POLITICAL EVENTS; 1797-1840 - 375 prepared by Mr. John Young, R. W. McCoy acted as. President, and Messrs. William Doherty and Henry Brown as Vice Presidents. Among the thirteen regular toasts drunk on this occasion were the following : The officers and soldiers of the Revolution—time develops the importance of their deeds and increases our gratitude. Education—The Perpetuity of our institutions depends solely on the extent to which our minds are enlightened. Ohio —But yesterday a wilderness, now an empire. A large number of volunteer toasts were offered, among which were : By J. R. Swan : Ohio Canal Commissioners-- Our great work will remain to future times a worthy cenotaph of their services. By Mr. Espy : Columbus — May it be as prosperous as it is beautiful—and as happy as it is prosperous. On July 4, 1828, a national salute was fired at sunrise, and at noon an assembly of citizens took place at the Representatives' Hall, where the Declaration of Independence was read by Nathaniel McLean and an oration was delivered by Samuel Bigger. In 1830 the anniversary fell on Sunday, and was therefore celebrated on Saturday, which was ushered in by a sunrise salute fired " from a piece of ordnance on State Street, near the bank of the river." At noon " a procession, consisting of the clergy, the orator of the day, and the reader of the Declaration of Independence, sundry gray headed Revolutionary patriots and a number of citizens, preceded by a good band of music, was formed at Mr. Heyl's Hotel and proceeded to the State House where the ceremonies of the day were introduced by a fervent appeal to the Throne of Grace from the Rev. James Hoge. The Declaration of Independence was next read, with appropriate remarks, by John S. McDonald, Esq., after which an excellent oration was delivered by Doctor M. B. Wright." Music, vocal and instrumental, was furnished on this occasion by the Handel Society, and a closing prayer was-pronounced by Revi George Jeffries. A procession was then formed and marched to the marketplace " which had been handsomely decorated for the occasion by a number of young misses, [and] where fifty ladies and 100 gentlemen, without distinction of party, sat down to a sumptuous dinner provided by John Young — General Jeremiah M'Lene presiding, assisted by Robert W. McCoy, Esq., and Colonel William Minor." Among the mention able political events of 'the borough period of which we have record was a dinner given at Russell's Tavern, March 23, 1821, to General Philemon Beecher, of Fairfield County, afterwards Representative of the Ninth District in Congress. Ralph Osborn, Auditor of State, presided, and Lucas Sullivant acted as Vice President. Among the topics and sentiments proposed as toasts were these: "Our new sister, Missouri ; Henry Clay, the Cicero of the West ; General Joseph Vance, our Member of Congress-elect; Charles Hammond, the able advocate of State rights; our absent friend, Hon. William A. Trimble ; Hon. Benjamin Ruggles; De Witt Clinton, Governor of New York ; Ethan A. Brown, Governor of Ohio." 376 - HISTORY OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS. General William C. Schenck, a member of the General Assembly from Warren County, died in Columbus January 17, 1821. His remains when sent to the family residence in Warren County, were escorted through the town to the limits of Franklinton," by a long procession comprising the State officers, members of the General Assembly, Masonic bodies and citizens. In the election of Benjamin Ruggles as United States Senator, which event took place May 3, 1821, the curious fact was noted that while the number of voters was 101, the number of votes cast on on the first ballot was 103; the second 104; on the third 101, and on the fourth 102. In a communication to the Gazette of May 31, 1821, referring to certain animadversions cast upon the people of Columbus by a member of the General Assembly, Fabius threatens "the private, personal, demoralizing conduct of very many of the members of that Assembly during their stay among us " with exposure. Much as has been said of the comparative guilelessness of primitive statesmanship, it is quite evident that the early Ohio lawgiver was not always a person above reproach. Mr. John Otstot, who was accustomed to take some of the members of the General Assembly as boarders, informs the writer that they were obliged to conform to his family custom of taking breakfast " by candlelight." Of the partisan methods and prevailing ideas of political propriety in early times we have some interesting manifestations. The following editorial observations are found under date of October 12, 1826:4 The habit of treating which, in the gentlest language may be said to have great influence on the will of voters, public opinion is now decidedly against. . . . Every intelligent man has noticed the difference between the manner of electioneering now and ten years ago. The habit of treating is expiring, though still continued in some degree under the weak author ity of custom ; and more of the judgment and less of the passions is now brought into action, in examining the qualifications of candidates. As to political speechmaking this writer thus expresses himself: We have always been free in Ohio from the husting speeches of England, or the stump speeches of Indiana and Kentucky ; which are nothing more than a mass of egotism and empty declamation. These brilliant efforts, of the candidates enlighten no man's judgment. The feelings of the hearers are tried to be enlisted by a long farrago of what the speaker has done, or strong promises given, which most likely the passing wind will float away, of what he shall do should he be elected. The most intelligent citizens of Kentucky and Indiana have set their countenance against this custom as useless ; and one which we think will be done away as much as treating is with us. How electioneering was done in the absence of mass meetings for discussion is indicated by the following notice, published under date of September 25, 1838 : Shooting Match ! ! Come one, come all. Charles Higgins, of Prairie Tp., invites his friends from the several townships of this county to attend a shooting match at his house, nine miles west of Columbus, on the National Road on Saturday, October 6. He has consulted his friends of both political parties, and they are desirous of hearing the sentiments of the general candidates for the ensuing October election ; and both parties are hereby requested to attend and address the people. A letter written from Columbus in 1831 by Mr. Isaac A. Jewett contains the following sentences : POLITICAL EVENTS ; 1797-1840 - 377 The dislike of " caucuses " is so violent in this section as almost to verge upon abhorrence. The "independent electors " have been taught to avoid them as political monsters. I have never seen such violent personal importunity in the solicitation of voters as was presented at the polls at our last election. The fact is if the candidate for office do not humbly and anxiously beg the support of the people, they immediately conclude he does not desire it, and will extend their aid to a more eager, not to say more obsequious candidate. In the Freeman's Chronicle of January 21, 1814, appeared the following advertisement : 40 Dollars Reward. Ranaway from the subscriber in Clark County, Kentucky, on the eighth inst. a mulatto man slave by the name of TIM 21 years of age, about 5 feet 10 inches high. He has a large scar on one of his thighs (I think the right) occasioned by a burn. . . . EDWARD STROTSHIRE. The following is taken from the Columbus Gazette of March 28, 1822 : $100 Reward, in Specie. Ranaway from the subscriber, living in Fayette County, Kentucky, on the twentyfourth of May,1820, a Negro man named BILL Now about 24 years of age, about 5 feet 7 or 8 inches high, rather slender made but very nervous and active ; of brown mulatto color ; has two remarkable scars, one on his back just below one of his blade bones (the side not recollected) 2 or 3 inches long, occasioned by the stroke of an axe ; the other is rather a blotch on one of his cheek bones about the size of a quarter of a dollar, darker than his other complexion. Bill is a plausible, artful fellow, can read and write a tolerable hand, and no doubt has a pass and will attempt to pass as a free man. and by another name. His ears were pierced, and he wore leads in them when he went away. . . HENRY ROGERS. In the Ohio State Journal of June 25, 1829, appeared this : Stop the Runaway ! ! ! ! 20 Dollars Reward . . . Ran away from the subscriber living near Huntsville, Ala., a Negro man slave named Bob . . . The said Bob is an artful sensible negro, pretends to be pious, and has been a preacher for the last five or six years among the blacks. . . It is probable there will be found on close examination some scars from a cut on his throat or neck. DAVID MOORE. Advertisements of this class were very common in the Columbus newspapers of the twenties, thirties and forties. Under the caption " Slavery in Ohio " appeared in the Gazette of November 15, 1821, a communication signed Fabius in which it was stated that during the sessions of the Nineteenth General Assembly the Senate had under consideration a bill the nineteenth section of which read : Be it further enacted that when any person shall be imprisoned either upon execution or otherwise for the nonpayment of a fine or costs, or both, it shall be lawful for the sheriff of the county to sell out such person as a servant to any person within this state who will pay the whole amount due for the shortest period of service ; of which sale public notice shall be given at least ten days ; and upon such sale being effected the sheriff shall give to the purchaser a certificate thereof and deliver over the prisoner to him; from which time the relation between such purchaser and the prisoner shall be that of master and servant, until the term of service expires.' 