The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1878-03-15
OLD BEN WADE.
Anecdotes illustrating uhe
PecuIIarIGies OF HIS
Character

characteristic are the following:
SOUTHERN SENATORS THUNDERsrRUcK
Seon after taking his seat In the
Senate, Wade witnessed one OF those
scenes so common in the Senate In
those DAYS. A Southern fire eater
made an attack on a Northern Sena-
tor, and Vale was am Zed and dis
guSred ~ Lne bringing, cowardly way
In which the Northern man bore the
taunts and insults of the hot-headed
S 'urhetnsr. A NJ allusIon was made
tn himself or ST IRE. Mr.. Wade sat
sri ! /; bnr. when he j-n4te adjourned,
he al opanIv, II ever = Southern
SsnarOr mai. such An att4ck on him
or his State, VIII lie ne SAT on that q Inr,
he would brand him as q liar. This
coming TO the ears OF the Southern
men, a Senator took occasion TO point
Ohio and her people as negro thieves.
Instantly Mr.. Wade sprang to his feet,
and pronounced the Senator q liar.
The Southern Senators were thun-
derstruck, and gathered arou nd their
champion, while the Northern men
grouped about Wade. A feeler 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 offer
ed himself and the people he repre-
scented. The matter thus closed, a
fight was looked upon as certain. The
next day a gentleman called upon the
Senator from Ohio, and asked the
usual question touching his acknowl-
edRment of the code.
Il am here,' he responded, in q
double capacity. represent the
State Of Ohio, ana fePresent Ben
Wade. AS a Senator am opposed to
duelling; as Ben Wade, I recognize
the CODE
my friend feels aggrieved,' said the
gentleman, sat what you said in the
Senate yesterday, and will ask for an
apology or satisfaction
Il was somewhat embarrassed con-
tinued Senator Wade,' 'by my posi-
ton yesterday, as 1 have some re-
spect for the chamber. 1 new take
this opportunity of saying what then
thought, and IL you, II you please, can
repeat it: 'Your friend Is q foul
mouthed old black guard.P'
Certainly, Senator Wade, you do
not wish me to convey such q message,
as that?'
Most undoubtedly 1 do, and. will
tell you, for your own benefit, that
this friend of yours will never notice
It. l will not be asked either for re-
traction, explanation, or q fight
Next morning Mr.. Wade came into
the Senate, and, proceeding to his seat,
deliberately drew from his coat two
large pistols, and, unlocking his desk,
laid them inside. The Southern men
looked on in silence, while the North
ern msmbers enjoyed to the fullest ex-
tent the fire-eaters' surprise at the
proceeding of the plucky Ohio Senator.
No further notice was taken of the at
fair of the day before. Wade was not
challenged, but ever afterward was
treated with the utmost politeness and
consideration by the Senator who so
insultingly attacked him.
WADE AND DOUGLAS.
In 1857, Mr.. Wade, whose term was
about To expire, was promptly return
ed to the Senate by vote in the Leg
islature of 101, to SO for his opponent.
The next year Mr.. Wade brought for
ward his great measure, the Home
stead BILL or, as he was pleased TO
call iG Land for the landless." The
Southern men at once antagonized the
bill with the slavery question, and
thus sought to defeat it; but Mr.. Wade
made a powerful argument, and COM
pletely routed his enemies.
The Southern men, having tried in
vain to head off Mr.. Wade, appealed to
their northern allies to help them
One day Mr.. Douglas rose in his seat
and interrupted Mr.. Wade, who was
speaking. Instantly the chamber be-
came silent as death, and all eyes were
turned in the direction of the two
standing Senators. Everyone expect
ed TO see Wade demolished in a mo-
ment by the great Illinois Senator.
You, SIR said Mr.. Douglas, in
measured tones, continually compli-
ment Southern men who support this
bill (Nebraska), but bitterly denounce
Northern men who support it. Why
is this? You say it is a moral wrong
ynu say il Is q crime. If that be so, Ii
1t not as much q crime for a Southern
man to support as for a Northern mar
TO do sop
Mr.. Wade-'No, sir; say not
'Mr. Douglas-'The Senator says
not. Then he entertains q different
code Of morals from myself, and
Mr.. Wade-interrupting Douglas
and pointing to him, with scorn mark
ed on every llneament of his face
your code of moralsl Your morals
My God! hope so, SIR
The giant was hit in the forehead
and, after standing for a moment, with
his face red as scarlet, dropped silently
into his seat, while Mr.. Wade proceed
ed with his speech, as quietly as Though
nothing had occurred. Mr.. Douglas
was angry, however, and closely
watched Wade for a chance to pounce
upon him and scalp him; It soon Oc-
cured, and in this way:
Mr.. Wade had said something COM
plimentary about Colonel Lane, OF
Kansas, when Mr.. Douglas rose, and
said:
colonel Lane cannot be believed
he has been guilty of perjury and
forgery
Mr.. Wade-sAnd what proof have
you, sir, of these allegationsi Your
unsupported word Is not sufficient
Mr.. Douglas-'I have the affidavit
of Colonel Lane, in which, some time
since, he swore one thing aud now
states another
Mr.. Wade-'And you, sir, a lawyer
presume to charge this man with being
guilty of forgery and perjury, and
then offer him as witness TO prove
your, 0tCR word
Douglas saw in a moment he was
hopelessiy caught, attempted TO re-
treat, but Wade bounced upon him
and gave him a whitening rebukei
WnAlc bhc CudAOcE 5hOOh with AO~l1 VI
laughter.
Mr.. Douglas continued to badger
Wade, sometimes getting the better OF
him, but often getting roughly hand
led, until Wade, worn out with de-
Tending himself, determined to become
the attacking party. Soon afterward,
the Little Giant was bewailing the
fate of the nation, and picturing the
sad condition we would be In If the
Free-Soilers succeeded, having worked
himself mp into a passion. When he
was at the highest pitch. Mr.. Wade
rose In his seat, and said, with indie
scribable GOODNESS:
WELL, WHAT ARE you GOING To DC
ABOUT Ir?'
Douglas for a moment was surprised
and du mbfounded, and then attempted
to proceed; but the pirh was knocked
- -.