USA > Ohio > Franklin County > Columbus > Columbus, Ohio, city directory.. 1843-4 > Part 4
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"But a majority of the committee cannot believe, that an uncertain and indefinite amendment to a sec- tion of a bill, on its final passage, would be so con- strued as to make it inconsistent with, not only the title of the act, but, also, with every provision of the law, as, also, of the understanding of those members of the Legislature who passed it; and, as a proof of the latter part of this position, a majority of the com- mittee will submit, for the consideration of the Sen-
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ate, a few extracts from the protest of those members of the House of Representatives, who protested against the proceedings of the House on the passage of the bill. On page 351, of the House Journal of 1811 and '12, and after the bill had become a law, they say, "that they do hereby dissent from, and protest against, said act for the following reasons: That if it were necessary to establish the permanent seat of government at this early period, due regard should have been paid to the geographical centre, and to the probable future centre of population of the State; the object of a permanent seat of government being the accommodation of the whole State, for a long and fu- ture period, and not to answer a mere temporary pur- pose.
" 'That if the donations, offered as conditions for fixing the permanent seat of government at any place, were entitled to weight, those which were most ad- vantageous to the state ought to have been accepted, provided the place where they were to be applied were otherwise equally eligible.
"'That neither of these reasons has had its due weight will appear from the consideration, that, al- though, the act, aforesaid, is expressly predicated on the proposals of Alexander McLaughlin, John Kerr, Lyne Starling and James Johnson, yet by a compari- son of these proposals, with the donations offered by Moses, Byxbee and Henry Baldwin, for Delaware- and James Kilbourne, and others, for Worthington,
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they will be found less advantageous to the state, and the place established for the permanent seat of govern- ment more remote from the centre of the state, than either of these last mentioned.'
"This is the language of those members of the Le- gislature who violently opposed the passage of the law, and it appears to a majority of the committee, that this language is as strong as possibly could be used, showing that even the opponents of the meas- ure were satisfied that the law permanently fixed the seat of government at its present location; and that the word permanent was understood as without limit, and applicable to the location at the now city of Co- lumbus-while the word temporary was applicable alone to the seat of government as fixed at Chilli- cothe, until December of the year 1817.
"But again, after giving an outline of the proposals made by Delaware and Worthington, the protestants make use of this emphatic language: "The proposals ., accepted by the Legislature, were for expending, on such public buildings as the Legislature shall direct, a sum not exceeding fifty thousand dollars, together with a public square, and a ten acre lot of land; and considering the place fixed as the permanent seat of government, in consequence of these proposals, as possessing, &c." . Again, "that the place established by said act is not as suitable for the permanent seat of government as others proposed, &c."
"Again: 'but the undersigned have other reasons, of
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a different complexion, from those above offered, for their dissent from the act above mentioned, and we do dissent therefrom-because there was no pressing necessity for fixing the permanent seat of government at this time, &c .; " and thus, throughout the whole protest, they make use of language equally strong, showing, unequivocally, that it was the intention of the Legislature to fix and establish, permanently, the seat of government of the state at the place where it now is. In the face of all this, could the Legisla- ture make a removal, without a manifest violation of the faith of the state, and a direct outrage upon the rights of the citizens of Columbus? A majority of the committee think not; and believing as they do, that the honor of the state is of more importance than the paltry sum in dollars and cents, which, it is believed by some, could be saved by a removal, they here express their decided disapprobation of any le- gislation designed to accomplish that object.'""
And the minority argue: "That, by reference to the act entitled "an act fixing and establishing the per- manent and temporary seats of government," passed February 14, 1812, (see 2 Chase's statutes, page 776,) it will be seen that the original location of the seat of government of Ohio, at Columbus, was the conse- quence of a proposal made to the legislature by Alex- ander Mclaughlin, John Kerr, Lyne Starling and James Johnson, to convey to the state certain land, and to erect thereon a State House, offices, and a
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Penitentiary. By the second section of said act, it is provided, "That the seat of gevernment of this state be, and the same is hereby fixed and permanent- ly established on the land aforesaid, and the legisla- ture shall commence their sessions thereat on the first Monday of December, one thousand eight hundred and fourteen, and there continue until the first day of May, one thousand eight hundred and forty, and from thence until otherwise provided by law."