378 - HISTORY OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS. Twelve of the thirty-two Members of the Senate voted for this bill. They were Messrs. Baldwin, Cole, Foos, Foster, Harrison (W. H.), McLean, Oswalt, Pollock, Ruggles, Wheeler, and the Speaker, Mr. Trimble. A further token of the prevailing political opinion of those days as to slavery and the African race is seen in the following resolution passed by the lower branch of the General Assembly January 3, 1828: Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed to bring in a bill to prevent the settlement of free people of color in this state, who are not citizens of another state, by such penalties, disqualifications and disabilities as they may deem best calculated to effect this object. In February, 1839, Governor Shannon transmitted to the General Assembly by special message a communication from Hon. James T. Morehead and Hon. J. Speed Smith, commissioners appointed by the State of Kentucky, under resolution of its legislature of January 4, 1839, declaring that without the concurrent legislation of sister States bordering on the Ohio River, the laws of Kentucky inflicting punishment for enticing slaves to leave their lawful owners and possessors, and escape to parts without the limits of Kentucky, and for aiding, assisting and concealing such slaves after escape, cannot be enforced. The Commissioners, in compliance with instructions, therefore suggest to the General Assembly of Ohio " the passage of an act to prevent evil disposed persons residing within the jurisdictional limits of Ohio from enticing away the slaves of citizens of Kentucky, or aiding, assisting and concealing them after they shall have reached the limits of that State, and to solicit also the passage of an act providing more efficient and certain means of recapturing and bringing away absconding slaves by their masters, or legally authorized agents. On January 8, 1822, the anniversary of the battle of New Orleans was formally observed, probably for the first time. The Gazette of June 10, 1822, contained the following mention of the proceedings : Tuesday being the eighth of January, a number of gentlemen, principally strangers upon business at Columbus, dined together at Mr. Gardiner's Tavern in celebration of the victory at New Orleans. The Judges of the Circuit Court, Mr. Clay and General Taylor, of Kentucky, and the late Governor Worthington of Ohio were of the company. Following are some of the toasts proposed : By Judge Todd —The Holy Alliance. May the Genius of Liberty distract their councils and frustrate their unhallowed purposes. By H. Clay, Esq. —Let us look more at home and less abroad for the true sources of national wealth and prosperity. By J. C. Wright — Our next president ; may he understand the interest of the West, and have intelligence and firmness to support it. By Thomas Corwin, Esq. —The province of Texas ; the rightful domain of the United States of America. By General T. C. Flournoy —The fair of Ohio. They smile benignly on the brave and patriotic. As to subsequent celebrations of January Eighth the chronicles are deficient until 1835 when, it is stated, the day was festively observed by the Jacksonians. POLITICAL EVENTS : 1797-1840 - 379 Salutes were fired, a tall hickory pole was raised, surmounted by a broom, and the Hemisphere office was illuminated. On January 8, 1840, the Ohio State Journal editorially observed : This is the " glorious eighth !" We are writing this at 2 P. M. Cantrons have been firing ever since daylight. A magnificent State Convention is now sitting at the Theatre.. . A hickory pole was planted at the southwest angle of the State House last. evening. . The military of our city are all out with drums and fifes. A banquet was held, on this occasion, at the American House, Samuel Spangler, of Fairfield, presiding. Table addresses were delivered by Governor Shannon, Hon. Thomas L. Hamer, and others. In 1841, the day was celebrated by a banquet at the City House. Toasts were responded to by Colonel Humphreys, T. W. Bartley, H. A. Moore, B. B. Taylor, Elijah Hayward, William Sawyer, John Patterson, John E. Hunt, A. E. Wood, E. Gale, S. D. Preston and S. Medary. On July 19, 1830, a meeting of mechanics of Columbus was held at the Eagle Coffeehouse to appoint a committee to tender a public dinner to Hon. Henry Clay. The members of the committee selected were Joseph Ridgway, C. C. Beard, John M. Walcutt, John Greenwood, Adam Brotherlin, Jacob Overdier, John Young and Thomas Johnson. Mr. Clay accepted, for July 22. The newspaper history of the affair contains the following passages : At two o'clock on Thursday last a procession was accordingly formed under the direction of William Armstrong and Robert Riordan, marshals of the day, which extended from State Street to Watson's Hotel. Mr. Clay, followed by several grayheaded veterans of the Revolution, was then escorted by the committee to the Market place, where an elegant dinner had been prepared by Mr. Young ; Joseph Ridgway, acting as President and William McElvain, Henry Van Horne, John Warner and Michael S. Sullivant, as Vice Presidents. The number of persons who sat down, many of whom were mechanics from this town and vicinity, together with a few respectable strangers, is estimated at from 350 to 400. Mr. Clay delivered a political address on this occasion, which was received with much favor. On November 5, 1836, General William H. Harrison, then an opposition candidate for the Presidency, arrived at Columbus and alighted at Armstrong's Tavern, where he was waited upon by a committee which escorted him to " Russell's spacious dining hall which had been prepared for his reception." An address of welcome was there delivered by Alfred Kelley, to which General Harrison replied, referring to his first arrival in the State fortyfive years previously. Additional speeches were made by Messrsi Alfred Kelley, J. Bi Gardiner, R. W. Thompson, of Indiana, and Doctor R. Thompson, of Columbus. General Harrison set out for his home the following Monday. Hon. Richard M. Johnson, Vice President of the United States, arrived in Columbus, December 18, 1839, and, during the evening of that day was given a complimentary banquet by his political friends at the American House. In December, 1839, a meeting of Welsh citizens was held at the schoolhouse on Fourth Street to protest against the action of the lower branch of the General Assembly in refusing publication of the Governor's Message in the Welsh language 380 - HISTORY OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS. while authorizing its publication in German. The meeting adopted a resolution recommending to every citizen of Welsh descent " to perpetuate his mother tongue, and to teach it to his posterity." Among THe earlier political assemblages in Columbus of which we find mention was an " administration convention which took place December 28, 1827, and was attended by 220 delegates. Of this assembly, Jeremiah Morrow was appointed president and William Doherty and Thomas Corwin secretaries. Presidential electors were nominated. On August 31, 1831, a meeting of citizens favorable to the tariff and internal improvement policy of the Clay party was held at Young's Coffeehouse. General John Warner was called to the chair, and Captain John Haver was appointed secretary. J. Mi Walcutt, John Cutler, M. R. Spurgeon, William Armstrong and Robert Pollock were named as members of a committee on resolutions. The meeting suggested the following nominations : For Governor, Duncan McArthur; for Congress, William Doherty ; for Representative in the General Assembly, Joseph Ridgway. At a National Republican meeting held October 29,1831, Colonel John Thompson presided and D. W. Deshler was appointed secretary. Lyne Starling and John Bailhache were named as delegates to a national convention to be held in Baltimore the ensuing December. At a meeting of citizens held at Heyl's Tavern January 9, 1835, a " State Rights Association of the City of Columbus and County of Franklin " was organized, with the following officers : President, George Jeffries ; Vice President, George M. K. Spurgeon ; Secretary, A. Williams ; Treasurer, W. B. Brown ; Committee of Correspondence, John G-. Miller, Dwight Woodbury, N. M. Miller, P. C. Gallagher, Mi H. Kirby, Robert Neil, George Richey. The preamble to the resolutions adopted contained these declarations : We believe the principles upon which the Alien and Sedition Laws were successfully resisted, upon which Mr. Jefferson was elected to the Chief Magistracy, upon which he administered the Government while in office, to be the true principles of the Federal Compact, and those only which can insure the continuance and safety of our free and happy form of Government. In the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions of 1798 and '99, and the Report on those of the former State in 1799, we recognize not only "true doctrines," but the true doctrines of the true Republican party ; and find in them the correct definition of these confederate States. At a meeting of the Association held February 20, 1836, to make arrangements for the celebration of Jefferson's birthday, D. W. Deshler was appointed chairman and Robert Ware secretary. On August 29, 1835, a meeting of citizens favorable to the nomination of General W. H. Harrison to the Presidency was held in Columbus. S. G. Flenniken presided and M. J. Gilbert was appointed secretary. Lyne Starling, James Kilbourn, William Doherty and John Bailhache were appointed as a committee to report resolutions to a subsequent meeting. At an " Anti-Van Buren " meeting held in February, 1836, Samuel G. Flenniken was appointed president and Smithson E. Wright secretary. Francis Stewart, POLITICAL EVENTS ; 1797-1840 - 381 Joseph Hunter, Joseph Ridgway, Senior, James Kilbourn, and Francis Johnson were appointed a committee to receive names. Under date of August 13, 1836, appeared this announcement : A barbecue and shooting match will take place on the land of A. W. McCoy, five miles from the city of Columbus, on Saturday, August 20, at 10 A. M. The candidates for Congress and the State Legislature are expected to address the people. On September 20, 1836, a " Young Men's Harrison Convention " was held at the Columbus Theatre. George Collings, of Highland