The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1879-01-02
Bluff Old Ben Wade.


Gen. James S. Brisbin, in the Spirit Of
the Times, gives very interesting article
on the life of the late Senator Wade.
Among the many amusing incidents Of
his life, while a Senator, are the follow
ing:
Soon after taking his sent in the Sen.
ate, Wade witnessed one Of those scenes
so common in the Senate those days.
A southern fire-eater made an attack on
"a northern Senator, and Wade was amaz-
ed and disguised at the cringing, coward
w wav in which the northern man bore
the taunts and insults Of the hot-headed
southerner. As no allusiOn was made to
himself or state, Ir. Wade sat still; but
when the Senate adjourned, he said
openly, if ever q southern Senator made
such an attack on him or his state, while
he sat on that floor, he would brand him
as a liar. This coming to the ears of the
southern men, aSenatOrtOOkp occasion to
pointedlv speak 2 few days afterwards
Of Ohio and herpeople as negrSthieyes.
Instantly Mr.. Wade sprapg to his feet,
and pronounced the Senator liar. The
southern Senators were thunder-struck,
and gathered around their champion,
while the northern men grouped about
Wade A feeler was put out from the
southern side, looking to retraction; but
MIR. Wade retOrted in his peculiar style,
and demanded an apology for the insult
offered himself and the people he repre-
sented. The matter thus closed, fight
was looked upon as certain. The next
dav a gentleman called upon the Senator
from Ohio, and asked the usual question
touching his acknowledgment of tho
Code.
'Iam here" ," he responded, "in double
capacity. I represent the State ofOhiO,
and I represent Ben Wade. As q Sena-
tor l am opposed to duellng; as Ben
Wade, I recognize the Code"
"My friend feels aggrleved," said the
gentleman, at what you said in the Sem
ate Yesterday, and will ask for an apollo
gy or satisfaction
Il was somewhat embarrassed, con,
tinued Senator Wade, "by my position
Yesterday, as I have some respect for the
Chamber. now take this opportunity
of saving what I then thought, and if
you please, can repeat It: Your friend
is a foul-mOuthed old black-guard ~
Certainly, Senator Wade, you do not
wish me to convey such message as
that"
"Most undoubtedly I do, and viii tell
you, for your own benefit, that this friend |
Of yours will never notice it I viii not |
be asked either for retraction, eXplana- /
ton, or a fight"
Next morning IAZWade cameinto the |
Senate, and, proceeding to his seat, de
drew from his coat two large /
pistols, and, unlocking his desk, laid |
them inside. The southern men looked |
on in silence, while the northern mem |
bers enjoyed to the fullest extent the .
surprise at the proceeding Of [
the pluckv Ohio Senator. No further (
notice was taken Of the affair Of the dav /
before. Wade was not challenged, but /
ever afterwards was treated with the /
utmost pOliteness and consideration by
the Senator who had so insultingly at
tackled him.
Wade one day replied to Toombs, of
Georgia, and to all appearance used
language which would compel Tombs to
challenge him. Several friends went to
Wade and begged biHFtO desist, but the
lld man grew more and more violent,
LAlll4 4OOlAlAJo llAAA4N<tNal AA4o 4lAlCllLLC4 VI
salling Wade tnzasff faT-he language
he was using, when Wade quietly sat
iown, seemingly having accomplished
MS object
The Southern mea looked at each
)ther in surprise, and it was manifest to
I'll that Wade had deliberately sought a
quarrel with ToomlB. That night a
riend of the Southern Senator called on
Mr. Wade to know i he would retract
he offensive words he had used.
mo, I won't take back a word, -" was
Yade's emphatic repy.
''Then," said the friend of Mr.. Toombsy
1t will be necessary for Senator Toombs
0 challenge you to mortal combat"
This is just what want, and We
night have got to the point without all
his PGlaver," saItTFASr+JTe.
-''YOu surely cannOt be in earnest, Mr..
Wade" said the Soutlerner.
"Why, Of course Tam. You see, sir,
We Northern men do not ike to fight.
Vow, am opposed 3 the Code, and so
re my constituents but you fellows
lave broken SumnT's head, and we
must spunk up litth, or you will break
ii our heads.
The shortest way % end the matter is
o kill off few of you, and / have
picked upon old Toonbs as my man; he
Will have to challeIge me. Then, Of
curse, I will have thechoice of weapons,
nd I will take my ola rifle and - me
I don't bring him down at the first
rack"
When Toombs herd of what Wade
aid, he replied; Il can't challenge him
{ I DO, he will kill me"
It appears that ToOEbs and Wade had
zen out together sIooting with q rifle
everaI times, and, while Toombs could
hoot well with a pistol, he was poor
ifle-shOt. Wad6-Was an old hunter, and,
t a distance of a hundred yards, could
lit a dollar almost every shot.
Mr.. Wade afterwards said to the
-riter: IF old TOombs had challenged |
le that time, as expected he would,
would have made him put patch on
is coat, the size OF a dollar, over his
cart, and the old fellow would have
OF demOTalized when he saw me draw
lg bead on K, and missed me, while
me if WOuld't have cut the patch| .
During the argument on the Nebraska
i'll, Mr.. Badger, then q Senator from
,orth Carolina, drew 4 glowing picture
f slavery. He had, he said, been !
ursed by a black.woman, and had
rOwn from childhood to manhood under
er care. He1oved his old black mann
" and now, if he was gOingtO Nebraska,
nd the opponents of the bill succeeded
4 prohibiting Slavery there, he could
Ot take his old nanny with him.
urning to Mr. Wade. he said:
]
lbing my old nanny with me%
Certainly not" replied Mr. Wade;
but this is not the difficulty in the mind
f the Senator. 1t is because, if we
lake the Territory free, he cannot sell
is old nanny when he has got her
here"