"By this section, it will be perceived, that it was ob- viously not the intention of the legislature to establish the seat of government permanently at Columbus, or that by that act the legislature should be incapa- ciated from subsequently removing it, or subjected, by so doing, to a charge of violating the pledged faith of the state. The minority of your committee admit, that if the words "until the first day of May, one thousand eight hundred and forty, and from thence until otherwise provided by law," had been omitted in the second section of the act, some degree of plau- sibility might have been given to the construction, that the legislature intended to confer an inalienable title to the seat of government on Columbus, and the power of now removing it might have depended up- on the question, whether one legislature could thus limit and control the action of all succeeding ones? but the whole section, taken together, shows, most conclu- sively, that the word "permanently" was intended merely to prevent the removal of the seat of govern-
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ment from Columbus until the time for which a con- sideration had been paid by the erection of public buildings had elapsed. That period has now expired. The state, on the one hand, and the proprietors of the city of Columbus, on the other, have each in good faith complied with their contract. The question of the location of the seat of government has become an open one, and Columbus occupies precisely the same ground, and is entitled to the same considera- tion, as to her claims to the permanent capitol of the state, as any other town within our borders, and no more.
"'The advantages contemplated by the act, havebeen possessed by her for the whole period stipulated in her contract, and should the legislature now deter- mine to remove the capitol to some other point, her citizens have no right to complain. When they loca- ted themselves here, they did so with the full knowl- edge that the advantages to be derived from its being the capitol, were liable, after the first of May, 1840, to be taken from them; that the tenure by which those advantages were held, expired by its own limi- tation at that time; and that on any future action of the legislature on the subject, they stood upon the same platform with any other town in the state, which might be disposed to contend for the honor and profit of being the metropolis. Nor will her pros- perity be checked or impeded to any great cx- tent by the removal. The improvements made by
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the state during the time she has been the capitol, will still remain. The Asylums and the Penitentiary will continue to be a channel through which the pub- lic money will be distributed to her citizens, and her lateral canal, to the great commercial artery of the state, will still afford the medium of transporting the surplus products of the fertile country around her, to the markets of the world. All these are advantages which she has derived from the resources of the pub- lic, in consequence of her position as the capitol of the state, and which remain to her after her contract with the legislature has expired by its own limitation. Who believes that the twelve miles of canal, con- necting Columbus with the main channel through our state, would have been constructed if Columbus had been only the county seat of Franklin county? No one. All these, then, are so many benefits conferred upon her over and above her contract, and additional to that for which the bonus was paid."
The minority report concluded with offering the following resolutions:
"Resolved, by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio, That the Governor be requested to issue his proclamation, setting forth that the time has arrived for the permanent establishment of the seat of gov- ernment, that all portions of the state may have an opportunity of offering such inducements as they may deem proper for its permanent location, at such point as may be designated.
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"Resolved, That all propositions for the permanent establishment of the seat of government, at any point in the state, be sealed and directed, by the persons making the same, to the Governor, by the first day of August next, who shall open and communicate the same to the next General Assembly."
Which were, on the 6th of March, 1843, agreed to in the Senate by a vote of 18 to 16. But which were on the next day rejected in the lower House by a vote of 36 to 29. And so that vexed question rests for the present, and probably forever.
Old Penitentiary Lot .- About the time of aban- doning the old Penitentiary, and the erection of the new institution on its present site, a question seemed to arise as to the title, whether it would revert to the original proprietors, in consequence of the remo- val of the Penitentiary, or remain in the State .- But after some investigation of the subject by a commmittee of the Legislature, at the session of '1837-8, they passed a law requiring it to be laid out into town lots; which was done in the spring of 1839; and the Governor was authorized, at such time as he should think proper, to cause the lots to be offered for sale at auction; which, however, has not yet been done. And, pursuant to a resolution of the Legislature, passed 19th of March, 1839, the building was taken possession of by the Quarter- master General, as a place of deposit for the public arms.
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The City stocks, or debt, is twenty, two thousand dollars, at seven and a half per cent., payable annu- ally, on the first day of January; $12,000 of which is redeemable any time after the first day of January, 1845; and the remaining $10,000 at any time after the first of January, 1847.
About one third, probably, of this debt, was created about the year 1330, for constructing the wharf, and cutting down the west ends of Town and State streets, to the same; and the remainder, say about two thirds, was created in and about the year 1835, for cutting down High street, from Friend street southward, and other extensive improvements on the streets; and procuring Engines, &c., for the Fire Departmet.
The population of the City, at this time is not known, it not having been taken since 1840. It then stood thus:
Number of white males, ..