County, was chairman, and John L. Minor, of Franklin, one of the secretaries. John W. Andrews, of Columbus, reported an address to the young men of Ohio which was unanimously adopted. A State Whig Convention was held at Columbus July 4, 1837; James Kilbourn, chairman, and William B. Thrall, James F. Conover and James Bi Bell, secretaries. William Doherty, Joseph Ridgway, Junior, Lyne Starling, Junior, John W. Andrews and John L. Miner were appointed as a State Central Committee. A shootingmatch was announced to take place at Charles Higgins's, on the National Road, nine miles west of Columbus, September 16, 1837. The candidates for the General Assembly, " of all parties," were invited to be present and address the people. The Democratic State Convention of 1838 assembled at the Columbus Theatre on January 8. The attendance was described as "immense." Judge Eber W. Hubbard, of Lorain, was appointed chairman, and Hon. Wilson Shannon, of Belmont, was nominated for Governor. Hon. A. G. Thurman was one of the delegates. An address to the people was prepared and reported by the following committee appointed for the purpose ; William Wall, Carter B. Harlan, Allen G. Thurman, Edward Jones and John Bigler. In the evening a banquet in honor of Jackson and New Orleans took place at the National Hotel. The day was farther signalized by a parade of the Columbus Guards. The attendance at the Whig State Convention which met at Columbus May 31 and June 1, 1838, was thus described by the local party organ : 7 They [the people] came from ever direction, multitude upon multitude, enlivened amid the cheering sounds of music and marshaled under the "star spangled banner" of our coun try. By Thursday [May 31] the city was literally filled. Every avenue to its approach was blocked with the moving mass. The canal was freighted with hundreds upon hundreds. . . . We shall never forget the moments which we spent in gazing on such hosts of freemen. They were variously computed at from three to six thousand ! So immense was the concourse that it was impossible to procure the names of all present. The list which we publish falls many hundred short. The crowd " paraded on High Street to the southern part of the city, thence on Friend Street to Third and thence on Third to the Public Square." The convention was address by Judge Burnett, Thomas Ewing, Governor Joseph Vance and General Murphy. Joseph Vance was chairman. The Whig State Central Committeemen in 1839 were Alfred Kelley, Joseph Ridgway, Senior, Warren Jenkins, Lewis Heyl and Samuel Douglas. 382 - HISTORY OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS. A meeting to ratify the nominations of Harrison and Tyler for the Presidency and Vice Presidency was held December 18, 1839, in the basement of the First Presbyterian Church. Alfred Kelley presided, and Moses B. Corwin, Thomas Ewing and. Bellamy Storer delivered addresses. On motion of James L. Bates a committee of five was appointed to prepare resolutions. The Van Buren (Democratic) State Convention was held in Columbus January 8, 1840. The members of the Democratic State Central Committee in that year were Carter B. Harlan, Bela Latham, Samuel Medary, A. G. Hibbs, Peter Kaufman, John Patterson and John McElvain. Alfred Kelley, who was suggested as the Whig candidate for Governor, publicly stated that he did not desire to be considered in that connection. The Whig County Convention held January 25, 1840, was thus mentioned under date of January 28 : " Pursuant to notice given a large and respectable meeting of the friends of Harrison and Tyler was held in the basement of the Presbyterian Church." The memorable political campaign of 1840 was opened for the Whig party in Ohio by a great convention of that party held at Columbus on Friday and Saturday February 21 and 22. The most extended account of it given by the local press was that contained in the Ohio Confederate, a weekly paper then edited by John G. Miller. In that account the attendance at the convention was estimated at twenty thousand, representing all parts of the State. The Bulletin, expressing the Democratic view, acknowledged that the " Whigs had effected a great turnout . . . probably four or five thousand." The "gathering of the clans" was thus described by the Confederate : For several days previous to Thursday, the twentieth, delegates from all parts of the State had reached the city, so that on the morning of that day the hotels were already filled to overflowing ; and throughout the day they continued to arrive in rapid succession, though without organization and parade. The weather was uncomfortable, the day was rainy; the Toads were known to be in bad condition ; some who had failed to discern the true state of the popular mind began to fear least the people should not come ; the apprehension was of short duration; rain and storm and obstacles had nothing to do in this matter; and hour after hour the tide rolled in- and the multitude accumulated. The evening [twentieth] brought with it the accession of many thousands to the throng that now filled the streets of the city as the setting sun shone out upon the animating scene his brightest and cheerfulest rays. At this period the united delegations from many of the eastern counties approached the city. . . . On the same evening there arrived twentyseven CANAL BOATS bearing delegations from the southern counties. . . . The morning of Friday opened upon the multitude with a clear sky and a delightful temperature. Had a stranger entered the city on that beautiful morning, his eye would have fallen on a variegated scene of surpassing interest which his tongue or his pen might have striven in vain to describe. Among the numerous ensigns, colors, decorations and banners with their pithy sentences and heartstirring mottoes as they waved from the windows of the houses and floated on the standards borne by individuals of the living mass before him, his eye would have rested for a moment on two extended banners stretching from roof to roof of the lofty tenements on either side of the street, bearing the impressive words of truth, CONVENTION OF THE PEOPLE, NOT OF OFFICEHOLDERS ! HARRISON AND TYLER — THE PILLARS OF REFORM. UNION OF THE WHIGS FOR THE SAKE OF THE UNION. The Ohio State Journal's account, of February 22, 1840, contained the following passages: POLITICAL EVENTS ; 1797-1840 - 383 The rain is pouring in torrents while we write ; the mud is kneedeep in the roads ; all the wintry elements except frost are busy ; but the people are here. The streets of Columbus present, despite the weeping clouds, one solid mass of animated, joyous Republicans, all clamorous for the Hero of Tippecanoe and the Thames. We watched the ingathering of the people on Thursday and Friday with a view to write a description of it. But we cannot describe it. From the east, the west, the north and the south the people poured in in dense and continuous streams On they came, rending the blue welkin- with their shouts. . . . Banners ingenious in device and splendid in execution loomed in the air ; flags were streaming, and all the insignia of freedom swept along in glory and in triumph. Canoes planted on wheels; . . . square-rigged brigs, log cabins, even a miniature of old Fort Meigs; all these and more made up the grand scene of excitement and surprise. The number of persons in attendance as' members of the convention, is variously estimated at from twelve to twenty thousand. It is impossible to judge of the number with accuracy, as but a very few of the delegations have reported full lists of their members. Numerous, however, as has been and is the crowd, all have been fed and sheltered, and cherished. Not a single cheerless or disappointed face can be seen amid the vast assemblage. . . . Just as our paper is going to press we have the pleasure to state that the immense throng, though wading in mud and exposed to the "pitiless peltings " of the rain, still exhibits the best of spirits. All its joyous enthusiasm. Concerning the parade of Saturday, twenty-second, we have in the same paper of later date the following account : On the twenty-second the windows of heaven were opened and torrents fell as if to show us that clouds and adversity, as well as sunshine and prosperity, are the lot of those who do their duty. At an early hour the immense multitude, filling the streets, the pavements, the houses, began under the direction of skillful marshals to do what seemed the most hopeless task, to form from such confusion, into the most perfect order. To accomplish this the different vehicles filled and followed by the various delegations wheeled into line from the various cross streets of the city. Twenty full bands of music, in large cars drawn by four horses each sent up their music. Immense canoes, each carrying from fifty to eighty men—one bearing the emblem of our Western Empire State, the Buckeye tree— rising full forty feet from the stern and carrying a large and beautifully executed portrait of General Harrison (executed by that accomplished artist, Mr. Wilson, of this city) and all drawn by eight beautiful white horses most skillfully driven 8. A throng of hundreds followed in close column. Another large canoe, drawn by six horses, and bearing flags and inscriptions, was followed by hundreds in the same orderi Numerous log cabins, the peculiar emblem of the Young West. . . . Numbers of these rude structures with all their usual accompaniments — the smoke rising from the chimney of mud and sticks, the horns and skins of animals, the " coon" and the deer, were seen fastened to the walls — within, and on the roof, sat many of those who, if they do now inhabit more costly and modern structures, yet have in earlier times made such dwellings as these their homes, eating the neverfailing " corncakes " of the West. These were on wheels, and drawn by four and six horses each, and followed by the thousands of worthy delegates who came with them. The skill of the artist had multiplied the portraits of the " Hero of the Thames and the Farmer of North Bend, " and paintings of log cabins, as well as the cabins themselves, were borne aloft. The "Mad River trappers," with their cabins, were not behind. . . . Licking with her steamboat under a full head of steam, black smoke rising from her chimney, and wheels in motion, drawn by a tandem team of five or six horses driven with unparalleled skill The men of Guernsey followed with their beautiful skiff drawn by four horses. . . . Fort Meigs was there, decorated with flags and arms and strongly garrisoned. The gallant brig from Cuyahoga with canvas spread, her flag and ensign all in _holiday trim, her manly officers and crew returning the cheers of the crowd while the voice of a hardy mariner mounted in the chains throwing the lead, told the 384 - HISTORY OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS. fathoms of water (and mud) beneath the gallant bark. . . . One delegation of noble fellows bore aloft, perched on a pole, the magnificent "bird of Jove," the American Eagle . . . Who shall portray the deep emotions of the crowd when the empty saddle with the housings and trappings of General Washington— of scarlet velvet and silver fringe, borne on a white horse led by one of the Light Guards of the Father of his Country,̊ passed along . . . . The precious and well preserved relic was sent from Marietta by a niece of Washington . . . After the procession, accompanied by a most splendid escort of the military of Zanesville, Putnam, and of this city, had swept along through the various streets, stretching miles in length and cheered by shouts from the crowd, and by 'the waiving of flags from almost every window by the ladies who filled them — then, at noon, the great convention reassembled. . . . The first orators of the State were listened to and cheered for hours, amid the falling rain, as they uttered words of eloquence and patriotism. The close of the evening witnessed the still busy and earnest movements of the excited and determined multitude. Night came, and still the soul stirring words of talented and eloquent men were pouring out to groups of thousands, even in the marketplace and wherever the multitude could find space whereon to rest their feet. The Convention assembled in the open air, at the corner of High and Broad streets, called General Resin Beall to preside, and appointed nineteen vice presidents, as follows : Charles S. Clarkson, Hamilton ; William Carr, Butler ; Aurora Spofford, Wood ; Isaiah Morris, Clinton ; Thomas L. Shields, Clermont; John C. Bestow, Meigs; John Crouse, Ross; Forrest Meeker, Delaware; George Saunderson, Fairfield ; Charles Anthony, Clark ; Solomon Bently, Belmont; David Chambers, Muskingum; Daniel S. Norton, Knox ; Eleutheros Cooke, Erie ; Frederick Wadsworth, Portage; Storin Ross, Geauga; Joseph Mause, Columbiana; Solomon Markham, Stark ; Hugh Downing, Jefferson. One delegate for every ten from each congressional district was chosen to serve on a committee to propose a suitable person for nomination for Governor, and a committee to propose Presidential Electors— two at large and one from each district— was made up in the same manner. These committees met, respectively, in the basements of the First Presbyterian and Episcopal churches. The convention was addressed by General Beall, Hon. Thomas Ewing, Charles Anthony, Esq., Hon. John C. Wright, 0. P. Baldwin, Esq., and General W. S. Murphy. Thomas Corwin, of Warren County, was nominated for Governor, and William R. Putnam of Washington, and Resin Beall of Wayne, for electors-at-large. A long platform was reported by Judge Wright from the Committee on Presidential Electors, and was adopted. From the same committee Alfred Kelley reported a series of reasons for opposing the reelection of Van Buren. These reasons were also adopted, as were resolutions reported by H. Griswold, of Stark, condemning the secret caucus and machine rule; the creation of offices to make places for favorites, and the penitentiary system of contract labor. Messrs. Alfred Kelley, ,Joseph Ridgway, Senior, John W. Andrews, Robert Neil, John L. Miner, Francis Stewart, Lewis Heyl, N. M. Miller and Lyne Starling, Junior, were appointed members of a State Central Committee. " The whole of this day's sitting of the convention, as well as the formation of the procession of the delegations " stated one of the reports, " was under a heavy and continual torrent of rain." This phenomenal convention signalizes an epoch in Ohio politics. It was the most unique political event in the history of Columbus. Standing in the rain on POLITICAL EVENTS -1797-1840 - 385 a midwinter day this body of enthusiastic citizens adopted the following remarkable declaration of principles : Resolved, That the permanency of our republican institutions depends upon preserving, unimpaired, to the several States and to each branch of the General Government, the full and free exercise of their constitutional rights. That the practical tendency of our government as at present administered is to concentrate all political power and influence in the National Government, and to throw the power thus concentrated into the hands of the President. That to prevent the attainment of alsolute power by the National Executive, and to restore to the legislative and judicial branches of the General Government, and to the several States, the free and unbiased exercise of their constitutional rights, the following principles should be adopted and enforced : First. That the power of the President to appoint and remove officers at his pleasure, which is the great source of his overwhelming influence, should be restricted within the narrowest limits allowed by the Constitution. Second. That as all offices are created for the benefit of the people, the advancement of the public good should be the sole motive of official action. Third. That no person should serve as President for more than one term, so that he can have no motive to administer the government with reference to his own reelection. Fourth. That any law which will place the public moneys of the nation in the hands of the President or in the hands of officers appointed by him, removable at his pleasure, and therefore subservient to his will, is obviously calculated to increase his power and influence ; is contrary to the spirit of the Constitution, and is dangerous to the liberties of the people. Fifth. That the practice of appointing members of Congress to offices in the gift of the President, is calculated to corrupt the members of that body and give the executive a dangerous influence over the legislative branch of the government. Sixth. That the immediate representatives of the people are most competent to decide questions relating to the general welfare of the nation, and that the veto power of the Executive should seldom or never be exercised except to preserve the Constitution from manifest violation. Seventh. That no offices should be created except such as are required by the public good ; and that the creation of any office, trust or place for the purpose of rewarding partisan services or gratifying political favorites, is a flagrant abuse that calls loudly for correction. Eighth. That the practice of considering offices " the spoils of political victory," bestowing them as rewards for partisan services or taking them away as punishment for political independence, tends to make men mercenary in their motives, corrupt in the exercise of their privileges, and to vest in the President despotic power. Ninth. That the use of official power or the facilities afforded by official station to influence elections is an improper interference with the rights and dangerous to the liberties of the people. Resolved, That all salaries or official compensation, of whatever kind, should be a fair equivalent for the services rendered, taking into view the skill and talents required, and nothing more; so that pecuniary emolument can never form a leading inducement to seek for or accept office. Resolved, That if it be the interest of officeholders to appropriate any portion of their salaries to electioneering purposes, with a view to sustaining those from whom they hold their appointments, and themselves in office (as proved to be the case with the customhouse officers in New York), it is conclusive evidence that those salaries are too high and should be reduced. 26* 386 - HISTORY OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS. Resolved, That all officers should be held to a rigid accountability for the manner in which they discharge their official duties, and especially for all public moneys that may come into their hands. Resolved, That a careful appropriation of the public money to specific objects—its scrupulous application to the specific objects only to which it is appropriated, with rigid economy in its expenditure, are necessary in order to prevent its use for electioneering purposes, as well as to preserve the people from oppressive taxation. Resolved, That it is the duty of the General arid State Governments to secure a safe and uniform currency, as well for the use of the people as for the use of the government, so far as the same can be done without transcending the constitutional limits of their authority ; and that all laws calculated to provide for the officeholders a more safe or valuable currency than is provided for the people, tend to invert the natural order of things, making the servant superior to the master, and are both oppressive and unjust. Here follow the reasons for opposing the reelection of Martin Van Buren to the Presidency. Among these reasons are the following: Because he practices upon the abominable doctrine that " offices are the spoils of political victory," bestowing them as rewards of party subserviency, regardless of the unfitness of the persons selected, and removing the most faithful and competent public officers for the sole crime of thinking and acting as free men. Because he permits and encourages officers holding appointments under him improperly to interfere in political contests, thus "bringing the patronage of the General Government into conflict with the freedom of the elections." Following these ".reasons " were some declarations condemnatory of alleged abuses in. State politics, as