USA > Ohio > A history of the state of Ohio, natural and civil > Part 27
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327
ANTI-SLAVERY SOCIETY.
never be lost on us in Ohio, in all similar cases. These pre- cepts of Christ and his apostles, these admonitions to masters and servants, in all the passages above quoted or referred to, leave us in no doubt as to our duty, in such cases.
All our preceding remarks are intended, in part at least, for immediate abolitionists. But we now proceed to say some things for the serious consideration of their opponents. They have said a thousand times over aud over, "that in the funda- mental law of this nation, our constitution, the right to own slaves is secured to them." Being thus secured they add, "that being so inserted in that instrument, their right is of too sacred a nature, to be at all, discussed, in public or private." We now proceed to examine this allegation in their declara- tion, and their proofs under it-the constitution. That in- strument does not profess to be perfect in itself, and therefore contains provisions, for its amendment by the people, to pro- mote whose happiness, it professes to have first been made. This amendment can never be made without discussion, with- out public meetings, without consultation, and without the aid of the press. The liberty of speech and of the press is se- cured to us, one and all, by the same constitution. But the friends of slavery say that their right to hold slaves is of too sacred a nature to admit of being discussed in public or pri- vate, orally or through the press. Let us look at this most ex- traordinary proposition. We all profess to believe that the Bible contains the law of God, and that itself is the word of God. We all know that the law of God, that the word of God, and even the attributes of the Deity himself, are discussed every day in the year, in public, orally and through the press; and yet no man dare deny our right to discuss all these mat- ters in all these ways. Is our constitution more sacred than the Bible? more sacred than the Deity himself? The proposi- tion is so preposterous, that we need say no more on that sub- ject, perhaps, but let us state the case once more, in a plain way. The slaves themselves, either have not, or they have immortal souls and arc really human beings! First, if the slaves have no souls, then they are on a par with horses, hogs,
328
HISTORY OF OHIO.
mules and cattle. In that case a public meeting got up to form a society, an "Ohio agricultural society," to go and purchase these brutes with the intention of turning them into the prai- ries of Illinois, to feed, would be considered lawful and praise worthy, and no mob would assail the meeting with stones and brick bats. But suppose, secondly, that these slaves are hu- man beings, and have immortal souls to save. Have philan- thropists no right to assemble 'quietly and consult on the best means of saving from perdition, these millions of human be- ings? They certainly have such a right and may exercise it when, where, and as they please, under our constitution, with- out a single obstacle being thrown in their way, by any man or combination of men, under the whole heavens. Where would the world have been now, had not the liberty of speech and of the press been freely and fearlessly used to enlighten mankind? We answer that they would be groping still in papal darkness, monkish ignorance and superstition. They would be now bowing in reverence before idols, or on their knees before the shin bone of some worthless saint! Yes, so we should be at this day, but for free discussion, and the press of JOHN GUTTENBURGH, of Mentz. Away then, with doc- trines and practices which tend to throw us back into the gloom of the dark ages. Those who oppose all discussion of this or any other matter, ought to know, that the liberty of speak- ing and writing, and publishing our opinions freely, are using means to pull away from beneath it, the main pillar on which our whole fabric of civil and religious liberty rests. Thus un- dermined and deprived of its only supporting pillar, the whole splendid dome will fall on us all who sit beneath its spacious roof, and we shall be crushed by its weight.
Another suggestion is presented to those who raise riots and mobs, to prevent discussion. Such persons ought to know, that when the Creator made man, he gave him two facul- ties of the soul, among others: "a natural love of justice," and "a sympathy with the afflicted." Yes, He gave man an- other faculty, that of a love of himself, and a disposition to de- fend and protect himself. These are all faculties of every
329
ANTI-SLAVERY SOCIETY.
human soul, and all these faculties rise up against persecution and oppression. Every riot, mob and disturbance of peacea- ble people assembled for deliberation on slavery or anti-slavery, add to the number of the friends of anti-slavery in this state. Nominally we have now very few more than seventeen thou- sand members of this anti-slavery society; but let one man be killed by a mob, as E. P. Lovejoy was, at Alton, Illinois, for belonging to this society; printing or circulating its books, newspapers or pamphlets: or if another press is destroyed in Ohio by a mob, because used or owned by this anti-slavery so- ciety, and we know that thirty thousand new members would instantly join this society in Ohio. A few more such mobs following afterwards, and this state government in all its branches, would be in the hands of the anti-slavery society. So beware.
