Tuesday, June 17, 2025

Hon. Benjamin F. Wade On Disunion And Home Protection.

A Washington correspondent gives the following extract of some remarks made by the Hon. Benjamin F. Wade, of Ohio, at a gathering of some southern gentlemen in Washington, recently: You ask me what the north will do in case the south should attempt to dissolve the Union on the election of a republican president. Gentlemen, I have no fears that the South will attempt anything of the kind. In such an event, however, I will frankly tell you what I would do if I had the disunionists to deal with. With Cassius M. Clay to act with me, I would take up my line of march and make my appearance among the disunionists with an armed force that would make no child’s play of the matter, and I would not return to the seat of government until I had strung up every disunionist in the land, wherever he might be found—either north or south—and quarters would be shown to no individual nor state until they had repented in sackcloth and ashes. That is what I would do with the disunionist, so help me God!

Mr. Wade also expressed his views on home protection as follows:—I heartily concur with the gentleman from Pennsylvania in saying that we should have a protective measure of some kind. The more I think of the matter, the more am I convinced that we must inaugurate some protective system, in order to save us from bankruptcy and ruin. That there should be a change of some kind in this respect, none ought to dispute. The most prosperous days of this republic were, when we were living under a protective system. Not only does the Iron interest of Pennsylvania and New Jersey require protection, but also are the manufacturing interests of every kind, throughout the county crying aloud for a national shield to our home industry which ought to be headed.

SOURCE: “Hon. Benjamin F. Wade On Disunion And Home Protection,” Janesville Weekly Gazette, Janesville, Wisconsin, Wednesday, May 16, 1860, p. 2, col. 5.

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