for example; The practice of requiring candidates for judicial appointments to pledge themselves as a condition on which they are to receive such appointments, to decide the most important and difficult questions which can come before a court of justice in accordance with the political views of those who hold such appointments in their hands; a practice so abhorrent to all correct notions of judicial integrity, and so utterly at war with the safety of our dearest rights that no legislature previous to the present has had the hardihood to think of its adoption. The practice of members of the legislature discussing and determining, in secret conclave, on the most important acts of legislation, so that neither the motives nor the advocates of such acts can be known to the people. The creation of offices not required by the public good for the purpose of making places to be filled by hungry office seekers, and especially by members of the legislature, thereby greatly increasing the heavy burden already imposed on the people. The unnecessary consumption of the time of the legislature, and the enormous increase of expense, occasioned by legislating upon matters of a purely personal and local character. The adoption of improper and rejection of proper measures with the sole view of benefiting a political party, regardless of the injury inflicted on the public. Resolved, That our Penitentiary system, as carried out in practice, operates injuriously on the interests of a numerous and respectable class of citizens, and should be so modified as not to come in competition with the free labor of the honest mechanic, so far as the same can be done without making that institution a burden upon the State Treasury. A concluding resolution recommended that a cordial popular welcome be extended to Ex-President Jackson should he, as was then expected, visit Ohio on the next anniversary of National Independence. POLITICAL EVENTS; 1797-1840 - 387 NOTES. 1. J. H. Kennedy in the Magazine of American History for December, 1886. 2. The War of 1812 was then in progress. 3. Near where the Exchange Hotel now stands. 4. Ohio State Journal. 5. Imprisonment for debt was abolished in Ohio by act of the General Assembly March 19, 1838, to take effect on July 4 of that year 6. Ohio State Journal, July 29, 1830. 7. Ohio State Journal, June 1, 1838. 8. The driver was William Neil, of Columbus. 9. Lewis Bowyer, said to have been the sole survivor of Washington's Lifeguard. CHAPTER XXIV. POLITICAL EVENTS; 1840-1848. The phenomenal campaign of 1840, was predominantly a popular revolt against caucus dictation, the abuse of patronage and official interference in partisan politics. Antagonism to these things is the keynote of the Columbus platform, and as such rings out with clearness and force which have never been surpassed. It was reiterated and emphasized by the national leader of the Whigs. In his letter accepting their nomination General Harrison had said: " I deem it . . . proper at this .time to renew the assurance heretofore frequently made that should I be elected to the Presidency I will under no circumstances consent to be a candidate for a second term." In a letter of June 16, 1840, the General' repeated this declaration and further avowed that, if elected, he would never attempt to influence the elections either by the people or the state legislatures, nor suffer national officers under his control to take any other part in them than that of casting their own votes ; that he would never suffer the influence of his office to be used for purely partisan purposes ; and that in removals from office of those holding appointments at the pleasure of the Executive the cause of such removals should be stated, if requested, to the Senate. At the head of its editorial columns the Columbus organ of the Whigs kept these legends standing : One Presidential term. Executive power and patronage confined within the limits of the Constitution. Economy in public expenditure. Rigid accountability of public officers. The patronage of the General Government not to be brought into conflict with the freedom of elections. Such were the predominating ideas of this wonderful campaign They carried General Harrison into the Presidency. Their statement is necessary to a correct understanding of the local as well as of the State and National political history of the period. One of the most striking features of the campaign was its songs, the most successful and widely known singer and composer of which was John Greiner, of Columbus. 3 The origin of another picturesque peculiarity singularly appropriate to the politics of a pioneer generation, is thus explained : [388] POLITICAL EVENTS ; 1840-1848 - 389 The Baltimore American, a Democratic newspaper, after General Harrison's nomination sneeringly remarked concerning him that he was obscure and unimportant ; that for $2,000 a year he would be content to remain in his log cabin and drink hard cider for the balance of his days. This sneer . . . was seized by the Whigs as their battlecry against the opposition. It was first adopted in the city of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and on the twentieth of January, 1840, a transparency with a log cabin painted upon it was carried through the streets of th t place. It spread like wildfire. The log cabin and hard cider became the emblems of he Whig party. In song and display they were kept constantly before the people. Log ca ins were built in every village, and carried in every procession. 4 The history of the first of the campaign log cabins erected in Columbus begins with the organization of the "Franklin County Straightout Tippecanoe Club," which took place April 9, 1840, on the open lawn in rear of John Young's Eagle Coffeehouse. A crowd, large for those days, was present and was regaled with a barrel of hard cider provided by Mr. Young who was a member of the club. An account of the event says : " The generous liquor was imbided from a gourd. In the centre of the yard stood the miniature of Port Meigs kindly bestowed to the Harrison men of Columbus by the Wood County delegation. . . . Above it floated two magnificent flags. . . . The Fort was appropriated as a rostrum."' The crowd was addressed by J. G. Miller, John W. Andrews, Alfred Kelley and W. B. Lloyd. A " manifesto " was signed by about two hundred members, and officers of the club were chosen as follows : President, George Elphinstone ; Vice President, Joseph Leiby and A. Stotts; secretaries, James Allen and Oren Follett ; executive committee, N. Gregory, J. Neereamer, J. Phillips, S. McClelland and T. Y. Miles On April 18,1840, a campaign log cabin was raised by the Straightouts, assisted by" Tippecanoe Clubs 1 and 2 and the German Club " An account states that " the Hard Cider boys from Madison came in a wagon drawn by six horses, adorned with Buckeye boughs and a flag." Addresses were delivered by Messrs. Philips, Heyl, Brush and Backus. The location of the cabin was on the common just east of the Capitol Square, near the present line of Third Street. A Whig meeting held at the cabin July 7 was addressed by R. W. Thompson, of Indiana, and General Murphy, of Chillicothe. At another cabin meeting, held September 14, the principal speaker was Hon. John H. Eaton, who had been a member of President Jackson's first cabinet. So strong was the tide of partisan feeling this year that the Fourth of July was celebrated by the Whigs and Democrats separately — the Whigs at Stewart's Grove, south of the city, the Democrats 6— it was derisively stated —" about equidistant from the Penitentiary, the Ropewalk and the Graveyard." In the Whig procession a company of juvenile lancers marched on either side of the ladies as a guard. The speakers at the Whig meeting were Alfred Kelley, Joseph Olds, and J. L. Green, of Pickaway, and R. W. Thompson, of Indiana. Of the speakers at the Democratic meeting the author finds no record. The Democratic State Convention of 1840 was held in Columbus January 8 Its temporary chairman was Hon. John Chaney, of Fairfield ; its permanent chairman Hon. Thomas L. Hamer, its vice chairmen John Larwill and William Milligan. Governor Wilson Shannon was nominated for a second term ; delegates 390 - HISTORY OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS. to the National Convention were appointed, and the following State Central Committee was named : C. B. Harlan, Bela Latham, Samuel Medary, A. G. Hibbs, Peter Kaufman, John Patterson and John McElvain. The platform denounced native Americanism and endorsed Van Buren's administration. On the same occasion the anniversary of the battle of New Orleans was celebrated by a banquet, largely attended, at the dining hall of the American House. Samuel Spangler presided at this banquet, and many toasts were proposed and responded to. Among the speakers were Governor Shannon and Hon. Thomas Li Hamer. The great Democratic occasion of the year seems to have been the reception accorded to Vice. President Richard M. Johnson, which took place August 8 at Stewart's Grove, then described as " about a mile from the city on the Chillicothe road." The attendance is said to have been great and the procession of corresponding dimensions. Major W. F. Sanderson was marshal of the day and the order of march to the Grove was as follows: 1, German band ; 2, martial music ; 3, First German Artillerists ; 4, Vice President of the United States and Governor of Ohio ; 5, Members of Congress and other invited guests; 6, Second German Artillerists; 7, Columbus Lancers; 8, officers of the day, in carriages ; 9, Revolutionary soldiers and sailors, and soldiers of the last war, in carriages ; 10,. Committee of Arrangements ; 11, strangers from other counties ; 12, citizens on foot ; 13, citizens in carriages; 14, citizens on horseback. The procession formed on High Street, with its right resting on Broad. At the grove, Vice President Johnson was welcomed by John A. Bryan, Esq., and delivered an address. Additional speeches were made by Governor Shannon and Hon. William Allen. At a Democratic meeting held at the Old Courthouse September 1, Philip Bruck