Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1880-02-15
BEN WADE.
RECOILECTIONS OF THE WAR
HORSE OF OHIO. &
Some "reminiscences of A Great Life.
BY GENERAL ]. S. BRISBIN.

Mr.. Wade had been warm friend OF
| Andrew johnson, and when Mr.. Lincoln
was ,assassinated he made haste to ssure
the new president of his entireconfidence in
| him and rendered the Admnistrati, his
cordial support remember bearing Mr..
| Wade say, No man Is better able to ad-
| minister this Government for its best
| interests than Andrew johnson and deeply
| as we may deplore the loss of A braham
| Lincoln, it Is fortunate for the country we
have so good man as Mr.. johnson to
succeed him." l was in Washington few
| days after the ssssnation and Mr.. Wade
was pfofuse in his praises of the new presi-
dent. -.
"Have you seen J ohnson2'' he said and
on my replying Ihad not, he added, "Ohl
you should go and see him. He is tn
right man in the right place. and will
make, think, the best p esident we have
had known Mr.. johnson in former
times and haa met him when he was fee
ing from the rebel mob of Tennessee. The
Union men OF Kentucky had then received
him kindly, entsrtained him Hospitality
and escorted him in triumph across the
State to Cincinnati, Ohio. 1t was very
pleasant to hear so good q Union
man as Mr.. Wade praise so generously
Pre- ident johnson, and next morning 1
went with great Senator for tt Q purpose
Of paying my respects to the Executive.
He was then administering the Gov
ernment in the Treasury Building, and l
remember meeting Preston King al the
Pr, sidents Office and having long talk
with him while Mr.. Wade was engaged in
an inner room with the President Poor
Kin | it was the last time ever saw him,
and he was bright and hopeful for the
future of bis country. Before leaving, Mr..
Wade called me in, and had some talk
with Mr.. johnson about the Union men of
Kentucky, who were then greatly en-
barrassed, and ask ed the President not to
forget them, / reminded him of the loyal
ty and services to the Union of the Speeds,
Goodies, Adamses, Burbridges. Breck.
nridges, and many others, and begged
him to stand by these brave men With the
whole power of his Administration. Mr..
johnson was very pc tive and said: II
shall rememb the Union men Of
Ken lucky ana every Union man in the
land shall not ly have my sympathy but
the active support of my Admin istration."
1 never felt happier in all my life, and left
the presence Of the President feeling
assured that our troubles with the rebels
would soon all be over. The Union men
every where were ejubilant ancprophe led
the greatest things of johnson, Poor
peoy lei how little did they know what was
in store for en-; how little anticipate
what year would bring forth. The man
when they exp cted would be their best
friend, proved their worst enemy and ul-
timately stood before the bar of the Senate
to answer II hi crimes and misdemeanors.
No man in Washington was more sur
prised at the course Of Mr.. johnson than
was Mr.. Wa o. At first he could not be-
lieve it. and said boldly Mr.. johnson would
never abandon his party. When he. Il:
nally realized that the President bad
ind eed betr yed the Union men ard the
Rpeubli an p4rty the rage of the old Ohio
chief knew o bounds, and he would not
only have inpeached the man but would
have hung him if had possessed the over
TO- do so. Mary, l believe, think Ben
wade was actuated his subsequent Bit
ter hostility to johnson by the hope of
but those who knew Mr.. Wade well would
not think of charging him with such mo-
tive. Wade supported or opposed
Andrew johnson as he would have sup-