Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-03-04
Death of Ex-senator Wad =

Benjamin Frsnkhn Wade, of the ear =
antslavery heroes, died Sa'ar iay moromI at
$50 o'clock, at j, ifcrsou, OAio, at the ylucei
aye of II wears. lie was bora on the 21,h of
October 1900, or little more than two mouth, he
fore the close Of the eighteen century. Feed
nghs, in the town of West Springfield, Mass,
was his birth place. When Is year. old
he left for the West. The family followed soon
after His parents were poor, and he had been
"common soldier in the arne, OF the Revolution,
After the war his father supper ted his FANNY a
cobber mcnding shoes having his workbench
10 his house. Thus the future statesman, aud
coming Senatorial Representative of an unborn
State, had no chance to obtain what IS called
regular education. Yet he had Ssevere training
He worked As Il farm hand, and at making lumber.
AT one time he wa, digger on the Erie Canal.
II said that in the winter season he taught school
Against all diseuu a Eements. the bold, ardent,
persevering young fellow stouuy contendei
How he reached Olio, we know not but we fud
hun, in his twenty-sixth year, law-student in
the office of Elisha Whittesey, man who later
rose to much distinction. Two years Afterwards
he became lawyer, in Ashtabula, one Of the
counties that form the famous Western Reserve.
l.ter was elected State Senator, three times. AT
the age OF AZ he was appointed President Judge
of the third Judicial District, by the Legislature
-Four years afterwsrd he was made a national
Senator and was reelected in 1857 and in 1868,
serving three full and successive terms. o poi
tics he was whig, and something more.-for he
was an anti-savery man, and one of the extreme
school. He entered the Senate at time when
the pro-slavery party was a tne height of power,
and when that power threatened to endure for a
century, aud to destroy all the hopes of freedom
in America. Hewas of tue very few men in
c ongress who were not either craven towards
or alb ject wOIshippers of slavery He commended
against the common standard as fIm,y then as
he did at later period, when evertion seemed to
be Of a more hopeful nature. Though has party
worked Tor Southern votes, he was one of only
half dozen Senator's who voted for the repeal Of
the fugitive slayc law in 1892. When the
phase of the long conflict came up, consequent
Gu the movement fJr tue repeal OF the Missouri
Compton, sc, he Of the most forward
of hose who led in opposition to 1t. tie
one Of the founders OF the republican
party, and stood among those men
who received its first consideration and it was IA,
republican that he was twice chosen TO the
ate, the wing party having disappeared. Thus
prominent as a liberal, he became most 0bnoX-
iOus TO the pro slavery party, who made of all
the means III Their power 10 destroy ms influence
aud also TO cut HIM OIL personally but he met all
such evidences Of hostility VITA the de-
termined courage that marked his life under
other circumstances, and maintained his posi-
ton. When the republican parry came into
power, he of the foremost OF those of its
members whose exertlons kept it up TO the anti
slavery line. The war for the preservation OF
the Union, and for the destruction OF
slavery, la no more devoted and uncompromis-
ing supporter than Mr.. Wade and to his labots
were que many OF the most effective measures
that were taken Tor the eXteImation of slaveo-
cratic power 80 there might be no revival OF the
Old state Of things. Emancipation adyoca-
ed by him, from the be- inning of the CO ntesi,
and generally he WIS III advance both OF his par
ty aud of the country in regard to the manner OF
proceeding against the enemy. lie demanded
that the wal should be waged with vigor, and fol
the destruction OF the foe and lie chairman
OF that JOINT committee Of Congress, which Iu-
quned INTO the conduct of the Being chair
man OF the committee on territories, he reported
the bill to abolish slavery IN those territories, III
1852. After the close OF the war; he was
ir N supporter OF radical reconstruction. He was
chosen President of the Senate III 1865, and again
IN 1867. The triumph of the democrats in ONO
gave them control of that STATES Legislature,
and Mr.. Wade was not third time rejected to
the Senate He wa. OF the Com IN issioners to
San Domingo, in 1874. lie remained true TO his
original convictions, and condemned the 'pohcy
OF President Hayes, as departure from the spir
1t and purpose OF the republican party, and
trucking ~ tue South which could only bring
evil.