was chairman, George Kraus vice chairman and Jacob Reinhard secretary. Resolutions favoring Van Buren and Johnson were adopted. An antislavery convention was held in the city sometime during the year, but was carefully ignored by the local press. Its date and proceedings therefore cannot be given. A body styling itself the Jackson Reform True American Association issued an address, in July, signed by about 15.0 names, accusing President Van Buren of gross abuse of his patronage, and appealing to the " original Jackson men " to oppose his reelection. General Harrison, candidate for the Presidency, arrived in Columbus, unexpectedly, during one of the early days in June, and alighted at the National Hotel, where he was visited by many citizens. To the calls of the crowd which assembled outside he responded in reply to various personal calumnies. At ten o'clock on a Saturday morning he quitted Columbus en route to Fort Meigs and was escorted for some miles by a cavalcade of citizens, led by the Mayor, who on taking leave made a brief address to which the General responded. Before reaching Worthington he was met by an escort of mounted men from that place, with sprigs of buckeye attached to the bridles of their horses. From Worthington, where he was enthusiastically received, he proceeded to Delaware, whence, after remaining over "N Sunday, he continued his journey to Sandusky. In. October General Harrison POLITICAL EVENTS ; 1840-1848 - 391 again arrived in Columbus, and remained some days before proceeding to his home at North Bend. Hon. John Tyler, candidate for the Vice Presidency, arrived in the city September 24, and was welcomed by the Mayor, to whose address he responded, it was stated, " in a most aide and feeling manner, amid the cheers and shouts of an admiring and patriotic people." On the next day following, he was present at and addressed a so called Jackson reform convention at which General Resin Beall presided. Additional speeches were delivered by Governor Wickliffe, of Kentucky, General Murphy, of Chillicothe, and Mr. Silliman of Wooster. On the evening of December 5 the Whigs throughout the city illuminated their houses in honor of Harrison's election. A congratulatory address was issued about the same time by the Whig State Central Committee, the members of which were Alfred Kelley, N. M. Miller, F. Stewart, R. Neil, J. W. Andrews, Lyne Starling, Junior, 0. Follett and Lewis Heyl. 1841. On April 4 the death of President Harrison, which occurred on that date, was announced by Daniel Webster and other members of the cabinet. On the evening of the seventh a meeting of citizens was held at the Statehouse to express regrets and condolences. Alfred Kelley was chairman, Joseph Ridgway, Senior, and Noah H. Swayne vice chairmen ; John Sloane and A. S. Chew secretaries; and William B. Hubbard, Doctor Robert Thompson and John Sloane members of a committee to prepare resolutions. The meeting was addressed by Hon. James T. Morehead, National Senator from Kentucky. The resolutions adopted were expressive of deep sorrow ; also of confidence in Vice President Tyler. A committee to select a suitable person to deliver a eulogy on the late President was appointed. On April 24 a meeting of the Second Brigade, Seventh Division of the Ohio militia, was held at Military Hall, and a funeral procession in honor of the deceased President was resolved upon. General J. C. Reynolds was appointed chief marshal, and Major W. Fi Sanderson assistant. Colonels James Dalzell and Jesse Hoyt and Captains Wray Thomas and N. B. Kelley were selected as special aides. Colonel S. Cutler and Majors W. F. Sanderson and H. Daniels were appointed as a committee of arrangements. General William J. Reese, of Lancaster, was invited to deliver an oration. The funeral procession was arranged to take place on Friday, May 21, according to the following programme : Business to be suspended and buildings dressed in mourning. No banner bearing any political device or inscription to be permitted. The firebells to be tolled during the procession. The ceremonies of the day to be : 1, prayer ; 2, funeral oration by General Reese ; 3, requiem, by the Musical Association ; 4,. prayer ; firing of three volleys by the military escort. The procession was to be formed at ten A. M. on High Street, right resting on Broad and column extending south in the following order : 392 - HISTORY OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS. Chief marshal and aids ; military escort, consisting of Colonel S. Cutler's regiment of cavalry ; orator of the day and officiating clergyman in an open barouche ; the Rev. clergy in carriages ; Assistant Marshal, Major W. F. Sanderson ; Columbus City' Band, Columbus Guards ; First German Band ; Captain Frankenburgh's Company of Light Artillery ; Second German Band ; Captain C. Jacobs's Company of Light Artillery ; funeral car drawn by six horses ; horse caparisoned and led by a groom ; pallbearers in carriages ; Captain Merion's Company of Executive Horse Guards will be posted on the right and left flanks as a guard of honor. Captain Beach's Company of Washington Guards. Captain Stoel's Company of Reynoldsburg Guards. First Rifle Regiment under the command of Colonel Edward Slocum. Governor of Ohio and officers of State in carriages ; Senators and members of the legislature in Ohio ; officers and soldiers of the Revolution ; officers and soldiers of the last war ; Mayor and members of the City Council and officers of the corporation ; judges of the several courts ; officers and members of the bar and students at law ; members of the Medical Faculty and students of medicine ; members of the Franklin Literary and Scientific Institute ; members of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows ; Columbus Typographical Society ; members of the Young Men's Library Association ; Society of Ancient Britons ; members of the Young Men's Lyceum ; members of the Mechanics' Benevolent Association ; members of the Fire Department of the city of Columbus ; members of the several temperance societies ; citizens of the city of Columbus and strangers who may wish to join in the procession ; Columbus butchers, mounted ; citizens from the country, mounted. The procession will march at ten o'clock precisely. The direction will be up Broad to Third, up Third to Rich, up Rich to High, up High to State, down State to the First Presbyterian Church where the funeral ceremonies will take place. The military escort will be halted in front of the church and receive the civic procession with the highest military honors. The gallery of the church will be reserved for the military. After the ceremonies shall have been concluded, the procession will be again formed and march up State to High Street at which point the procession will be dismissed. The ceremonies and parade took place in accordance with this arrangement except that the members of the Typographical Society and the Mechanics' Band quitted the procession and refused to march in it because of being assigned to a place behind the carriages where they would have been " nearly suffocated with dust." The remains of General Harrison were not brought to Columbus. They arrived at Cincinnati July 5, whence they were taken to the place of interment at North Bend, the Columbus Guards forming a part of the escort, as already narrated. The veto of the United States bank bill by President Tyler produced a great deal of disappointment and bitter feeling among his supporters of the Whig party. In Columbus a large number of them held a public meeting at the Markethouse and passed resolutions condemnatory of Tyler's action. The chairman of this meeting was J. A. Lazell ; its secretaries were H. Wood and C. H. Wing. Its resolutions were reported by Joseph Ridgway, H. Wood, N. H. Swayne, J. A. Lazell and Captain Duffy. A small meeting of administration Whigs held about the same time — William Neil chairman and Robert Ware secretary— passed resolutions deprecating criticism of the veto ; but this assembly was immediately followed by another and much larger one which gave expression to opposite sentiments. At a meeting of " friends of the veto " held August 20 Jacob Hare was chairman and Henry Rodter secretary. At a meeting held in the Markethouse September 25 — Colonel James Kilbourn chairman, and Wray Thomas and James O'Kane POLITICAL EVENTS ; 1840-1848 - 393 secretaries resolutions reported by Alfred Kelley, Noah H. Swayne, John W. Andrews and others, were adopted, denouncing Tyler's vetoes, favoring a sound state bank a d recommending that a convention of Western and Southern States be held to c nsider the deranged state of the currency then existing. The mem bers of the Democratic State Central Committee in 1841 were Bela Latham, William Trevitt, A. G. Hibbs, A. McElvain and S. Medary. In June a Clay Club was organized with officers as follows : President, Horatio Wood ; Vice Presidents, Benjamin Blake and Abram Stotts; Secretaries, Thomas Y. Miles and John A. Lazell. 