The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1875-12-21
HENRY WILSON.
Sis Relations with the Oldest Mem.
bcrs Of ssuntc-HHis Quarrel with
GWin.

The following is an extract from the
Inter Oceans Washington correspond
ent, Curtis. dated Dec. 9Th.
Henry Wilson's death affected the
older members of the Senate visibly,
and they came back to their seats re-
minded Of death and decay in so forci.
BILE manner as to make their faces
gloomy and their meeting with each
other tinged with sadness. / was talk
ing with Secretary Chandler the other
day and he recalled many "reminiscences
OF Wilson's life; how, in tho times of
political anarchy before, the war, when
liberty and freedom were breaking
their chains, and the old slave-holdipg
element was being forced into submis-
sion or secession, Wilson especially was
a target for the hate and cowardly ven-
gence of the Southern leaders.
WILSON ouARRELs WITH Gwfs.
One day on the floor Of the Senate,
Gwin, OF California, who is Just becom-
ing prominent again after a suppress
sion Of fifteen years, alluded to Wilson
as q ''cobbler." Gwin had been no
toriously associated with some fraudn-
lent schemes, and was exposed to the
public eye as thief a short time before.
Wilson Interrupted him, with request
to ask a question. 1t was granted, and,
turning to the Senator from California,
he said in slow, measured tones:
81 would like to ask the Senator from
California question. Would he rath-
er be called a cobbler than thief ?"
Gwin was silenced for time, but his
friends insisted that he had been in
suited, and must challenge Wilson,
which he did. Wilson replied that as
the "code" was not recognized in his
State, and as he was from principle OPP
posed to polite murder, he must decline
the challenge, but that the gentleman
might have the satisfaction of acquit.
ting himself honorably, he proposed
that an investigation be made whether
he was n cobbler and the gentleman
from California thief.
This was heaping Oss1 upon Pelion,
aud it was resolved in solemn conclave
that Wilson must be punished. Nor
was it kept secret, but openly remark
ed that Wilson had played the coward
and must receive coward's deserts.
Fearing an attack upon him, Mr.. Will
sons friends appointed committee to
guard him in relays, and for several
weeks he never left his room alone
There were always two Senators to at
tend him from the time he left his hotel
in the morning till ho retired at night.
''rHE VETERANS ARE PASSING AWAY"
said Secretary Chandler "Thero are
few men left who know the secret his
tory OF the war. Wilson knew il as
well as any one, and in his book on
The Rise and Fall OF Slave Power" are
written many facts that no one else
could write. Ben Wade is another
man who knew as much as Wilson.
Some time ago an Eastern publisher
sent to mo and made n proposition to
have a shorthand writer spend an hour
with me every day, to hear from my
lips the inside story of the Senate in
the war. i told them / would do it il
they would get old Ben Wade to join
me. proposed that Wade dine with
me every day at my house, and we
would then talk over old times in the
presence of n shorthand reporter. But
Wade declined. He said that il would
raise such stiramong public men that
we both would be murdered-a1d /
thought so too"