The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1878-03-13
old BEN WADE.
Anecdotes Illustrating the Peculi-
arities of His Character.
How He Met the Southern Fire
eaters-Why Toombs Didn't
Challenge Wade.
Douglass aEi WsIi-TR Little GIali Dlnl-
isIlisi-Jligg CAissg Old Fr1.

General James 5. Brisbin relates,
III the last number of the SPIRIT Of
the Times, many anecdotes Of the late
ex-senator Wade. Among the must
characteristic are the following:
SOUTHERN SENATORS THUNDERsTRUcK.
Soon after taking his seat in the
Senate, Wade witnessed one OF those
scenes so common in the Senate in
those days. A Southern fre-eater
made On attack on 9 Northern Sena
tor, and Wade was amazed and dis
gusted a. the cringing, cowardly way
ia which the Northern men bore the
iaunts and insults Of the hot-headed
Southerner. As no allusion was
made 10 himself or Stale, Mr.. Wade
sat still but, when the Senate ad-
iou.ned, be said, openly, if ever a
Southern Senator made such an at.
tack on him or his state, while be sat
on that floor, be would brand him as
a liar. This coming to the ears of
the Southern men, g Senator took oc.
c%asion to pointedly speak a few days
/ af;erward Of Ohio and her people as
negro thieves. Instantly Mr.. Wade
sprang to bis feet, and pronounced
the Senator a liar.
The Southern Senators were thua-
derstruck, and gathered around their
champion, while the Northern men
grouped about Wade. 4 feeIer was
put out from the Southern side, look
ing for retraction but Mr.. Wade re-
torted in his peculiar style. and de-
manded an apology for the insult
offered himself and the people be rep
resented. The matter thus closed, a
fight was looked upon as certain.
The heat day e gentleman called up.
on the Senator from Ohio, and asked
the usual question touching his &C
knowledgment Of the code.
Il am here he responded, "in a
double capacity. | represent the
State of Ohio, and | represent Ben
Wade. As a Senator | am opposed
to duelling; as Ben Wade, | recog-
nize the code"
my friend feels a~ggricved," said
the gentleman, Eat what you said in
the Senate yesterday, and will ask
for an apology or satisfaction"
II was somewhat embarrassed"
continued Senator Wade. "by nv
position yesterday, as | have some
respect for the chamber. nov take
this opportunity of saying what |
then thought, and you, if you please,
can repea. il: Your friend is a foul
mouthed old blactguard ?"
Certainly, Senator Wade, you do
not wish me to convey such a mes-
sage as that?'
"Most undoubtedly / DO, and will
tell yoL, for your own benefit, that
this friend of yours will never notice
it. | will not be asked either for
r~etraction, explanation, or a fight"
Next morning Mr.. Wade came into
the Senate, and, proceeded to bis seat,
deliberately drew from bis coat two
large pistols, and, unlocking bis desk,
laid them inside. The Southern men
looked on in silence, while the North
ern members enjoyed to the fullest
extent the ffe-eaters' surprise at the
proceeding of the plucky Ohio Sena-
tor. No further notice was taken of
the aFair of the day before. Wade
was not challenged, bat ever after
ward was treated with the utmost
politeness and consideration by the
Senator who so insultingly attacked
him.