1842. On July 25 the General Assembly convened in extra session pursuant to adjournment in March of that yeari Primarily this extra session was held for the purpose of reapportionment of the congressional districts ; secondarily, to provide relief for canal contractors and laborers ; and for the protection of debtors against the summary execution and sale of their property during the monetary distress then prevailing. A reapportionment bill reported by T. W. Bartley passed the Senate and on August 11 was to have been put upon its passage in the House, but during the preliminary proceedings of that date nearly all the Whig Senators and Representatives filed their resignations, leaving both houses without a quorum.' The resigning Whigs then issued an address to the people of the State denouncing the reapportionment measure as an attempted gerrymander which "disarmed the people " and "broke down the power of the ballotbox by enabling the few to rule and ruin the many." This summary action produced great excitement. During the evening of the eleventh a meeting of Democrats to denounce the course of the seceders was held at the Markethouse, while the Whigs, assembled in front of the Statehouse, were passing resolutions denouncing the reapportionment bill as a measure " devised for the express purpose of stifling and suppressing the true voice of the people of Ohio by such a partial, unfair and unconstitutional arrangement of counties in the formation of the several districts as to enable a minority of the voters to elect a large majority of Representatives in Congress." The chairman of the Democratic meeting was David T. Disney, of Hamilton County; the secretary, C. B. Flood ; the principal speakers, Allen G. Thurman of Ross, and Elwood Fisher, of Hamilton. At the Whig meeting speeches were made by Messrs. Wade, Root, Clarke and Powell of the General Assembly ; Judge Wright, of Cincinnati; and Alfred Kelley, of Columbus. On the thirteenth, James J. Faran, Speaker of the Senate, wrote to Governor Corwin stating that thirteen Senators had resigned and inquiring whether he considered the resignations as creating vacancies, and if so whether he would order such vacancies to be filled by special elections. The Govcrnor replied that in the absence of a quorum all that either house could do was to compel the attendance of absent members, and that the question whether there were such absentees was one for each body to determine for itself. An effort was meanwhile made by the partisans of the apportionment to compel attendance of the 394 - HISTORY OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS. seceders, but without avail. The General Assembly was therefore practically dissolved and both Whigs and Democrats quietly dispersed to their homes. In its phillippies against the seceders the Ohio Statesman charged that while the legislative officers were endeavoring to serve warrants on the recusant members, they were " followed around the streets by a tumultuous and disorderly multitude," and were grossly insulted. In a political speech Speaker Faran also made this accusation, and added : " if the legitimate orders of either branch directed to the proper officer cannot be executed without the officer being insulted by a mob, it is high time to inquire whether another place should not be selected for the seat of government. This will have to be determined by a future legislature." The removal of the capital from Columbus having already been seriously threatened, as narrated in a preceding chapter, these declarations were at once met by an investigation by a committee appointed at a meeting of citizens held for that purpose. The members of this committee were J. R. Swan, Francis Stewart, W. B. Hubbard, P. B. Wilcox, A. F. Perry,, Moses Jewett and S. E. Wright. A searching inquiry was made by these gentlemen, and on September 20, a public meeting was held at the Engine House for the purpose of receiving their report. D. W. Deshler was chairman of this meeting and William Dennison secretary. After narrating the events which followed the legislative secession the committee reported as its conclusion from investigation of the facts that " not only was there no mob on the occasion alluded to but there was really no disrespect intended or offered by any citizen to any member of the legislature, or to any of its officers. The Democratic State Convention of this year was held January 8, and again nominated Hon. William Shannon for Governor. The. Whig convention took place February 22. Its president, as the chairman of such a body was then called, was General Joseph Vance, of Champaign. An account of it says:8 " A little before twelve the convention assembled in the street in front of the Neil House, a stage having been erected for the accommodation of the officers and speakers on the sidewalk, near the Old Courthouse."' Among the speakers were Messrs. Cook of Erie, White of Licking, Schenck of Montgomery, Nash of Gallia and Bingham of Harrison. Governor Corwin was renominated and the following State Central Committee was appointed : Joseph Ridgway, Junior, Samuel Z. Seltzer, John A. Lazell, John Greenwood, Lewis Heyl, A. F. Perry and C. H. Wing. The anniversary of Washington's birth was celebrated the same day by a military parade marshaled by Major W. F. Sanderson, assisted by C. Runyon of Columbus, Andrew McAlpin of Cincinnati and Samuel R. Curtis, of McConnellsville. The civic procession, it was stated, was " escorted by the two splendid companies of German Artillery," commanded by Captains Jacobs and Ambos, and " moved through the principal streets of the city with flags and banners and accompanied by the excellent bands from Cadiz, Harrison County, McConnellsville, Morgan County, and Circleville, Pickaway County." The Freesoilers held their convention at Mt. Vernon in Juno. Their relation to the current politics of the time is indicated by the following comment in the Ohio State Journal : " Of the two great political parties into which the country POLITICAL EVENTS ; 1840-1848 - 395 is divided they [the antislavery men] receive something allied to pity from the one and the scorn and contempt of the other. And thus related they assume the attitude of armed neutrals." In derision of the proposed gerrymander, the Whig newspapers were illustrated with drawings in which the general outlines of the congressional districts as bounded by the defeated bill were converted into monsters of terrific form. Nevertheless the dissolution of the General Assembly, by withdrawal of the Whig members, in order to defeat this measure, did not produce the effect intended. Shannon was elected Governor over Corwin and a General Assembly was returned which reelected John. Brough, then a Democrat, as Auditor of State. In exultation over the success of its party, the Ohio Statesman displayed a comic illustration representing Messrs. Corwin, Kelley, Ewing, Wright and Powell en route to "Salt River, and jeered its political antagonists with these rasping suggestions : Banks is obsolete, Coons is obsoleter ; Cider some thinks sweet But vinegar's more sweeter. The votes cast for Leicester King, the Freesoil candidate for Governor, numbered 5,134, and would have elected Corwin had he received themi On December 10 the General Assembly convened in joint session to count the vote for Governor, and declared Mr. Shannon elected. On December 15 the retiring Governor, Mr. Corwin, was given a complimentary banquet by some hundreds of his friends at the Neil House. 1843. A banquet in honor of the twentyeighth anniversary of the battle of New Orleans took place at the American House on the evening of the ninth. Samuel Medary presided. Among the speakers were John Brough, Jacob Reinhard, S. Medary, T. W. Bartley, E. B. Olds, R. P. Spalding and Senator Walton. Music was furnished between the toasts by the "Columbus City German Brass Band." On February 11 a meeting in behalf of a bill pending in Congress providing for the settlement of Oregon Territory was held at the Council Chamber, P. H. Olmsted presiding. Samuel Medary, William B. Hubbard, J. W. Milligan, N. B. Kelly, Joseph Leiby and M. J. Gilbert were appointed a committee " to collect information concerning the said territory of Oregon," and reported to a subsequent meeting held at the United States Court House, February 16. At a second adjourned meeting held March 11 an address was delivered by General Thomas Worthington, of Hocking County, and a committee was appointed to correspond with other States favorable to immediate occupation of Oregon, with reference to "holding a Western Convention on the subject." On June 1 a political meeting held at the Old Courthouse, Nathaniel Harris, chairman, adopted a platform of principles which declared that the people were tired of the endless embarrassments resulting from the absence of a sound cur- 396 - HISTORY OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS. rency ; denounced all political parties as then organized ; favored " a judicious tariff; " opposed new undertakings of public improvements; demanded the reduction of official salaries ; opposed secret political caucuses, and resolved that the " friends of the meeting style themselves Republicans." Thompson Bull, Truman Sheats, Samuel Kinnear, M. J. Gilbert, Doctor Richey and Nathaniel Harris were appointed a committee to prepare an address. 1844. The Democratic State Convention of this year met at the City Hall January 8. Its chairman was William Medill; its secretaries, Thomas J. Gallagher of Hamilton, and Jonathan D. Morris, of Clermont. Its declaration of principles was reported by Allen G Thurman of Ross. David Tod, of Trumbull, was nominated for Governor, and addressed the convention. One of the conspicuous delegates was John Brough. Presidential electors were nominated and delegates were appointed to represent the Ohio Democracy in the National Convention to be held at Baltimore the ensuing May. The Ohio Democracy celebrated the Eighth of January of this year by a banquet at the American House. Hon. David T. Disney presided, and the toasts, of which there was a large number, were read by Colonel B. B. Taylor and Allen G. Thurman, R. P. Spalding, T. J. Gallagher and Messrs. Taylor and Piatt were prominent among the speakers. On January 9 the Juvenile Hickory Club met at the Council Chamber and elected the following officers: President, J. Doherty; Vice President, J. A. Markland ; Secretaries George H. Warren and R. H. Thompsoni An "Irish repeal meeting" held at the Representatives' Chamber January 10, was addressed by Thomas J. Gallagher and Patrick Collins. In a correspondence of February 8, with Messrs. Reinhard & Fieser, publishers of the Westbote, Hon. Thomas Ewing deprecated the organization of " native American societies." On February 19, it was stated, " a large and enthusiastic meeting of the citizens of Ohio " then " in the capital," was held at the house of General E. Gale for " congratulating each other and the country on the passage of the act to refund to General Andrew Jackson the fine imposed on hilt by a vindictive federal judge for declaring martial law at New Orleans when necessary for the defense of the city and the protection of the ' booty and beauty ' from the sacriligious hands of a mercenary