3,034
Do. do. females, . 2,441
5,475
Number of colored males, .. .317
Do do females, ... ... 256 --- 573
Total number in 1840, ... ... 6,048
At this time (August, 1843) the number of white families is about eleven hundred; and of colored fami- lies, about one hundred. There are eleven organized
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churches of whites; they have, however, but eight church buildings, and one erecting; and two organized churches of blacks, each of which has a tolerably good meeting house. A tabular exhibit of the churches is hereto appended. The schools and semi- naries of learning are as follows: a respectable Acade- my, for males and females, under the charge of the Rev. I. Covert; a German Theological Seminary; some half dozen small subscription common schools; and fifteen district, or free schools, with over 700 scholars. There are twenty five dry good stores, and seven or eight that deal exclusively in groceries, besides some thirty or forty that deal in groceries and country produce, and which are generally termed provision stores; two extensive hardware stores; three drug stores; two extensive book stores; two shoe stores, exclusive of shoemakers' manufacturing shops; two iron stores; seventeen licensed taverns, besides sundry other houses, where a little of the wet can be had; twenty practising lawyers, and twenty one practising physicians, including three or four dentists.
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2
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EXHIBIT OF CHURCHES REFERRED TO.
Denominations.
ganized
When Or
Pastors.
members. *
No. of
Methodist Episcopal,
1814
Rev. David Whitcomb.
460
First Presbyterian,
1818
66
James Hoge.
290
Second Presbyterian,
1839
H. L. Hitchcock.
223
Baptist,
1825 Late
Mr. Cressy, now ve't
210
German Lutheran,
1821 Late
Mr. Shaler;
400
German Evangelical Lutheran, 1843
A. F. Bigemon.
350
Trinity Episcopal,
1817
A. F. D.bb.
120
St. John's Episcopal,
1842
H. T. Richards.
30
Roman Catholic,
1836
Wm. Schonat.
700
Welch Presbyterians,
1837
Seth Howell.
46
United Brethren,
1840
Wm. Couns, and
-
22
African Methodist,
1823
George Coleman.
131
African Baptist,
[1839
Wm. Shetton.
180
* Although this information was obtained from the best sources, it is not to be expected that the number of members was, in all cases, precise- ly correct; or if it bad been, it would not have remained so many days .- It should be observed, also, that different churches have different rules with regard to membership-some count all christened children as mem- bers, which others do not.
CITY OFFICERS IN 1843.
Mayor-S. E. Wright.
Marshal-George Riordan.
Deputy Marshal-John O'Harra.
COUNCIL.
First Ward-Messrs. Joseph Ridgway, Jr.,
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David Evans,
John Taylor,
W. A. Gill.
5
4
G. Hathaway,
.
66
Second Ward,
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Third Ward,
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R. W. M'Coy, Robert Russell, Wm. Armstrong, Jos. N. Glazier.
A. G. Hibbs, James Bryden, William Harrison, A. P. Stone. -
R. W. McCoy, President of the Board.
Joseph Ridgway, Jr., Recorder.
Wm. Armstrong, Treasurer. B. F. Martin, City Clerk. N. B. Kelley, Surveyor. Sexton for North Grave Yard-Titus Richards. South " James McDonald.
COUNTY OFFICERS, 1843.
Lyne Starling, Jr., Clerk, appointed for seven years from March 1838.
William Domigan, Sheriff, elected 1841 for two years. Wm. T. Martin, Recorder, elected in 1840, for three years.
Frederick Cole, Auditor elected in 1841,for two years. Joseph M'Elvain, Treasurer, elected in 1841, for two · years. James Walcott, Coroner, elected in 1841, for two years.
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Commissioners-Wm. W. Kile, elected in 1840, for three years; Samuel S. Davis, elected in 1841, for two years; Jno. Greenwood, elected in 1842, for three years.
Prosecuting Attorney -- Lewis Heyl, elected in 1842, for two years.
Poor House Directors-A. S. Decker, Geo. Franken- burgh, Robert Riordan, one elected each year. Keeper of Poor House, (appointed by Directors) -- Edward Hedden.
TOWNSHIP OFFICERS, 1843.
Justices of the Peace-W. T. Martin, elected for three years from May 1842; J. P. Bruck, elected for three years from November 30, 1842; Alex- ander Patton, elected for three years from Au- gust 1843.
Constables-B. B. Brown, elected for one year from April 1843; H. Howard, appointed by Trustees to fill vacancy occasioned by Mr. Zeigler's resig- nation ..
