National Republican., 1880-11-24

Tie closing out Of race in this govern
meni who fought slavery through long
period Of years and until it found its grave
gives zest to The "reminiscences of those
days, as they bring to mind the sterling
virtues that clustered around honest con-
victions and dauntlcss hcroism Of opinion.
The universal brotherhood Of freedom of
which JOSHUA r. GiDDINGs aud BENJAM1N
WADE stood in the front rank, arc fast
passing away to be known no more Of earth
save on the page Of history. The rccolec-
tion of those heroes Of principle is very
grateful TO the memory Of every surviving
defender of human freedom GlDD1NGs
and WADE were both spared to see slavery
uprooted in this government and freedom
planted where it had rcigued for more than
n century. Both fought bravely for the
right, and both died Us they had lived
stalwaris in the ranks OF the defenders Of
freedom justice and equality.
In 1897 and '3s BENJAMGN WADE was
in the state senate Of Ohio, and made n
noble. manly speech in opposition TO the So
called Kentucky fugitive slave bill, which,
despite his opposition, q dem ocratic Ohio
legislature passed at the instance Of the
Kentucky commissioners Mr.. WADE de-
nounced the measure with all the earnest
ness and painness Of speech so character
istic of the man, but he WIS In advance oi
the times The next year he was candi-
date for reelection, and because of this
speech Ashtabula county voted against and
defeated him That county is now aud
for years past has been the banner rcpubli.
can county OF the state. The change came
under the faithful tutelage of such pioneers
in the cause Of humanity and freedom ai
GIDDiNGs and WADE.
In the stalwarl republican county of Ash
tabula another name might be mentioned
among the ardent pioneers in freelomi
noble wOrl--that Of the Hon. CHARLIE
CASE, who has trod the wine press will
GIDDINGs and WADE, and whose sun is de
clining coward its final rest under the or
dinary course of time. Aud we may ais
mention the fact that this is the congres
sional district so long and so ably repre-
sented by the presideut-elcct, who woul,
soon have worn the senatorial mantle q
the heroic WADE had not the people wisel
said come up higher But it is our pres
ent purpose to deal more in reminiscenc
than in the preseut. The Hon CHARLIE
CASE occupied seat from Indiana in tli
thirty.fiith and thirty-siXth congressc
This fact Is called TO mind by the recer
decease of LUCRETIA MoTr One day dun
ing a session Mr.. CASE saw the Hor
beside an elderly lady dressed in plai
Quaker garb. Mr.. GIDDINGs beckoued Nj
CASE TO the gallery, and he at once repaire
thither taking seat alongside of M
GIDDMGs, who said; "Sister MoTI, I wan
TO introduce to you one Of my boys
This is CHARLEY CASE, now of indiana
but a native of Ashtabula county, ant
like his father before him, an anti-slaver
man from his youth up" Then, turuin
to Mr.. CASE, he said: CHARLEY, this
LUcRETIA MOTT, my candida te for pres
dent" Mrs. Mort gracefully acknowledge
the compliment as she took the hand Z
Mr.. CASE, by saying: 81 shall be entirel
content, Mr.. GIDDINGs, to Gll that cha
after theew
By way Of explanation it is proper TO sG
that there were in that congress, Mr.. CAS-
included, foug members who were grad
a,es from thc law Office Of GInDINGs an
WADE, all Of whom Mr. GIDDINds was
the habit OF characterzinP as my boys
These "reminiscences bring TO mind periC
in the history of this nation when it co
much to be an advocate of the principl
orfreedom and an opponent of the inslit
ton Of slavery.