soldiery." A dinner was spread and numerous toasts were proposed and responded to. Hon. Jacob Reinhard was a member of the committee on resolutions. An additional " Oregon meeting " was held February 23 at the City Hall for the purpose of pronouncing resistance to " the groundless pretentious of England," and reiterating the " nobly American declaration " of President Monroe in 1823 that "the American continents were not thenceforth to be considered subjects of colonization by any European power." On January 2 announcement was made of a meeting of "liberty men of Columbus and from other parts of the State " at the City Hail. The call, after stating that the meeting would be addressed by "Judge King, of Trumbull POLITICAL EVENTS; 1840-1848 -397 County, and S. P. Chase, of Hamilton County," continued : "All true friends of equal rights and impartial justice ; all sincere haters of aristocracy and despotism ; all who wish to understand the principles and objects, and be informed as to the prospects of the Revived Liberty Party of 1776, are invited to attend." On February 4 a " State Liberty Convention," J. H. Payne president, was held at the City Hall. The Whig State Convention, held in January, Thomas Corwin, President, nominated David Spangler, of Coshocton, for Governor, and Thomas Corwin and Peter Hitchcock for " Senatorial electors." The " Senatorial delegates " appointed to the National Convention were Jeremiah Morrow and Seabury Ford. The members of the State Central Committee appointed were Joseph Ridgway, John A. Lazell, Francis Stewart, William Armstrong, Robert Neil, Lewis Heyl, Charles F. Wing, James L. Bates and C. F. Schenck, For " private and professional concerns " David Spangler declined the nomination for Governor, and a State Convention to nominate a candidate in his stead was held at the City Hall February 22. At this meeting Hon. Thomas Corwin presided, and Messrs. William Bebb, Bellamy Storer and John M. Gallagher were appointed a committee on resolutions. A committee comprised of seven delegates from each congressional district was appointed to recommend a nomination for the office of Governor and named Mordecai Bartley, of Richland County, who was nominated. In April Governor Shannon resigned to accept appointment as Minister to Mexico, and was succeeded as Governor by Thomas W. Bartley, speaker of the Senate. The National Whig Convention —Hon. Ambrose Spencer of New York, chair: man— met in Baltimore May 1 and nominated Henry Clay, of Kentucky, for President, and Theodore Frelinghuysen, of New Jersey, for Vice President. On May 7 these nominations were ratified by a Whig meeting at the New Club House" of the Clay Club. The speakers at this' meeting were Hon. Alfred Kelley, one of the delegates to the Baltimore Convention ; and E. M. S. Spencer, of Albany, New York. Political mass meetings were appointed by the central committees of this year in every county of the State. Polk and Clay balls were among the local phenomena of the canvass. Barbecues and poleraisings were common. A "brig " called Harry of the West was fitted up, chiefly at the expense of John M. Kerr, of Columbus, and made numerous " cruises," on wheels, through Central Ohio. Her " gallant crew," we are told, sang some captivating songs. A debate on the political issues of the day took place at the Markethouse June 29 between Alfred Kelley and John Brough. A mass meeting held by the Whigs at Columbus in September was addressed by Messrs. Bartley, Bebb, Delano, Ewing, Storer, Corwin and Van Trump ; chairman, Captain Buckley Comstock. The edibles and drinkables consumed at a free dinner spread for the occasion in Stewart's Grove were circumstantially enumerated as follows : " 1,400 weight of ham ; 5,700 pounds of beef; mutton and pork ; 2,100 loaves of bread ; 500 pies ; 300 pound of cheese ; 10 barrels of cider ; 4 wagonloads of apples ; and 25 barrels of water, with a large number of chickens, ducks, &c., &c., occupying some 1,700 feet of table in the grove." Hon. Thomas L. Hamer addressed a Democratic meeting at the Markethouse Sep- 398 - HISTORY OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS. tember 17. Another meeting held by the Democrats September 23 was addressed by General Lewis Cass, Hon. T. L. Hamer and G. Melville, of New York. A torchlight procession took place in the evening. The Clay Club was addressed by Governor Metcalf, of Kentucky, September 20, and by General O. Hinton, of Delaware, Ohio, October 1. A Whig meeting and torchlight procession took place October 23. Hon. James K. Polk was elected President,/ but the Whigs carried Ohio, and their candidate Mordecai Bartley, was inaugurated as Governor in December. On December 5 Thomas Corwin was chosen United States Senator by sixty votes to fortysix cast for David T. Disney. The Whig State Central Committee of 1844 comprised the following members: J. Ridgway, Ri Neil, John A. Lazell, Francis Stewart, C. F. Schenck, William Armstrong, James L. Bates, William Dennison, Charles H. Wing and Lewis Heyl. 1845. The Democracy celebrated the Eighth of January this year with much circumstance. Thirteen artillery discharges were fired at sunrise, twentysix at noon and one hundred more during the day. A mass meeting at which Samuel Medary presided was held in front of the United State Courthouse, and thence, after a brief address by the chairman, adjourned to the Capitol Square where a free dinner was spread. The farmers had brought in extensive supplies for the occasion, including whole beeves and pigs, and poultry by the wagonload. After the dinner an oration was delivered by Hon. David T. Disney, of Cincinnati. The festivities were continued in the evening at the American House, where Hon. Thomas W. Bartley presided and thirteen regular toasts, followed by an appalling number of volunteer ones, were proposed and drunk. The Democratic State Convention was held July 4, at the United States Courthouse; Hon. Benjamin Tappan, of Jefferson County, chairman. The resolutions adopted deplored the death of Andrew Jackson, and eulogized his character and services. Jacob Reinhard, A. Chittenden, S. D. Preston and William Trevitt were appointed members of the State Central Committee. At a Democratic dinner in honor of the Fourth of July, at the American House, Honi William Allen presided. Many toasts were proposed and responded to. On December 6 a Democratic meeting was held at the United States Courthouse " to respond to the able and patriotic message of the President " (Polk), which had just been received. Resolutions were adopted at this meeting approving Mr. Polk's declarations in favor of taking " possession of Oregon from California to the Russian territory ;" his views as to the annexation of Texas; his plan of " preemptions and graduations . . . . to protect the hardy and brave pioneers of the West," and his recommendation of a modification of the tariff. Among the speakers were A. P. Stone, T. J. Gallagher and S. Medary. James H. Ewing of Cincinnati, was chairman of the meeting ; Matthias Martin and Clement L. Vallandigham were its secretaries. POLITICAL EVENTS ; 1840-1848 - 399 A Whig convention was held in the Buckeye Buildings February 24 and appointed a State Central Committee, as follows : Joshua Martin, of Greene, chairman ; T. W. Powell, of Delaware, secretary ; John A. Lazell, 0. Follett, Lewis Heyl and John B. Thompson, of Columbus. A Liberty Men's Convention for Franklin and Madison counties was held at the Clinton Township Methodist Church in September. W. G. Graham was chairman and W. B. Jarvis secretary. A county ticket for Franklin County was nominated. 1846. The Democratic State Convention was held January 8. Samuel Medary was its chairman ; George W. Morgan and Joel Buttles were its secretaries. David Tod was nominated for Governor and William Trevitt, Jacob Medary, Jacob Reinhard, William F. Sanderson and A. P. Stone were appointed members of the State Central Committee. A banquet in honor of the New Orleans battle took place at the American House. John B. Weller presided ; among the speakers were Benjamin Tappan and C. L. Vallandigham. 10 A Democratic Young Men's Convention was held January 9 at the United States Courthouse. E. NI. Stanton of Jefferson County, called the meeting to order, John B. Weller presided, and Matthias Martin was appointed secretary. A committee of one member from each congressional district was appointed to organize the State. The resolutions adopted endorsed the candidacy of David Tod, called upon the young men of Ohio to enlist in the war against paper currency and corporate wealth, and enjoined the young Democrats of the State " to embody the arguments against banks and paper money in written leetures " for publication. E. M. Stanton being called upon to speak " addressed the meeting at some length in an eloquent manner. " A Hickory Club, with Elias Gayer as chairman, was organized at the Old Courthouse January 17. Hon. Allen G. Thurman delivered a speech on the " Oregon question " in Congress January 28. The Whig State Convention assembled at the Clay Club Hall February 4, Joshua Mathiot of Licking, presiding. The first ballot on nomination for Governor resulted : William Bebb, of Butler, 111 ; James Collier, of Jefferson, 60 ; David Fisher, of Clermont, 39 ; Benjamin F. Wade, of Ashtabula, 36; David Chambers, of Muskingum, 11; Benjamin S. Cowen, of Belmont, 13; Calvary Morris, of Athens, 9. Mr. Bebb was nominated on the second ballot. A Whig Young Men's Ratifying Convention was held at the same place in the evening, John Teesdale, of Franklin County presiding. Bebb's nomination was endorsed. The members of the Whig State Central Committee appointed for this year were John A. Lazell, Joseph Ridgway, J. B. Thompson, Joseph Sullivant, James L. Bates and L. Curtis. A Whig mass meeting held in the Capitol Square August 4 was addressed by Thomas Ewing and Samuel Galloway. Joseph Ridgway presided. Another meeting, of the same party, held at the Markethouse September 25 was addressed by William Bebb, William Dennison and Columbus Delano. The vote for Samuel Lewis, Liberty candidate for Governor this year, was 8,898.