New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-05-09

~. Ch.raeeerfsties Of the Ex.Senatof from
Oh,s-His Blunt Courage and RuSgeA He.
mer-Mew He dealt with the Daelssss q
,he south N the Days Of che slave Power
lntsressine Renatnfsse nees II hts Ssns~
- torial Career. f-. se, -tH *
CAMP STAMBAUGH,
WYOMING TERRITORY, April 8, 1872.
have read with a great deal Of pleasure
your Anecdotes of Public Men," published
in the Press and Chronicle, and hope you will
print them in a collected form, for l think
thew would make an admirable book. Such
matter as they contain gives us more insight
into the character, habits, and even ability OF
gathered from all their public writings and
speeches. 3 -. 80
There il one public man of whom you have
written very little, but of whom there are
very many anecdotes well worth relating
This man was for years our mutual friend,
and, as you know, my personal relations with
him qualify me to speak authOritatively OF his
public and private life--both of which were
blameless. 1t is needless to say refer to
the great Ohio Senator, Hon. Benjamin f.
Wade. Will you permit me, then, my friend,
to add a little something to your "Anec-
dotesn about our old friend Wade, Of whom
some very good things may be said, and
whose public life extended over such long
term of years, and through the most exciting
y
events Of our national history. .F.lz1sl
Ben Wade is an older man than most peO-
pie suppose, he having been born at Feeding
Hills, parish of West Springfield, Massachn-
sets, October q, $500. In 1878, when IL
years of age, he chopped cordwOOd at Ash
tabula, Ohio, for fifty cents per cord. He
had walked on foot from New York to this
place, and was on his way to Detroit and
Chicago, where he proposed to settle. VIM
ter overlook him at Ashtabula, and to earn
his board he built a cabin, and, as before
stated, chopped wood. 1t was his intention
to cross the lake by boat early in the spring
to Detroit, and then finish the journey to
Chicago on foot. His brother, who lived at
Ashtabula, persuaded Wade to give up going
further West, and in 1922 he taught school
in winter, and grubbed during the summer
months. Being now in his twenty-third year,
he longed to revisit his home, and hired HIM
self to q droyer, whom he assisted in taking
a herd of cattle to New York. Wade con-
Quoted the lead OK, and his earthly property
was contained in small carpet sack tied be-
hind the ox's horns. In 1875 he worked as
a day laborer on the Erie canal, where Mr..
seward saw him using the wheelbarr0w and
shovel. Mr.. Seward afterwards, in referring
TO this great work, said in one of his speeches
delivered ON the floor of the Senate: 81
know one American who lab0red on that
great Improvement, and he sits to-day among
us one of the most talented and able mem
bers of this body" Pointing to Mr.. Wade.
Wade was twenty-six years of age when he
read law, and was not admitted to practice
until he was nearly twenty-eight. In 1885,
after seven years. practice, he was elected
prosecuting attorney for the county of Ash
tabula, and two years later was nominated
for the State Senate. He was, therefore,
thirty-seven years of age when he began his
political life. - -
On account Of his manly opposition to the
Kentucky Slave COMMISSIONER bill he fell
into disgrace with his party, and was not re-
nominated for second term, but in l84l the
people Of Ohio having advanced in their
political ideas regarding slavery, he was tri-
umphantly reelected to his seat in the
ton and returned to the practice of law. He
had been married the previous year to Miss
Caroline ROsencranze, a most estimable
Young lady, and he desired to lead quiet
life.
In 1877, however, the people called him
from his retirement to act as judge of the
Third judicial district of Ohio. He was still
filling this Office in 1851 when the Legisla-
ture of Ohio elected him United States Sem
ator. 1t has been necessary to introduce
this much of Wade's biography in order to
cXpl6lu VITAL lOAOWS. l-.u ts.a....a.- g.
Wade was in his fifty-sec0nd year when he
first took his seat as a Senator from Ohio.
He had supported General Harrison for the
Presidency in l840; been bitter and con-
sistent opponent Of slavery spoke and voted
for General Taylor in 1913, advocated the
election of General Scott in 1852, and now
found himself an earnest Wing in 1854.
On taking his seat, Mr.. Wade found him
self surrounded by two despicable classes OF
men, then very properly characterized by the
newspapers as Southern fire-eaters land
Northern dough-faces. He had not been
long in his seat until he Witnessed one of the
scenes so common in the Senate in those
days. A Southern fire-eater made an attack
onaNorthem Senator, and Wade was amazed
and Disguised at the cringing and cowardly
way in which the Northern man bore the
taunts and insults of the hOt-headed South
erner. As no allusion was made to himself
or State, MIR. Wade sat still, but when the
Senate adjourned he said openly that 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 early occasion to pointedly speak of
Ohio and her people as negro thieves. In
stantly Mr.. Wade sprang to his feet and
called the Senator a liar. The Southern
members were thnnderstruck and gathered
around their champion, while the Northern
men grouped about Mr.. Wade. A feeler was
put out from the Southern side looking to
retraction, but Mr.. Wade sayagely demanded
AN apology for the insult offered himself and
his State. The matter thus closed, and a
duel seemed certain. The next day South
ern gentleman called on the Senator and
asked him if he acknowledged the code.
II am" replied Wade, sin Washington
in double capacity; represent the State
Of Ohio and 1 represent Ben Wade. AS
senator i am opposed to duelling; as Ben
Wade I recognize the CODE"
my friend feels aggrieyed, - said the gem
tleman, sat what you said in the Senate
Yesterday, and will ask an apology or salts
faction." ta6 .is- t'sr1s -.
Il was somewhat Embarrassed con-
tinued Senator Wade, by my position yes
terday, as have some respect for the Cham
Der, but now 1 am free to speak my mind,
and take this opportunity to say to YOU
what then thought, and YOU win please
repeat Il to your friend, that he Is a fouI-
mouthed old blackguard.' b, 9 sr-SfF -, ~
"SMely, Mr.. Wade ''f said the a.ton;shea
man, "you do not wish me to convey such .
message as that. . s.isft" z. sssf3 Eel
Most undoubtedly do, !" replied Wade
and I can tell you further for your own bene,
fit: this friend OF yours will never notice IL.