Reelected by the New Jersey legislature in 1845 for a full six-year term, Dayton was a senator until March 1851. His contributions to the legislation of this era were few, partly because his party was out of power much of the time and partly because of his cautious, self-effacing nature and his insistence on remaining politically independent, refusing to act against his personal convictions under pressure from leaders of the legislature, to which he was beholden for his Senate seat.

DAYTON, William Lewis, a Senator from New Jersey; born in Basking Ridge, Somerset County, N.J., February 17, 1807; attended Trenton (N.J.) Academy and was graduated from the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) in 1825; studied law; admitted to the bar in 1830 and commenced practice in Freehold, N.J.; member, State council 1837-1838: associate judge of the State supreme court 1838- 1841, when he resigned; appointed and subsequently elected as a Whig to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Samuel L.

Entering the Senate at the same time as Charles Sumner, Wade joined a small group of antislavery senators who ceaselessly attacked the "peculiar institution" in general and the Fugitive Slave Act in particular. He gradually developed a reputation as a fearless radical who was as outspoken as he was honest, and he knew how to gain the respect of southern opponents. When threatened with a challenge, he let it be known that as a senator he would refuse to fight, but as Ben Wade he would not hesitate to do so.

WADE, Benjamin Franklin,  (brother of Edward Wade), a Senator from Ohio; born in Feeding Hills, near Springfield, Hampden County, Mass., October 27, 1800; received his early education from his mother; moved with his parents to Andover, Ohio, in 1821; taught school; studied medicine in Albany, N.Y., 1823-1825; returned to Ohio; studied law; admitted to the bar in 1828 and commenced practice in Jefferson, Ashtabula County, Ohio; prosecuting attorney of Ashtabula County 1835-1837; member, State senate 1837-1838, 1841-1842; judge of the third judicial court of Ohio 1847-