New-York tribune., 1878-03-04


he walked into the Senate chamber. and proceeding
to his scat, deliberately drew from. under his
Goat Two 1Tge Eses GEs wsh aa h0 sincerity S% de%
from Mr.. TOOmbs, of Georgia, q personal compil-
ment. "My friend from Ohio" he said us always
honest. outspoken and straightforward. and wish
to God the lest OF you would lnliate lllin lie SPEAKS
ont like man. He means what he says; you don't
always. He aud can agree about everything on
earth except our sable population." Mr. wade s said
i'll one of his speeches: " am amazed at the facility
with which some men follow in the wake Of slavery.
Sometimes it loads me to doubt whether am
strictly correct in my idea that all men arc born1
equal rights for their conduct seems to me To con-
travcne thar doctrine. see in some men an ablect-
ness, a want of that manly independence, when
enables a man to rely on himself and face the Worid
on lIis own principles, so thet do nor know pnl !
am wrong in advocating universal liberty. WISH WISH
to heaven all such were of the African
by Brooks. .'o' Of South Carolina, Mr. Wade was fore
most in dcnOuncmg the dastardly deed. ne he1t
day after the outrage he sad III tle Heha,e ~
the hour has arrived in the history of this Republic
when its Senators to be sacrificed. ana pay the
forfeit of their lives for opinions sake, know oi no
iittcr place to dIe than III lh3 chainner, "l.m ouI
Senate robes about us; and here, II necessary, /
shall die at my post and III my place for the hDefy
of debate and free discussion"
Mr.. Wade was an able advocate of the Home
stead Bill, and it reported by HIM that IL
passed the Senate i'll 500. He served as Chairman
Of the Committee on Territories, and as such re
ported the first bill prohibiting slavery in ali the
acquired, and also the bill establishing negro
suffrage IN the District of Columbia. When thc re-
beilIon broke out. he was found 10 be one "l ne
gtauuclcSt and most effective champions o. lhe
Union IN the Senate. His aVOwed policy WAS al
ways The cOntiS'dtiOu of Tie property 0i Inc i'a"'S
secc.sonlais and the emancipation of the slaves.
Before the late war Mr.. Wade was a member oi
the Joint Peace Commission, and during the great
conflict was Chairman Of the Joint COMMITTEE ON
the Conduct Of The War. There was no member Of
urgent than Mr.. Wade for vigorous pro-ccu-
ton of the war, or more bitterly hostile to Cen
cyai Mcclellan His views Frequently differed rom
those held 10y President Lincoln, hut MS rcnil"HS
win the Administration were cordal. as C,a't'1Iu
OF the Committee on the Conduct of the war; 10
aided Secretary Stanton III many ways IN carving
out his policy. lie also us'd the committee ,ier-
tiVcly as a means for riddllIg military regulations
which deserved to he rddlcd.
M,NIFrsTO AGAINST LINCOLN.
m..July 1861, Congress passed an act to guarantee
to the Southern States a republican form of Govern
mcnt. President Lincoln did not sign this BILL hnt
on the 9th of July issued proclamation explaining
that, While he was not fully satisfied with
the system for restoration to the Union a7
contained in the Lii, he was prepared 10
give Executive aid and assistance when hos
tlies ceased, to the loyal people OF any state
choosing to adopt il. This proclamation Was
hrourht ont . rr,uqT;il,c dncInent signed ~ Som
the public. In this document u was declared tiat
the Presidents proclamation was " - document nm
known TO tGr laws AID the Constitution, % me
United Siate.,' hcing neither an approval nor
veto Of the bill. By his pTOciamation. VA, dc-
cl2red, the President had SCI al nausht lhr solemn
resolve of Congress 10 protect the i2Nal
men of the Nation against "thr r'tnrn
10 power Of the guilty leaders of the Rebellion thc
continuance Of slavery. and the burden oi ihr ruri
debit The President WAS warned tlat u ho -hcd
for continued aid from the supporters Of H. Anln-
i>tration he must leave political rrorcauIzaii"I 70
Congress. Ii - universally felt 10 he - th"
credit and proof of the 'agalty OF Nil wade. That
he never for m0ncnt listened o. any p0P"'ds i'I
q reconstruction OF the Union upon any basis oi
compromise wi;h slavery.
N,ar tine close of the XXXIXth Congress Mr. wade
was elected President pro tenpore OF the senate,
and held that position through the scs-
ions Of the Nth Congress. In March,
1865. when the Senate was organized
az a Court of impeachment for the trial
of President Johnson. thn Chief-JuStcc admins
tered the cath 10 all tue senators present except
Mr. Wade, whose right 10 sit on thc tiil
the ground that Nh wade would become Pro-i-
den. Of the United States II he pioccdin@- "i IN
ucaciuncut should be sustained. Arcl some dr-
batr the objection withdrawn and thc oath
was taken by Mr. Wade. Upon mat tnM MI.
Wade voted that Mr.. Johnson was guilty, M
Mr. Wade an aspirant FOR me keplhlcal
nomination for President IN lSGS, but he sad an
other candidates were driven out oi the held ny hr
popular clamOT for General Grant. ON the inst
ballot at Chicago. however, he stood highest among
the caIdI;.atc, for the Vlce-Presdency and MAIN
tanned that position uutii the last ballot, wien Nh
COfaX was nominated.
HIS OPPOSITION TO PRESIDENT HAYS.
Ohio was wise enough TO keep Mr. Wadc her
Senator for three successive terms. The last ended
March l. $50 In 1871 hc VAS q member Of tho
commission sent 10 SaHto Domingo to report upon
ITS proposed annexation to the United states.
measure which met with his appreciation. After
this Mr.. Wade retired 10 private iife occasionally
coming forward at periods II public excitement or
danger. 10 give in tine public journals his 49,
vice and his opinions. He thoroughly dstruatcd
the Southern policy of President Hayes. Ia
April 1877. lie published 4 letter in The Cicre-
laad Leader, denying that any conspiracy had
existed during the administration of President Lin
coin. TO dcpose him from hls Office and to pat Cen
eral Fremont or Sir. Wade himself in his place. On
the 17th of July following he published a card
reafirning his hostility to the policy Of President
HAYES ard stignatizing il as " an IgliOmlnI0us sur
render of Nationality letter from stan CORE
spoudcnt OF THE TRIBUNE, Published August =,
IS77 gives the results of an interview with
the ex-senator about that time. lie complained Of
the publication of the Painter letter critic &nG
the HAYES Administration, and declared That J.. had
been printed without his consent ; bat lie adhered
TO his old view Of what he called the surrender o
Louisiana and South Carolina" ny President Hayes.
Ue would have sustained the Packard and Cham
berla!n governments by force If necessary bat he
added that the hope oi the Nation was III thc he
ubljcan party aud declared that II must bc kept
together At this tImc the ex-senator was described
as ENJOYING hale old age, and a, beng more inter-
ested the events of the old an-sia'crY contest
than in the public movements oI the present day.
Mir Wade or "Old Ben wade a5 with kindly
freedom he has been more frequently called, was
man of marked personal appearance, stout, and Of
dark complexion, with black eyes, which became
brilliant when he was aroused His jaws were firm
and large, aud popularity Of his upper lip,
doubling at the corners OF his mouth gave him
somewhat trucuent expres ion. For tAis reason,
some supposed him to De hard and cold and fierce,