We care comparatively little about the liberty of the slave, but we do seriously care about preserving our own freedom; and our citizens are determined to preserve it against all sorts of violence, come from whence that violence may-whether from domestic or foreign foes. If any man or combination of men, assail any public meeting (peaceably assembled, and conducting its proceedings) with missile weapons, he or they who thus assail the meeting, would be tried for the offence, sentenced to a dungeon and be in one, within two hours after the commission of the crime. This is Ohio now, and so may it remain forever, under the dominion of the laws and the constitution.
Drawing a circle around Columbus, as a centre, large enough to contain one hundred thousand people within the territory included in the bounds of the circle, and there are within such a circle but two anti-slavery societies, with less than seventy members in both of them! Why are there so few members among such a population? We an- swer, these societies and their members meet as often as they please, where they please, stay there as long as they please, and say and do, write print and publish what they please, and B2*
42
330
HISTORY OF OHIO.
no one interferes either with them or with what they do. So far as this state is concerned, the great mass of this society are the most quiet, peaceable and unoffending christians, be- loved and respected by all who know them.
There is a sensitiveness among the friends of slavery, which we cannot understand. Any discussion on this subject in Ohio cannot reach their slaves and render them uneasy. That is absolutely impossible. What then can be the reason of all this madness, about this discussion? It may be that, possibly, although our discussions might never reach the slaves, yet they might reach the masters of them, and induce them to push slavery south, and below Virginia and Kentucky, and thereby prevent Ohio from draining these states of all their young, men; the life, the enterprise and energy of those states. These friends of slavery in the south, and friends to us, may naturally suppose, that had Rufus Putnam and his associates settled on the soil of Virginia, on the 7th of April 1788, and had that state been then a vast wilderness, filled with Indians and wild beasts, and the settlers being under precisely the same law which following as a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, they journeyed into this vast forest; that instead of Ohio, had Virginia been the region in which they had settled, that vast state with its rich mines of iron ore, of coal and of gold! with its vast water power descending from the Alleghanies in never failing abundance, in a million of streams; with its towering forests so near the sea coast; its pure mountain air, the purest which ever was breathed by human beings; with its broad, deep and splendid rivers, unrivaled by any others in the world; with its lofty moun- tains and low vales, and with an extent of latitude, aided by altitude or depression equal to eight degrees of latitude; our opposers of the anti-slavery society may suppose, we say, that had Rufus Putnam and his pilgrims settled in Virginia, on the same day on which they did in Ohio, and under the same law, which he and they followed here, prohibiting slave- ry forever in that state, Virginia would now contain five mil-
7
331
ANTI-SLAVERY SOCIETY.
lions of white freemen; and in the next fifty years, Virginia would contain twenty millions of happy human beings.
As a state, it is our interest, in Ohio, to have slavery continu- ed in the slave-holding states, for a century yet, otherwise our growth' would be checked. The broad and deep streams of wealth, numbers, enterprise, youth, vigor, and the very life blood of the slave holding states, now rolling into Ohio like mighty floods, would be stayed; and even roll back to their sources, rendering those states, not merely our equals, but even our superiors, in numbers, wealth and political power. No. We have adopted a policy which, for a century yet, requires slavery in the states south of us, to be continued, until they become deserts, (that is none of our business) while we have twelve millions of people in Ohio; until, indeed, this whole state, becomes one vast, lovely paradise : all cultivated, inter- sected every where, by roads and canals; covered with cities and their splendid domes. No; let slavery be continued where it is, during the next century, at least. But, let that subject, be freely discussed, though, by whoever pleases to dis- cuss it, either in Ohio or elsewhere. Let the law reign, and our people be free forever. No; never will we whisper a word, that any old Virginia nabob shall hear, advising him to abolish slavery in that most splendid of all countries in the world, wherein to build up manufactures, and make that state more populous than Great Britain is at this time.
The secret of our growth, in all that is desirable, must be kept a profound secret among ourselves. With such views of this subject, where is the patriotic citizen of this most pros- perous of all states ever founded, on the surface of this earth, who would wish to stay its growth or, even check its prosperi- , ty? No; let slavery be continued for a century at least, and our descendants will go and settle in the now slave holding states, as forests, and make them, what they will not be until thén.
332
HISTORY OF OHIO.
CINCINNATI ORPHAN ASYLUM.
This institution, situated on Elm street, was founded in June 1833; and designed for the reception of destitute orphan chil- dren.