Trustees-Andrew Sites, Wm. Merion, James Cher- ry, elected every year.
Clerk-U. Lathrop, elected for one year.
Overseers of the Poor-Frederick Bentz, Dr. C. F. Schenck.
STATE OFFICERS.
Wilson Shannon, Governor, elected for two years, salary, $1500.
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John Brough, Auditor of State, elected for three :: years, salary $1200.
Jos. Whitehill, Treasurer of State, elected for three years, salary $1200.
John Sloane, Secretary of State, elected for three years, salary $1000 and fees.
CANAL FUND COMMISSIONERS. E. W. Hubbard, Acting Commissioner, salary, $1000 and traveling expenses. Jos. Whitehill, no salary, advisory.
John Brough, do do
BANK COMMISSIONERS.
William Concklin, and Bela Latham, compensation, three dollars a day whilst employed, and three dollars for every twenty five miles travel.
BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS.
Leander Ransom, salary $1200.
R. Dickenson, do 1200.
Wm. Spencer
do
1200.
STATE PRINTER.
S. Medary, elected for three years, fees.
LIBRARIAN.
Thomas Kennedy, elected for three years, salary $400.
QUARTERMASTER GENERAL.
W. F. Sanderson, elected for three years, salary $200.
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ADJUTANT GENERAL.
H. A. Moore, appointed by the Governor for two years, salary $300. :
DIRECTORS OF THE OHIO PENITENTIARY.
Robert Lee, Richland county; Andrew H. Patterson, Delaware county; Andrew M'Elvain, Franklin county; elected by the legislature, salary $100 each, per annum.
WARDEN. John Patterson, Esq., (appointed by directors) salary $1500.
INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS.
The Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, was instituted in this city, on the fourth day of July, 1839, under the title of "COLUMBUS LODGE, No. 9, I. O. O. F." At first there were but five members, the number requisite to open the Lodge; but its members soon rapidly increased, and at this time, it . numbers about one hundred regular contributing members. A considerable number initiated into this Lodge, have drawn their cards and removed from the city.
The great object and aim of this Institution, is Benevolence and Charity -- to aid the sick and afflicted, bury the dead, educate the orphan, and relieve the widow. Every sick brother is taken care of, and his wants carefully supplied and attended to. At his
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death, he is certain of decent and respectful burial. At the death of a brother's wife, he also receives pe- cuniary aid from the Lodge. All these things are brother's rights, and are extended cheerfully and free- ly, without solicitation on his part.
The funds of the Lodge are derived from an initia- tion fee, and small quarterly dues paid in by each member. ,
The Lodge has already paid out a large amount for objects above specified; and brothers have the grati- fication to know that in very many cases the great objects of the Institution were fully fulfilled. At present there is a sinking fund of a considerable sum, set apart for charitable purposes.
They have a very splendid Hall, said to be one of the best in the state, in the third story of the Colum- bus Insurance Company's building, corner of High and State streets.
MASONIC LODGE.
COLUMBUS LODGE, No. 30, of Free and Accepted Masons, was established in this city in February, 1841. Since that time, it has enroled nearly one hundred members, and is steadily increasing.
The annual income of the society, is about three hundred dollars. It has also a library of two hund- red volumes, consisting of history, and useful miscel- lany. The regular communications of the Lodge
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are held on the second and fourth Tuesdays in each month.
TIMOTHY GRIFFITH, Worshipful Master.
OHIO CHAPTER, No. 12, of Royal Arch Masons, was organized in December, 1841. It has now about forty members, and an annual income of one hund- red dollars.
WM. B. HUBBARD, High Priest.
COLUMBUS COUNCIL, No. 8, of Royal and Select Masters, was incorporated by the Grand Council, in December, 1841, with nine members. There has since been added thirty four, making in all, forty three members.
JNO. W. MILLIGAN, Th. Ill. G. Master.
MECHANICS' BENEFICIAL SOCIETY.
