The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-03-04
nenth al Ex.Nenator Wade.


Ing influences Of our republican form Of
government, which recognizes true meri!
whether i. be found In the humble walks
Of poverty or in the ranks Of aristooratic
wealth. Senator Wade in his early life
enjoyed but few Of the advantages which
tho present wise provisions for the educs.
ton of the masses have put within the
reach Of all the children Of all classes
throughout the length and breadth Of this
land. he was born in Springfield, Mas.
saohusetu, on the 9Th Of October, 1900,
and was therefore at the time Of his death
10 the 10Th year Of his age. Heresided
in his native State until he was
twenty-One years Of age engaging IN
various pursuits, sometimes teaching
school, at others working on farm. In
1891 he removed 10 the State Of Ohio
where he continued to employ his sum.
mers in manual labor upon the farm and
his winters In teaching school until the
year 1926, when no commenced the study
Of law with Elisha Whittlesey. In 1928,
being then % years Of age, he was ad'
mi.tsd to the bar Of Ashtabula county,
where he continued to reside until the
time OF his death. Mr.. Wade early at
tained d high reputation IS lawyer, and
in politics was Wing. He filled success
siysIy the position OF prosecuting attor'
ney for the county Of Ashtabuis, State
Senator for two terms and president Judge
Of the third judicial district Of the State.
In1s5l he was elected to the .. s. Senate
asa Wing, where he soon became promi-
nent by reason Of his advocacy Of the
homestead bill, and the repeal Of the fu-
gitive slave law, and his opposition
10 the Kansas, Nebraska bill Of 1854.
In 1882 he was one OF FIVE Senators who
voted to repeal the fugitive slave law.
He was again elected in 1857 asa Wing
Senator and continued his uncOmprOmis.
ing hostility to every measure which he
conceived to be in the interests OF slavery,
either for II. continuance or It's propoga-
lion in the free territories Of the United
States.
Among the most notable OF his efforts
were his speeches against Douglass bill
to abrogatc the Missouri compromise,
against the Lecompton Constitution for
Kansas, and slidells bill appropriating
sso,OOOOoo for the purchase Of Cuba
= He was steady and consistent opponent
Of all measures intended for the benei!
Of slavery.
The homestead bill, which he had ad.
vocated for years, was in his charge when
i. finally passed the Senate in 1882, Civ.
log 100 acres Of land to every actual
settler. The Agricultural College bill and
the Pacific railroad bill received his
hearty support, and he was an ar
dent advocate Of every measure
for tho protection OF American industry
10 December OF 1860 Mr.. Wade made 4
powerful speech IN which he utterly OPP
posed any rew concessions 10 the slave
power, and declared to the Southern
Senator's, ave hold no doctrine that car
possibly work you any inconvenience
auy wrong, anv disaster"
After the outbreak OF the civil wal
Mr.. Wade was the vehement advocate o.
more vigorous treatment Of the wal
and a more rigorous dealing with The
enemies OF the Government. In 1868 he
was reelected Senator by the Republic
cans, and on tho opening OF the S7tt
Congress became Chairman Of the Joint
Committee'ot the two houses on the Con-
duct OF the War, and was active in urg
log the enactment Of . law contscatinE
all the property Of the leading rebels
and the emancipation Of the slaves. He
favored the bill making treasury notes q
legal tender, and the bills abolishinG
slavery and the black lava In the District
Of Columbia. No man more persistently
than he, insisted on the strictest economy
In the public expenditures, and on hold
ing government officials to a stringent
accountability. In March 1867, he was
elected President OF the Senate, a compli'
ment to his rrsoluts character, his in
domitable coursse and his inaexible fdel
ity to the cause OF liberty. On the ques
tion Of the reconstruction OF the Southern
States after the war he was decidedly
radical. As acting Vice President Of the
United States, had the impeachment trial
OF President johnson terminated in hif
conviction, Senator Wade would have
been, ex.oiEicio, President Of the United
s,ateS. 10 1868, at the Chicago conven-
ton, Senator Wade received large num-
Der Of votes for Vice President, but at the
fuAl ballot he was beaten by a small
majority. Except as Commissioner to 81,
Domingo, tho ex-senator has taken no
prominent part IN public affairs since the
expiration Of his Senatorial term in
1869. Senator Wade, Notwithstanding his
irreeoncilabls hostility to the slave inter.
sst always had the supreme respect Of
Southern men. Even in anti,bellum times,
when insufetable Southern arrogance
was wont to characterize Northern Con-
Kre,smen as towards, Senator Toombs, Of
Ga, was obliged to except the Senator
from Ohio (wade) and to speak Of him
as brave man, whose courage and bold.
ness challenged the respect and admira-
ton Of his political enemies. He was a
man who received the blows Of his enc
mics without ainching and returned them
with interest. His principles were never to
BE- mlstGken or misunderstood. sagaciOus
in measuring the power OF an antagonist,
he was aueeesstul in repelling assaults,
Since his withdrawal from public life
the ex-senator has been none the less