An act was passed by the legislature, in the session of 1832- 33, incorporating the Asylum, with an endowment of ten acres of land, situated near Mill Creek. There was on the land, a small building to be occupied by the orphans. And one thou- sand dollars were paid out of the Township treasury for the sup- port of the orphans. This site being unhealthful, an exchange was made with the City council for the ground on which the present building stands, which was erected by subscriptions collected from the citizens of Cincinnati. The one thousand dollars from the township treasury were withdrawn according to the charter in 1836, and one fourth part of the duties collected in Hamilton county, from the sales at auction, was appropria- ted in its stead, until the year 1840.
Its present income, is the auction fund as above, and a sum- received from the trustees of the townships for the maintenance of destitute children, placed by them in the Asylum, together with such subscription as the managers collect from its patrons.
Twelve female managers are elected triennially by sub --- scribers, to regulate all the interior concerns, and govern the institution; but the township trustees, appointed by the charter, make all the contracts for the sale, or purchase, of real estate ..
The building is of sufficient extent to accommodate from two hundred and fifty, to three hundred children. About seventy orphans are now maintained, clothed and educated in the Asylum. June 11th 1838.
Mrs. Clarissa H. Davies, is the President, Mrs. Louisa Staughton, relict of the late learned, talented, and benevolent Doctor Staughton of Cincinnati is the Corresponding secretary of this truly christian institution. Mrs. Staughton, Mrs. Da- vies, Mrs. Bates, Mrs. Hall, Mrs. Baum, Mrs. Vail, Mrs. Butler, Mrs. Urner, Mrs. Carlisle, Mrs. Hammond, Mrs. Burnet and Mrs. Mitchell have set an example in founding this asylum,
333
ORGANIZATION OF COUNTIES.
which we hope will be followed in all our future cities, in every part of the state.
ORGANIZATION OF COUNTIES.
The state of Ohio is divided into seventy-five counties. The date of their organization, number of civil townships, superficial contents and the respective county seats of each, are as follows:
COUNTIES.
When organized.
Square Miles.
No. of Townships.
COUNTY SEATS.
Adams,
1797
550
10
West Union.
Allen,
1831
543
Lima.
Ashtabula,
1811
700
27
Jefferson.
Athens,
1805
740
19
Athens.
Belmont,
1801
536
16
St. Clairsville.
Brown,
1818
470
14
Georgetown.
Butler,
1803
480
13
Hamilton.
Carroll,
1833
13
Carrollton.
Champaign,
1805
417
12
Urbana.
1
Clark,
1818
412
10
Springfield.
Clermont,
1800
515
12
Batavia.
Clinton,
1810
400
8
Wilmington.
Columbiana,
1803
21
New Lisbon.
Coshocton,
1811
562
21
Coshocton.
Crawford,
1826
594
12
Bucyrus.
Cuyahoga,
1810
475
19
Cleveland.
Darke,
1817
660
10
Greeneville.
Delaware,
1808
610
23
Delaware.
Fairfield,
1800
540
14
Lancaster.
Fayette,
1810
415
7
Washington.
Franklin,
1803
520
18
COLUMBUS.
Gallia,
1803
500
15
Gallipolis.
Geauga,
1805
600
23
Chardon.
Greene,
1803
400
8
Xenia.
Guernsey,
1810
621
19
Cambridge.
Hamilton,
1790
400
14
CINCINNATI.
Hancock,
1828
576
5
Hardin,
1833
570
Findlay. Kenton. Sandusky city.
Erie
1838
.
334
HISTORY OF OHIO.
COUNTIES.
When organized.
Square Miles.
No. of Townships
COUNTY SEATS. Cadiz
Harrison,
1813
13
Henry,
724
2
Highland,
1805
555
11
Hillsborough.
Hocking,
1818
432
9
Logan.
Holmes,
1825
422
14
Millersburg.
Huron,
1815
800
29
Norwalk.
Jackson,
1816
490
13
Jackson.
Jefferson,
1797
400
13
Steubenville.
Knox,
1808
618
24
Mount Vernon.
Lawrence,
1817
439
13
Burlington.
Licking,
1808
666
25
Newark.
Logan,
1818
424
9
Bellefountaine.
Lorain,
1824
580
19
Elyria.
Madison,
1810
480
10
London.
Marion,
1824
527
15
Marion.
Medina,
1818
475
14
Medina.
Meigs,
1819
400
12
Chester.
Mercer,
1824
576
4
St. Marys.
Miami,
1807
410
12
Troy.
Monroe,
1815
563
18
Woodsfield.
Montgomery,
1803
480
12
Dayton.
