The New York herald., 1869-05-23
4 TALK WITH OLD BEN WADE. II

TALK WITH OLD BEN WADE.
~o~o~>-,>~~--c>o>>~-,~
why He Did Not Go Into the Cabinet-Why
Grant Don't Ldko Hlm-His Views on tho
Alabama Claims, the Cuba Revolution, &c.
A correspondent OF the Cincinnati Chronicle gives
the following account OF q recent interview with
Ben wade:-
OUT or TIM CABINET.
Mr.. Wade s to-day In more envlabe position
than IT. harassed with the cares OF Oce at made
quate salary ne had remained IN Washington But q
great many people In OhlO think he ought to be
In the Cabinet. and not few supposed that as a
matter Of course he would be invited to such posi-
o 1S %o1 ANA sf nm o
ton. that strong delegation of Ohio men, with
Senator Morton, of Indiana, and others, waited on
signed by the Ohio delegation In favor of Mr.. Wade
for secretary OF the Interior "What" | asked.
was the reason given 6y General Grant for declin-
II never Knew, . said Mr.. Wade. 81 never was
candidate for any appointment Idid not want any,
would take It, and SO, without my knowing what
took it up there. Perhaps should have
il. The pay is inadequate. could not
have neid the position and kept house In
for the salary. It would have taken $4,000 year
more from my private means. unless I'd steal and
i'm too Old 10 begin to steal. There are some rings
my best to smash them, aud Of course that would
have made the friends OF the men interested my en-
emiss but i've got use to that didn't care any
why GRANT DON'T LIKE HIM.
81 had an idea, Senator, that General Grant would
position before the country and IN the party"
"Well, think he was little opposed to me on
account OF my views about West Point. Pm down
1t is wholly unlike the French and other Con-
tinental systems. II Is like the English system
where all is done by favoritism, and promotion
ftOu ha ia m Wh m ia
anomalous in our government, and have told
Grant 80, aud think he don't like It,"
VIRGINIA ELECTION,
To question as to the Virginia election Mr.. Wade
said the chief embarrassment appeared to be the fact
OF two parties In the contest botn claiming to DC re-
publican; but he thought there ought to be no
dIficulty in determining where to 20 when 1t was
apparent which of the parties received the rebel
support. He spoke warmly Of the necessity OF pro-
viding against the recurrence OF such scenes OF
violence as are disgracng the State and people of
Georgia, and expressed full confidence that Presi-
dent Grant was determined to use the power con-
ided to him to suppress Ku Klux disorders
GENERAL GRANT KEEPING A LIST OF MURDERS IN
LATE REBELLIOUS STATES.
In this connection he mentioned what ! DO not
remember to have. seen published that General
Grant early in the last year Of Johns0ns admnistra
ton had kept list OF murders reported in the rebel
ilous States ana when it was anticipated that ini
peachment would succeed, and Mr.. Wade there
by become President, he was anxious to have
such a change OF commanders In the South
military districts follow would enable him to
protect Union men against Outrages of the cass
which had been reported to him TO the number Of
several hundred.
MIR. WADE ON THE ALABAMA CLAIMS, SUMMERS
SPEECH, &C.
In reply to question as to what course he would
have the government pursue In reference the Ala
baina claims, Mr.. Wade said:-"l nave lndi-
Gated before what would do think our
government should appoint commission
to audit and ascertain the amount OF claims due TO
owners Of shipping and other property destroyed by
the responsbly Of G paying for them ana then gve
notice to England OF our Intention to fol
Would On at ooe
to the position OF third rate Power
She could not quell rebellion in New Zealand with
out anordng Us an opportunity 10 let loose host Of
losses"
''Do you think Senator, tina, the President intends
"a think his policy looks to vigorous course
than that even He isn't going to be satisfied with
anything but vigorous policy as TO our claims
against En2land.r
"Doyou regard Mr.. Summers speech az a fair ex-
preston OF the Presidents viewsy''
l think IL Is; the TACT Is the logic OF that speech Is
irresistible"
"But could we fairly hold England to what is
called In law the remote danages?"
''Wel, we ought to put 1t in as pretty strong
have ma doubt the war would have
been closed within the first two years IL 1t had no;
been for the hasty recognition OF the rebels by Eng
land as begerents. think we ought to have
declared war at the time, aud our pr
commerce, and damaged them more than
they could US by aiding the rebels. They
might nave sent twenty or thirty thousand men into
the South, but that would not have counted for
much In struggle Of such proportions. Look ut
the action OF England In the Crinean war. She
bound herself to her allies by the most solemn obll-
cations TO furnish contingent OF sixth thousand
men, and she never got above forty thousand. She
then sent her recruiting agents here to enlist men,
and we were compelled to put stop TO 1t. If We
had declared war then we should have doue
better than 10 let her have all OF the advantage
which she did have by her trade with the rebels
our claims now rest not on the original act of recog
milton 80 much az on these piracics OF British
cruisers.
CUBA.
On the Cuban question Mr.. Wade SAID Ii the insur
rectIon had been able to maintain itself since last
October with the sympathy OF the greater portion OF
the native population, we ought To recognize the
patriots az belligerents. The was entirely off
Ierent from that Of Engand's course towards u.s.
When the British proclamation was issued there
were yet no organized armies contending In the
field. Fort Sumter had been fired upon, but no
organized insurrection had taken the field aud
tanned itself for length OF time.