Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-03-02

Intelligence has reached this city by tele.
graph that ex-senator Benjamin Franklin
Wade died at his residence in jefferson. Ohio.
this morning. at half-p six o'clock. He was
born in Springfield, Mass, Oct. 27th 1890. He
worked as farmer or laborer in the summer.
and was employed as a school teacher i'm the
winter. until lS26, when, having removed TO
Ohio, he began the study of law i'm that state,
and IN lS2S was admitted to the bar i'm AShta-
hula county, where he has ever since resided.
In 1885 he was elected prosecuting attorney of
that county. and in lS37waS elected TO the state
senate, to which he was twice reelected. In
1877 he was chosen president Judge of the third
judicial district of the state. In 1851 hrwas
elected l. 5. Senator, and was reelected i'm
lS3I and 1863. In the Senate Mr.. Wade was
the steady opponent of slavery. In 1872 he
voted, with only five other Senators. TO repeaI
the fugitive slave law: he also spoke and voted
against the bill TO abrogate the Missouri com
promise. against the Lecompton constitution
Tor Kansas in 1855, against appropriating
Sa,e0O,o00 for the acquisition of Cuba, and
against all the compromises between the north
and south proposed after Mr.. Lincoln'S elec-
tlon in 1860. The homestead bill he advocated
for years, and it was in his charge when it
was fnally passed by the Senate in lSi2
After the outbreak OF the civil war. in ISL, Mr..
Wade labored all the time for more vigorous
policy. He was chairman of the Joint com.
mlttee Oh the conduct of the war. aud urged
the enactment of law 10 cOnfiScate all the
property of leading SeceSSioniStS and emanci-
pate their slaves. As chairman OF the terrific
flal committee he reported bill in 1852 abo-
slavery Ill ill Tile territories. and
prohibiting it in any territory that might
afterwards be acquired. After the aSSaSSfna-
ton of President Lincoln. in lSj5. he became
TIesldent pro tempore of the Senate. In
March. 1867, he was elected President of the
Senate. In lS1l he was one OF the commits
SI0nerS sent 10 SantO Domingo to report upon
It's proposed annexation to the United States
scheme which he approved. Since that time
he had taken little part in public affairs. but
watched the drift OF public events with great
interest. He was bold and sturdy defender
OF the views he entertained, but frank and
honest, ana hated all political compromises
where principles were AT stake.
RETURN OF 4 WANDERER.-For two months
the friends of Lieutenant L. ID. Wheeler lst
United States artillery have been alarmed
ABOUT his mysterious disappearance. About
CHRISTMAS he was in arrest and ordered to
appear for trial in New York before general
court martial. The New York sun SAYS: He
made his appearance the first day, obtained
pOstpOnement. and when the court met again
he was not to be found. Last THURSDAY a de-
lected looking, ill-dreSSed man. evidently i'll
IN body and mind, presented himself at the
headquarters department of the east. army
building, at Greene and Houston streets, and
surrendered himself as Lieutenant Wheeler,
lSt artillery. He was sent under the care of am
officer to Fort Hamilton and put under charge
of DIR. Nickery of that post. What little can
be gathered from Lieutenant WheelerS story
amounts TO this: He drew from the paymaS-
ter what little was due him, and wandered off
To the WharveS. One morning he found him
self on board an English steamer bound for
Liverpool. Arriving there he strayed of to
London. His money gave ont. and for two
days he walked the streets of that vast city i'm
starving condition. He at length found the
American consul. and was shipped back to
New York, where he reported to the depart
ment headquarters. Wheeler shows signs of
alteration of mind, and no doubt will be sent
TO an insane asylum as soon as he RECEIVERS Suf-
ticiently from the physical exhaustion caused
by his sufferings.