Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1868-03-27
Senator Wade's feelings with re.
gard to the Presideney-His Views
of a Presidential PoIicy-The I'm.
parchment Trial.

A correspondent of The Cincinnati
Gazette gives the following recent con-
versatiOn with Senator Wade:
In the outset it may be said that Mr..
Wade displays h feeling with reference
to the great duty that is about to come
upon him, very creditabIe to his iudg-
ment and very little in accord with
sOmepOpular notions of his Characte r.
81 don't suppose anybody will believe
me" he says-'at least, il is the fashion
not to believe such things, and so sup
pose there is no use in saying it but,
IN truth, I would great deal rather es-
cape the seeming prospect of the Presi-
dency than not, if I could do it hOnOra-
bly,, and without desertiOn of duty.
don't mean to say that 1 wouldn't like
to be President-I would be a fool to
say that. But to be a piece of Presi-
dent-tO go in for a frag ment of a
year, in the midst of the excitement
Of the Presidential election, when
there is so much to do and so lit
tie time to do it's not a thing to be
coveted. Under the circumstances,
there is no great honor in it; it's only
my fortune to be in the place that may
make it necessary; and there is no
chance for much Ofa career in it. I'll
have plenty of time to make thousands
of enemies by my appointments, and
not time enough to make many friends
by my ministration."
ssN0w would like" continued the
bluff old veteran, with characteristic
frankness ct would like to stay where
I am, and don't make any secret of it..
This is something that I think I know
something about. I've been in Con-
gress a long time, and believe I know
what a member Of Congress ought to
do. fl can't stay in the Senate, then
I should like to get as near to it as I can
by presiding over il. The Senate was
good enough for me, and if I'd had my
own way there wouldn't have been
much likelihood of my ever trying to
get out of it."
81 told a man the other day, - said the
Senator, "When he commenced trying
to pump me about my intentions, for
the benefit of some New York neWspa-
per, that I hadn't forgotten the picture
in the old elementary spelling-bOOk, Of
| the milkmaid arranging what she was
to do with her chickens before they
were Matched. But then, !" he continued
/ Il should be a very curiOusly conStruC-
ted man if did not do some thinking
IS 10 what my course ought to be in
| case I have to assume the duty to which
| these proceedings point. And there's
one thing I've fully made up my mind
TO: whatever else may be done, 1 shall
| Urv, if the power is put into nv hands,
/ TO bring the Executive Department OF
| the Government into harmony with the
| legislative. I don't believe the Presi-
| dent ought to be a sort OF Grand Lama,
| reigning in seclusion up at the other
| Ind of the avenue, and never letting US
| know what he wants or intends; all the
time taking Congress by surprise, and
| holding alOOf from members, so that
/ there is no inducement for comparison
| Of views before both sides are commit
! ted. I don't believe" "hecontinued, "tbat
a President ought to be setting himself
| up as policy maker. When I am ask
| ed what my policy will be in case
| have to discharge the Presidential du-
/ ties, generally answer that I won't
| have any policy. It's the duty of Con
| gress to adopt a policy, and the duty of
| the President to execute it. We have
| had trouble enough from the efforts OF
Presidents trying to set up a policy for
| themselves, and force Congress into its
| adoption by the use of the Government
/ patronage and otherwise,
| On several points, however, Mr.. Wade
/ seems to have decided that it will he
/ his duty, if he should succeed to the
Presidency, TO nave poHcy' Inc
| very first thing I should try, III such a
4 thing we are talking about should hap
/ pen, would be to see that the real Union
/ men Of the South are protected. Those
| people down there have made us enough
! of trouble, first by their treason, and
since their surrender by their continual
] turbulence. L don't believe they have
ever been ruled with a firm enough
/ hand. l am, of course, In favor Of Civ
| ing them justice always; but they must
not Interfere with the rights of others,
! or disobey the laws. Then there's an
other point,' continued the Senator
con which I feel very strongly. We
must econOmise-- everywhere, If possi'
ble, but especially at The points of our
# greatest expenditure-the army and ma
w. Then i believe there's another
/ thing we've got to do. The party can't
i live without it, what's more Important
the country can't prosper. We musl
4 stop this outrageous system of fraud
i and pecu1alfon. The Government can
/ staERer under &c much longer. There
/ was but little fraud under Iincoln'S
Administration But now the money
Of the people is used with lavish hand
TO cerrupt the people. Why sir two
thirds Of the present tax ol1cefs art