The Portland daily press., 1880-02-04
Ben Wade's Plain Speech and High
Courage.

lCieneral d. >. BrlsDln, III InlIdueiphlb Iless.J
The great struggle over the Kansas-Neb
ka bill had brought Mr.. Wade prominently be-
fore the country as debater. The Southern
fire-eaters and their allies the Northern dough-
faces, had combined to throw him down, but
he kept his feet, hurled them back with sur
prising dexterity and ability and pursuing
taught them for the first time that they had
master in the United States Senate who would
not spare them.
The Hon. Charles G. Atherton, of New
Hampshire, better known as Gag Atherton."
from his introduction of resolution TO lay all
anti-slavery petitions on the table, was en-
phatcally Northern man with Southern prin-
ciples.
One day Mr.'Wade, who was personally very
popular even with his political opponents, was
converslng with Ex-Governor Morehead, OF
Kentucky, who was then visiting Washington,
when Atherton came up and at once COM
menced an attack on Mr.. Wade in regard to
the Fugitive Slave law.
"Why, Mr.. Wade" he said, "if Niger
runs away from good master in Kentucky
and comes to your house in Ohio. wouldn't you
arrest him and send him back to his master?"
mo, indeed I wouldn't" replied Wade.
"Would you, Atherton?"
Certainly would" said Atherton. "I
should deem it my duty to enforce that as
much as any other law r.
Mr. Wade turned to Governor Morehead.
"Well, Governor, what would you say?
Would you arrest negro and send him back
under such circumstances"
mo-" replied the Governor, grufiy; "Id
see him damned first"
WELL" said old Ben, after moments
pause, 81 don't know as 1 can blame you, see
ing you have got such thing as that u ointing
to Atherton) to do the dirty work for you"
Soon after taking his seat as Senator the
great Ohioan witnessed one of those scenes so
common in the Senate in those days A South
ern fre-eater made an attack on a Northern
Senator, and Wade was amazed and disgustsd
at the cringing, cowardly way in which the
Northern man bore the taunts and insults of
the hot-headed Southerner AS no allusion
was made to Ohio or himself, Mr.. Wade sat
still, but when the Senate adjourned he said,
openly, if ever Southern Senator made such
an attack ON him or his State while he was on
that floor he would brand him as q liar. This
coming to the ears of the Southern men, q SEN
ator took occasion to pointedly speak q few
QayS alt6fWdrQ Oh OHlO anu D6F D6Opio as HtSIO
thieves. Instantly, Mr.. Wade sprang to his
feet and pronounced the Senator liar.
The Southern Senators were thunderstruck
and gathered around their champion, while
the Nothern men grouped about Wade. A
feeler was put out from the Southern side look
ing to retraction, but Mr.. Wade retorted in his
peculiar style and demanded an apology for
the insult offered himself and the people he
represented. The matter thus closed and
fight was looked upon as certain. The next
Jo coIIa1 SanatOr Wade
and asked him the usual question touching his
acknowledgment Of the code.
"I am here" he responded, sin double ca
pacity; represent the State of Ohio and rep
resent Ben Wade: AS Senator am opposed
to dueling: as Ben Wade l recognize the
CODE"
"My friend feels aggrieved," said the gen.
tleman "at what you said in the Senate yes
terday and will ask an apology or satisfac-
tion.'
81 was somewhat embarrassed" continued
Senator Wade, ''by my position yesterday, as L
have some respect for the Senate Chamber
l now take this opportunity to say what l then
thought, but could not say and you will, Il
you please, repeat it. Your friend is a FOUL
mouthed old blackguard."
Certainly, Senator Wade, you do not wish
me to convey such message as that?"
''Most undoubtedly do, and will tell you
never notice it; will not be asked by him for
either retraction, explanation or a fight" The
amazed Southern gentleman took his hat and
left, seriously doubling Wade's sanity.
Next morning Mr.. Wade came into the Sen
ate and proceeding to his seat deliberately
drew from under his coat two large navy re-
volvers and unlocking his desk laid them in
side. The Southern men looked on in SILENCE,
while the Northern men enjoyed TO the fullest
extent the tire-eaters' surprise at The proceed
ings of the p!ucky Ohio Senator. No further
notice was taken of the affair OF the day be-
fore, Wade was not challenged, but ever after
wards was treated with the utmost politeness
and consideration by the Senator who had so
insultingly attacked him.