Morgan,
1819
500
15
M'Connelsville.
Muskingum,
1804
665
23
Zanesville.
Paulding,
432
3
Perry,
1818
402
12
Somerset.
Pickaway,
1810
470
14
Circleville.
Pike,
1815
421
9
Piketon.
Portage,
1807
750
30
Ravenna.
Preble,
1808
432
12
Eaton.
Putnam,
1834
576
2
Kalida.
Richland,
1813
900
25
Mansfield.
Ross,
1798
650
16
Chillicothe.
Sandusky,
1820
600
10
Lower Sandusky
Scioto,
1803
700
14
Portsmouth.
Seneca,
1824
540
11
Tiffin.
Shelby,
1819
418
10
Sidney.
335
CITIES AND TOWNS.
Stark,
1809
19
Canton.
Trumbull,
1800
875
34
Warren.
Tuscarawas,
1808
19
New Philadelphia.
Union,
1820
450
9
Marysville.
Vanwert,
432
Warren,
1803
400
9
Lebanon.
Washington,
1788
713
19
Marietta.
Wayne,
1811
660
20
Wooster.
Williams,
1824
600
10
Defiance.
Wood,
1820
750
7
Perrysburgh.
CITIES AND TOWNS.
COLUMBUS is the seat of the state government. It is situat- ed on a high bank, on the east side of the Scioto, about ninety miles from its mouth. Including its immediate vicinity, it con- tains about seven thousand inhabitants, who are among the most intelligent, active and enterprising people in the state. Its buildings are, many of them large, commodious and hand- some. The state house is not such an one, as Ohio ought to have, at this day, nor are the other public buildings, for the public offices, what they should be.
The penitentiary is a large, handsome building, of stone, built mostly by the convicts, who are confined in it.
The United States have a good court house for their courts,. and the county of Franklin holds its courts in it, also, having assisted in building it.
The state has erected a large building, for the Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb, in sight of the town. This is a very use- ful institution, for those, who are Deaf and Dumb. The legis- , lature patronizes it.
A hospital for the insane is now being built near Columbus, by the state.
The German Lutherans have a collegiate institution here, which needs patronage, and deserves it. It is under the charge of the reverend Wm. Smith, D D.
Columbus was surveyed off, into lots, streets &c. early in the
336
HISTORY OF OHIO.
year 1812, and the first sale of the lots in it, commenced on the same day, that president Madison signed the act for declaring war against Great Britain; on the 18th of June, 1812.
It is now a city, and the Honorable Jarvis Pike, was its first Mayor. Lyne Starling, Esquire, is the only original proprie- ter of this city, now living in it.
The citizens have paid great attention to the education of their children, especially their daughters. Their professional men; clergymen, physicians and lawyers stand high, and de- servedly so, in the estimation of all who know them. The state officers, too, are very faithful and attentive to their duties; and the same remark may truly be applied to such of the Uni- ted States officers, as are located at this point. The governor of the state is compelled to be here, but we have erected for him, no house to live in, and what is worse, his salary is insuffi- cient to support him here, or any where else, during the time for which he is elected. This is wrong, all wrong.
But we hasten to CINCINNATI, the fairest city of the West. Having often mentioned it, and its position, in this work, we need not repeat what every reader ought to remember.
It contains, including its immediate vicinity, on both sides of the Ohio, at this time, about fifty thousand inhabitants. This beautiful city, like all the towns, in this state, is laid out, on the plan of Philadelphia; all the streets crossing each other at right angles. Many of the buildings are large, commodious and elegant, among which are about forty churches, a court house, and other county, and city buildings. A whole volume would scarcely describe Cincinnati, and its many and useful institutions; its colleges and other schools; its banking institu- tions; its learned associations, of all sorts ; its public inns, its museum, owned by J. Dorfeuille, in which, whoever wishes to
337
CITIES AND TOWNS.
study the natural history of the western states, can find more, to aid his researches, than in any other, one town, in the world. Here are in this city, five hundred stores of goods of all sorts, from every habitable country in the world. They contain the productions of every clime, and of every art, tastefully display- ed to attract attention. As a whole, perhaps, no other people, in the world, are better clothed and fed than than these fifty thousand citizens. None are more healthful or happier, and none more intelligent, better informed, better bred, more kind, benevolent and polite to strangers and to each other.
