Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1880-02-19
Ben. Wade's Plain Speech ana
High Courage.

Ben. Wade's Plain Speech and
High Courage.
Gen. j. S. Brisbin in the Philadelphia
Press.
The great struggle over the Kan
sas-Nebraska bill had brought MIR.
Wade prominently before the coun-
try as a debater. The Southern
fire eaters and their allies, the North
ern doughfaces, had combined to
throw him down, but he kept his
feet, hurled them back with surpris-
ing dexterity and ability, and pursu-
ing, taught them for the first time
that they had a 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 introduce
ton of q resolution to lay all anti
slavery petitions On the table, was
emphatically Northern man with
Southern principles. 8g
One day Mr.. Wade, who was per-
sonally very popular even with his
political opponents, was eonyersing
with ex-Goy. Morehead, Of Ken
tueky, who was then visiting Wash
ington, when Atherton came up
and at once commenced an attack on
Mr.. Wade in regard to the fugitive
slave law.
"Why, MFR. Wade" he said, s'if 4
niger runs away from good mas
ter in Kentucky and comes to your
house in Ohio, wouldn't you arrest
him and send him back TO his mas
ter?:"
aNo, indeed, | wouldn't" replied
Wade. "Would you, Atherton.'
certainly would,'' said Ather-
ton. II shonld deem it my dnty TO
enforce that as much as any other
law"
Mr.. Wade turned to Gov. More
head. T{ YF
''Well, Governor, what would you
say2 Would YOU arrest a negro
and send him back under such cir
cnmstances?" -
"No," replied the Governor,
grufliy; "Pd see him ID, first"
"Well," said old Ben, after mo-
ment's pause, II don't know as l
can blame you, seeing YOU have got
such a thing as that (pointing to
Atherton) to do the dirty work for
you."
Soon after taking his seat as a
Senator the great Ohioan witnessed
one of those scenes 50 common in
the Senate in those days. A South
ern fire eater made an attack on a
Northern Senator, and Wade was
amazed and disgusted at the cring-
ing, cowardly way in which the
Northern man bore the taunts and
insults of the hotheaded SOutherner.
AS no allusion was made to Ohio or
himself, Mr.. Wade sat still, but
when the Senate adjourned he said,
openly, if ever a Southern Senator
made such an attack on him or his
State while ne was on that floor he
would brand him as 4 liar. This
coming to the ears of the Southern
men, a Senator took occasion to
pointedly speak a few days afterward
of Ohio and her people as negro
thieves. Instantly, Mr.. Wade sprang
to his feet and pronounced the Sena-
tor liar.
The Southern Senators were
thunderstruck and gathered around
their champion, while the Northern
men grouped about Wade. A feelcr
was put out from the Southern side
looking to retraction, but Mr.. Wade
retorted in his usual style and de-
manded an apology for the insult
offered himself and the people he
represented. The matter thus clio sed,
and fight was looked upon as GER
tain. The next day a gentleman
called upon Senator Wade, and
asked him the usual question touch
ing his acknowledgment of the code.
81 am here" he responded, sin a
double capacity; | represent the
State of Ohio and 1 represent Ben.
Wade. AS Senator, L am opposed
to dueling; as Ben. Wade, / recog-
nize the code"
"My friend feels aggrieved,' said
the gentleman, sat what you said in
the Senate yesterday, and will ask
an apology or satisfaction.
II was somewhat embarrassed"
continued Senator Wade, "by my
position yesterday, as l have some
respect for the Senate Chamber.
1 now take this opportunity to say
what then thought, but could not
say, and you will, If you please,
repeat it. Your friend is a foul
mouthed old blackgnard."
Certainly, Senator Wade, you do
not wish me to convey such mes,
sage as thatT'
"Most undoubtedly / do, and l
will tell You for .your own benefit,
this friend of yours will never notice
it; l will not be asked by him for
either retraction, explanation, or
fight" The Southern gentleman
took his hat and left, seriously
doubling Wade's sanity.
Next: morning Wade came into
the Senate, and proceeding to his
seat deliberately drew from under
his coat two large navy revolvers, and
unlocking his desk laid them inside.
The Southern men looked on in
silence, while the Northern men
enjoyed to the fullest extent the
fire eaters surprise at the proceed
ing Of the plncky Ohio Senator.
No further notice was taken Of the
affair Of the day before. Wade was
not challenged, but ever after
ward was treated with the utmost
politeness and consideration by the
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