This society was established in 1830, by a few per- sons, and they obtained a charter from the legislature the next winter. The first trustees named in the act of incorporation, were P. H. Olmsted, M. R. Spurgion, John Haver, J. Neereamer, and Charles Love. For ten years it increased but little in num- bers, and not much in funds; though of the latter, it saved something. Of some hundred mechanics now
-
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constituting the society, less than a dozen of its earli- er members who helped to sustain and keep it together through its years of weakness, are yet members. Its original object was to aid sick members who might need assistance. Afterwards a more certain rule of benefits was introduced-that of paying a stipulated sum weekly, in all cases of sickness. This is now promptly kept up. Lately, the society has been pre- paring to enlarge its sphere of usefulness, so as to in- clude other objects than that mentioned above. It looks to providing for the mind as well as the body. With the liberal aid of citizens who have made do- nations for the purpose, the society has erected a hand- some building, in which it has a large hall appropriated to its own use; and it is in contemplation to establish a library and make arrangements to secure and en- courage the delivery of lectures on interesting sub- jects, by competent persons.
COLUMBUS TYPOGRAPHIICAL SOCIETY.
This society was instituted in the fall of 1831, and incorporated in 1834. The object of the institution is to secure the rights and advance the interests of journeymen printers-to encourage improvement in their art, and to promote correct moral habits among them, and secure their respectability as a body.
Its officers are a President, Vice President, Secreta- ry, Treasurer, Standing Committee of three, and Doorkeeper.
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COLUMBUS ACADEMICAL AND COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE.
The corner stone of this institution was laid in May, 1841. It is situated on Town street, one-fourth of a mile from High street, in a pleasant and retired part of the city. The building is brick, two stories high, containing four rooms. The Institution is furnished with chimical and philosophical apparatus, and a li- brary of some hundreds of volums, and is under the supervisory care of a board of trustees.
OHIO DEAF AND DUMB ASYLUM. 1
THIS institution is beautifully situated about half a mile east of the State House. The buildings were erected in the years of 1833 and '34. They are spa- - cious, but not sufficiently so for the accommodation of the pupils. Measures are therefore now being taken for their enlargement, on a scale worthy of the State of Ohio, and embracing in their object, architectural beauty, and the conveniences desirable in such an es- tablishment, and adequate to its wants for many years to come. The location of the asylum is very healthy, as the experience of its inmates can testify, during the nine years it has been occupied; affording the pleasing reflection, that in its erection, an object was 'secured second to none in importance, and imparting blessings to its future occupants, essential to their coni- fort and happiness, while its existence shall be re- quired.
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The act of incorporation of the Deaf and Dumb Asylum, was passed at the session of the Legislature in 1826 and '27; and the institution went into ope- ration on the 16th of November, 1829, under the care of the present principal, who was then the only in- structor, and whose qualifications to instruct and su- perintend in this difficult department, were obtained during a year and a half's residence at the American Asylum, Hartford, Connecticut, to which place he had resorted for the accomplishment of this important object.
The asylum now contains 90 pupils. Since its es- tablishment, there have been about two hundred and fifty pupils connected with it; and it is believed that the success which has attended it, has been equal to the most sanguine expectations of its friends and founders. The fact of its being in point of time, the first of the humane enterprizes in which the State of Ohio engaged, gave it the character of a pioneer to public opinion, for those which have since come into existence; and has, therefore, not only blessed the unfortunate inmates, for whom it was especially designed, but has, at the same time, in an indirect manner, scattered abroad its blessings to others equally unfortunate.
As to the condition of the uneducated deaf and · dumb, the origin and history of the art of instructing them, the mode of instruction itself, we refer to the 14th annual report of the asylum.
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"The deaf and dumb have existed in all ages. They are mentioned in the books of Moses, the earliest wri- tings extant. In all cases where dumbness is men- tioned, in these early writings, or in any others, deaf- ness may be inferred, unless in cases of idiocy, though the words "deaf and dumb" may not be found in the same consecutive connection. Mutes are spoken of by profane writers. In the code of Justinian, they are declared incapable of civil acts. They existed, undoubtedly, among the ancient nations of Assyria, Egypt, Greece, Carthage and Rome, where the arts and sciences flourished in all their glory; yet we look in vain for any institutions for their education, or any notice of them, by their best writers, indicating any commisseration for them. Heathenism, though it can expend its diseased sensibilities on infirm and aged brutes, and endow hospitals for them, as is the case in Hindostan, yet no where, in no age of the world, has suffering humanity, from this source, and in this form, received any attention and sympathy. But the Savior of man, while on earth, did not thus pass them by. The deaf and dumb, on one occasion formed the subject of a miracle; and though that Divine philan- thropy, which His holy religion infuses among His followers, cannot promise miraculous aid, yet in its ardency and untiring zeal, it may and does devise means which will so ameliorate their mental and moral condition, as will leave little else to be desired.
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