Like all the western people, the Cincinnatians are a stirring people. Through the day, they all diligently attend to their several callings, but when evening sets in, the streets are thronged with pedestrians. The museum is opened and light- ed up, into a blaze of brilliant light, and thronged with well dressed people of both sexes and all ages, who sometimes, lis- ten to a discourse on natural History, or some other entertain- ing and useful subject. The churches are lighted up, and dis- courses are there delivered, to full audiences. All the public places are thronged to a late hour, when all retire to rest, and all is silence, until morning, then all is in motion again through the day.
There is a city police, who arrest criminals, and there are courts and juries here who punish crimes, speedily and justly. But, mercy is often mingled with justice, where circumstances seem to call for it. Of their courts and juries, we are com- pelled to speak well, because they richly deserve praise.
The professional men, the lawyers, physicians and clergymen are learned, wise and good.
The Ohio river here, is a beautiful sheet of water, in front of the city, on whose surface, the large steamers move, or lie at the landing, thirty at once, sometimes. The Dayton canal here.enters the Ohio river by several locks, creating an excel- lent water power, and another canal extending from the inte- rior of Indiana will soon be completed to this point.
The city, standing, as it does, on a high bank of diluvial sand 43 C2
338
HISTORY OF OHIO.
of great depth, is watered by waterworks, similar to the Fair- mount waterworks, at Philadelphia. The works are moved by steam power. The water is thrown into a reservoir, on a high hill, in the eastern part of the city, from whence, in pipes, it is conducted to all parts of the town, on to the very roofs of the houses, if necessary.
Forty-nine years since, not a human being dwelt on the site of Cincinnati. " The old Indian war path," from the British garrison at Detroit, crossed the Ohio here, but no one lived here; not even Indians. The deer, bison, bear and elk were occasionally hunted on this site, until major Doughty erected Fort Washington, on the ground now occupied by the bazaar of the truth loving and most amiable Lady Trollope, in the month of November 1789, since which time, it has been occupied by our people.
LANCASTER, is the shire town of Fairfield county. It stands on the eastern side of the Hockhocking river. Before Lancas- ter was laid out, travelers, who passed along Zane's trace, through the, then, vast forests of Ohio, called this spot, "the place, where they crossed the Hocking, near the standing rock." We refer the reader to our Geology of the state, for an account of the sandstone of this region. Lancaster was laid out in 1800, and now contains about three thousand people. The houses, three hundred in number, are large, durable and handsome ones. The country about it, is excellent for its soil, good water, good freestone, standing in lofty piles, here and there, intersected by most excellent land, for grass, grain and vegetables. A turnpike is making from Zanesville to Mays- ville through this town, east and west, and a canal is made, connecting Lancaster, with the Ohio and Erie canal, which is now being extended down the Hocking valley, to Athens. All these things are doing by the state, and will soon be done. The town is the centre of a considerable inland trade, which is in- creasing. The people of Lancaster are an industrious, well informed community, who have always stood high with the peo- ple of the state. This town is rapidly growing up, and will soon contain ten thousand people.
339
CITIES AND TOWNS.
CHILLICOTHE .- This town was laid out in the thick woods, in the summer of 1796 by general Nathaniel Massie, assisted by general Duncan McArthur. The latter erected the first white man's dwelling in the town which was made of the barks of trees from the thick forest here then growing. This town, as we have seen, was once the seat of the state and territori- al government, and here the constitution was framed, during the month of November 1802, seven years after this town was laid out. Its streets are wide and straight, crossing each other at right angles and the town faces the Scioto, which bounds it on the north. It contains about five thousand people, many of whom are among the wealthiest in the state. It enjoys many advantages, such as lying on the Ohio and Erie canal, and all the roads seem to centre here from all points of the compass. And these roads are in a state of improvement rapidly at pre- sent. The land along the Scioto river, along Paint creek and Deer creek, is excellent. Here the Scioto enters the hilly re- gion, and Chillicothe has around it, a highly romantic country, with all the varieties of hill and dale, of woods and highly cultivated farms, of land and water, of the slow moving Scio- to and the canal with its boats and its commerce, with the stage's horn, and the canal boat's bugle to arrest our attention.
The state of society here is highly cultivated, and even fas- cinating, none more so any where in the Union. The ladies of Chillicothe have always been admired for their beauty, ele- gance of manners, education and pure patriotism. It was here, that these ladies voted a sword to major Croghan, in the last war, for his gallant deeds in battle when defending Fort Stephenson. Female education is greatly promoted by Chilli- cotheans, and their sons are not neglected in this respect. From its wealth, its position, its fertile soil around it, its canal and water power, Chillicothe must become an important in- land town, a place of wealth and commerce.
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