The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-03-04
benjamin. f. Wade.

... Benjamin +. Wade. .--f
Ex-senator Benjamin F. Wade died at his
home IN Jefferson, Ohio, Saturday after sick
ness OF several months, at the age Oft years.
he was native Of West Springfield, Massa-
chusetts, where he was born Oct q, 1900. His
father, James Wade, fought at lexington
Concord and Bunker Hill. His mother was
the daughter of Presbyterian clergyman and
woman OF great strength of mind and fotce
of character. The family was very poor and
Benjamin, who was the youngest of ten chill
dreD, was early left to his own resources. he
worked out on the neighboring farms and
what learning he got he picked up in the few
leisure moments he could command.
When about eighteen he concluded to emf
CRATE to the West. With 81 in his pocket he set
out on foot. he walked the whole distance to
Astabula, Ohio, where he had brother living,
and where be remained several years choppng
wood, rolling logs and driving cattle-doing In
short anything he could find to do. In the fall
Of 1925 he went to New York and taught school
at Albany during the winter, and in the spring
worked with wheel-barrow and spade on the
Erie canal. la 1926 he returned to Ohio and
began the study of the law, and two years later
was admitted to the bar and settled at Jeffer-
son. Helwas about 20 years of age before he
had case. Six years later he had built up a
good practice and acquired considerable local
reputation. In 1885 hs was chosen prosecuting
attorney for the eounty of Astabula, and 10 1887
became member of the state senate. He was
at this time Whig
His hatred of slavery and his sympathy for
the colored man were first revealed at the time
the question of the annexation of Texas was
under discussion. From that time till the
abolition of slavery he was the champion of the
colored race, and Jealous and devoted worker
in the cause of human freedom. His labor
begun in his own state. AT the solicitation Of
the colored population he presented petition
for the repeal of certain laws which discriuiu-
ated unfsyorsbly against them. His action
raised such a storm of Indignation that he was
driven out of public life aud went back to the
practice Of law. In 1910 he resppeared aud
stumped Ohio for General Harrison. In the
following year such had been the change Of
sentiment that he was elected again to the
state senate, and while serving in that body
drew up a report denouncing the resolution to
receive no more snti-slavery petitions which
had been adopted by Congress- It was one of
the ab!est anti-slavery documents ever publish
ed in this country and Immediately gave its au-
thor national repate. In 1S47! !Mr. Wade was
elected president judge of the third judicial
district of the state of Ohio, aud in 1851 he was
elected United States Senator and reelected in
1857 and 1868
In the Senate Mr. Wade was steady oppo-
nt If oil mo f.u In
he voted with only five other senators to repeal
the fugitive slave law; he also spoke and voted
against the bill to abrogate the Missouri COM
promise, against the Laconpton constitution
for Kansas in 1858, against sppropriating $780,
100000 for ths acquisition of Cuba, and against
all compromises between the North and South
proposed after Mr.. Lincoln's election in 1860.
The homestead bill he advocated for years, and
1t was in his charge when it was finally passed
By the Senate 10 1862. From the outbreak of
the civil war in 1861 Mr.. Wade lsbored inces-
sanity for more vigorous policy, was chair
man of the joint committee on the conduct of
the war, and urged the enactment of a law to
coufscate all the property Of leading secession
lists and emancipats their slaves. As chair
man OF the territorial committee hs reported
bill in 1882, abolishiug slavery in all the terri
tories of the government, and prohibiting it in
any that might afterward be acquired After
the assassination of President Lincoln, he be-
came president pio tenn. of the Senate and
acting vice president OF the United States aud
in March, 1867. he was elected president of the
Senate. In 1871 he was one of the commission !
sent to Santo Domingo to report upon its pro-
posed annexation to the nited States
scheme OF which he approved. Ia 1872 he be-
came attorney of the Northern Pacific Rail-
road, and SO continued for the remainder Of his
life. In 1872 he was solicited to allow his
name to be used as Republican candidate for
had lost his voice for public speaking, and,
secondly, because, as he said, 81 early took
solemn oath that 1 would never stump the
public for or in favor of an Office which 1 was
to fill, and even if 1 were able to do SO that
oath would bar me. / never yet solicited any
mortal man for an Office. 1t would be too
humiiating. 1 would sooner beg for old
clothes" 4t4i
These words are eminently characteristic of
the man. His was a nature strong in honesty
and self-reliance, dsspising those arts by which
small men often obtain preferment beyond
their merit. In the defence of what he be-
lisved to be right hs was fearless and untiring.
From the day he espoused the, cause of the
down-trodden negro until he saw him made the
peer of the white man in the eye of the law
he never wavered in his battle with slavery.
He was always in the thickest of the fight and
no man delivered sturdier blows ia the cause of
human freedom His honesty ard fraakuess
won the respect evea of his bttsrest political
foes. He scorned every species CT deception;
he accomplished nothing by indirection, but
trusted to the righteousness of his cause to give
him the victory.