the army. The family was one of
the poorest in New England. A portion
of its scanty property was library of
books. This eventually became Ben
jamiu's possession. He read the volumes
through and through, and over and over,
after his mother had led him so far into
an education as to teach him to read and
write. When Ben. was eighteen, he tear
fully turned his back on the old plough
and the old homestead, and, with seven
dollars in his pocket and bundle of cloth
ing on his back; started to walk from
! Springfield, Mass, to Illinois, to seek his
fortune. He footed it to Ashtabula coun-
ty, Ohio. There, the snow falling, he
determined to wait for spring to finish is
journey hired himself out to cut wood
in the forest at so cents per cord, and
snatched hours from sleep at night to
read the Bible by the light of the FIRE on
the hearth of the log cabin. Both the old
aud the New Testament are at his tongues
end. Spring came, but the journey, to
Illinois and fortune was suspended by a
summer work at chopping, logging, and
grubbing, followed By Yankee winter
at schoo! teaching. The journey was sus-
pended by second year of such work,
and was finally lost in an experience of
driving herd Of cattle. Wade led the
''lead" steer of a drove from Ohio to New
York. Six times be made this trip. The
last OK he had took him to Albany. Twas
winter OF course, the drover there ex,
/ panded into a school teacher When the
( frost was out of the ground, scholars and
/ teacher went to manual labor. The Erie
Canal got the teacher. During the sum-
mer of 1862 Wade shoveled and wheel
ed-"The only American [ know" said
Gov. Seward, in speech in the Senate.
''who worked with a spade. and wheelbar-
row on that great improvement" An
! other winter of school teaching in Ohio,
and the persuasions of Elisha Whittlesey.
and the friendly offer of tavern keeper,
who had got to loving Wade, to trust him
bed and board without limit, drew Ben,
at the age of tWenty-six, into law Office
to study for a bar He was admitted in
two years He waited another year for
his first suit. He won that, and in win
ming it won the sympathy and faith of the
lawyers of the district by his zeal and
hard work for his client. The mans
hand was on success nothing but death
could detach it. Juries in Northern
Ohio, got to be his way of thinking, and
there was a growing coincidence between
Wade's arguments and the judgments of
courts. He began to be man of pro-
perty, and a part of his estate was the
opinion that prevailed all over the west
ern Reserve that he was an honest, just,
benevolent, brave, and wise man. That
part of his estate in Ohio has been &C
cumulating at compound interest. 1t is
very big now.
Soon after entering the Senate fire.
eating Southerner in debate grossely as
sailed Free State Senator. As no al
luson was made to himself or his State,
Wade sat still, but, when the Senate ad-
journed he said openly if ever South
ern 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, Sena-
tor took occasion to pointedly speak, few
days afterward, of Ohio aud her people
as negro thieves. Instantly Mr.. Wade
sprang to his feet and pronounced the
Senator liar. The Southern Senators
were astounded, and gathered around
their champion, while the Northern men
grouped about Wade. A feeler was put
out from the Southern side looking to re-
traction, but Mr. Wade retorted in his
peculiar style, aud demanded an apology
! for the insult offered himself and the peo
pie he represented. The matter thus
closed, and fight was looked upon as
certain. The next day gentleman call
ed on the Senator from Ohio, and asked
the usual question touching his acknow
ledgment of the code.
81 am here" he responded, "in a
double capacity. | represent the State
of Ohio, and | represent Ben. Wade
AS a Senator, am opposed 20 dueling.-
As Ben. Wade, | recognize the code"
''My friend feels aggrieved," said the
gentleman, cat what you said in the Sen
ate yesterday, and viii ask for an apology
or satisfaction"
"T was somewhat embarrassed" con
tinued Senator Wade, "by my position
yesterday, as have some respect for the
| Chamber. I now take this opportunity
to say what / then thought, and you will,
if you please, repeat it Your friend is
a foul mouthed old blaekguard."
t'Certaibiy, Senator Wade, you do not
wish me to convey such message as
that 2'
aMost undoubtedly do and | will
tell you, for your own benefit, this friend
of yours will never notice it, ] will not
be asked for either retraction, explana-
4 finn or "a hnht ~ ----.-.- ------- 49, -