Year: 1871

His Common Sense In the San Domingo


Business.


General Boynton, who went out with the San
Domingo Commission, has written for the Gin
cinnati Gazette an account of the part played in
the expedition by Ben Wade, one of the COM
missioners. He eays:-So far as the official por-
tion of the party was concerned, Mr. Wade was
its brains and practical director His associates
were very able in their way. 1t was not an
ability, however, that could work on hour after
hour with steady purpose and definite plan,
holding the work prescribed by the resolution
solely In view, and bending every effort to per-
form 1t with the utmost promptness consistent
with such thoroughness as was possible. His
common sense in the matter soon caused him to
be regarded by all on board the Tennessee as the
one leading spirit of the commission.


From the first he measured the work under
each head by the time he regarded as at his dis
posal, and tried to give a suitable portion to
each branch of the inquiry. From first to last,
those who had known Mr. Wade for many years
in Washington were surprised at his vigor of
mind as well as strength of body. He seemed
younger and stronger, both mentally aad physi-
cally, than when he vacated the Vice-Presidents
chair in the Senate.


Mr.. Wade, continues General Boynton, was
the horror of all sticklers for stiff diplomatic
forms. Where he was expected to stand on the
right OF some Dominican or Haytien dignitary,
he Tas pretty certain to be found on the left or
even behind, If he could hear better or have
clearer idea of the proceedings. If it was hot
he left his beaver at his room, and wore straw
hat and carried his yellow sun umbrella into the
very presence of royalty ITSELF 1t was a very
difficult matter to crowd him into swallow
tailed coat even when some with him believed in
the bottom of their hearts that without proper
gloves, cravats and coats the possibility of
annexation would vanish into thin air. When
the commission called in state upon Baez,
Wade went up. the palace" in white
canvas shoes. When the Tennessee beat to
quarters, all its officers dressed in cooked hats,
dress coats epeulettes, and all the plumes and
tinsel the regulations prescribed, and received
Baez with the same salute to which the Queen
of England or the President of the United States
would be entitled, Mr.. Wade dropped book he
was reading, and made haste TO the gangway in
his red easy slippers and easy coat, to welcome
Baez as he came over the eide. When calling
formally on President Saget, OF Hayt, he went
up in straw hat, alpaca sack coat and white
canvas shoes, and talked to all the bedzened
and lace-covered dignitaries of that great min
strel show, called Government, as plain
man would talk to those of whom he had some
definite things to ask-at which these minstrels
affected to be shocked, and declared they had
been insulted


Throughout he was the plain practical matter
of-fact man. His self-possession and hard
common sense never deserted him. Those who
had known him longest and admired him always,
were most surprised at the vigor he displayed
and the executive ability he proved himself in
so large degree to possess; though they had
ever credited him with no small portion OF
either. Where daily and hourly contact served
to dwarf others, he steadily grew in the respect
and esteem of all. AS to the duty he was sent
marked his course rather than the partisan sup
| port of annexation that has been widely
| attributed to him. And when the whole work
was over, and the report made, he, more thar
any other one man, is believed here to have de-
cided the President to do what was so grace
| fully done to remove the whole matter from the
list of questions which were distracting thu
party.