USA > Ohio > History of Ohio; the rise and progress of an American state, Volume Four > Part 12
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Yet at this distance, when all the conditions can be calmly viewed, he can well be appreciated, and his administration credited as fully equal to any of the "War Governors" for sagacious ability and wise accomplishments. Unlike Tod and Brough, who fol- lowed him, he had to meet conditions that were new and alarming both to the Government and people. He solved many a problem that made official life easier for his successors, and he met courageously new situa- tions that he settled at once and forever. They never could arise to plague or puzzle those who came after.
During his term he organized twenty-three regiments for the three months' service, and eighty-two for three years. He so thoroughly pressed enlistments that Ohio raised 20,75I soldiers above her quota. He controlled and dispensed millions of dollars without any restraint save public duty and private honor. No reflection from any source was cast upon his integrity. He supervised the vast and numerous army contracts of the State with success and despatch, and no suspicion ever rested upon his conduct. His plan of occupying Western Virginia and Kentucky resulted in the rescue of the one and the forced neutrality of the other. It was a bold and far-seeing case of military wisdom.
Popular disaffection was not the sole element in Governor Dennison's retirement. There was another
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and far more potential factor. This was the growing sentiment that the nominee for Governor should be a man who could command the support of all friends of the Union regardless of party affiliations. There was a large element in the Democratic party, numbered by tens of thousands, that regarded the preservation of the Union as the paramount issue, and they ad- vocated rigorous war measures to that end. This element had manifested its patriotism in the General Assembly when it gave hearty support to the war legislation. The growing strength of the rebellion against the constitutional forces of the Union called for the coalition of all patriotic parties. What was supposed at the beginning to be a holiday outing or a three months' affair, had turned out to be a death struggle for the Union. It required the support of every man in the North for its success.
On the question of all parties uniting in the support of the Union and the prosecution of the war, there was considerable discussion among party leaders and in the party press. The radical elements in both parties objected to this movement. In the Republican ranks Joshua R. Giddings opposed it, as did his organ, the Ashtabula Sentinel, while the Cleveland Leader gave it a strong support. The extreme Democrats, led by Vallandigham, Pugh and Samuel Medary, in the Ohio Statesman, took strong ground against party coalition. On the other hand, the Cleveland Plain- dealer urged that the Democrats divide their ticket with the Republicans.
The first steps toward the formation of a Union party in Ohio were taken at a meeting of the Republican
CLEMENT LAIRD VALLANDIGHAM
Born in New Lisbon, Columbiana county, Ohio, July 29, 1820; admitted to the bar, 1842; member of the Legislature, 1845-46; member of Congress, 1858-63; Democratic candidate for Governor of Ohio, 1863; died in Lebanon, Warren county, Ohio, June 17, 1871.
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and lar MAHOIGVALIAV CHIAI THEMER the growi senti vlut oino vinos susidmulo? nodei waniesnamashould ont to medmen ; SAli , and out of bettimbs ;os the support of &fl friend
o ni beib :8081 , oidO fo Torevod of ettbibriso. bisous The
r regarded the preservation
uramount issue, and they ad measures to that end. Th Elmant kad munitested its patriodim in the Genera Kwotlily when it gave hearty support to the wa lenilirion The growing strength of the rebellio Lamit the constitutional forces of the Union calle for the evelition of all patriotic parties. What w ungoed at the beginning to be a holiday outing v thor smiths affair, had turned out to be a deat wie the Union. It required the support in The North for its success.
www til all parties uniting in the suppor 10 0 precution of the war, the Como among party leaders a The radical elements in bo bytofvement. In the Republic Tanto Takes a. Galiliwy opposed it, as did his orga the lawdub Rarbut, while the Cleveland Lead give It & Mig Apport. The extreme Democra Jed by Valandahem, Pugh and Samuel Medary, the Ubio Stress, book atrong ground against par coalition. Ue The other hand, the Cleveland Plan deakr urged that the Democrats divide their tic with the Repuldicam.
The fost greps toward the formation of a Una per lu Oblo were taken at a meeting of the Republi
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State Central Committee held at Columbus, July 25. On this occasion the Committee adopted a series of resolutions declaring it inexpedient to call a convention of the Republican party for the nomination of officers to be elected at the coming election; they believed that all differences of political parties should be laid aside for a union in defense of the Government. They requested the Democratic State Central Committee to unite with the Republican Committee in a call for a joint delegate convention for the purpose of nominat- ing a suitable State ticket. It was requested that the call should be addressed "to all who are in favor of the maintenance of the integrity of the National Government and of the vigorous and continued prosecution of the war now carried on for that purpose." It was provided that in the event of the refusal of the Democratic Central Committee to accept this proposi- tion for union by August 9, the Republican Executive Committee was directed to issue a call to the people of Ohio for a convention of delegates without regard to party to nominate a State ticket "upon the simple basis of the maintenance of the Government and the suppression of the rebellion against it."
This proposal was not received cordially by the radical leaders of the Democracy, and to the invitation to join in the call for a non-partisan convention no answer was given. Nevertheless, a popular call signed by representative Democrats and Republicans from twenty different counties and approximating one hundred names in number was issued designating September 5, 1861, as the date for a Union convention to nominate a Governor and other State officers. A
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comprehensive and non-partisan character of the convention was guaranteed by fixing the basis of representation as one delegate for each thousand of the total vote cast in each county at the last election. Thus every vestige of party organization was ignored, and the invitation, with doors wide open, was extended, in the language of the call, "to all loyal citizens of Ohio who are in favor of the maintenance of the Government, and of a vigorous and continued prosecu- tion of the war now carried on for the suppression of the rebellion against the Government."
Pursuant to this call the Union State convention met at Columbus September 5. It was composed very largely of Republicans, but Democrats were plentiful and there were many who had not professed party affiliations for years. Former United States Senator from Ohio, Thomas Ewing, presided, saying in his opening speech: "Let all past differences among us be laid aside; our duty is to save the country. Since 1854 I have had no political home; have belonged to no party; but now I give adherence to the party of the people." There was an evident disposition on the part of the radical Republicans to concede much to the Democratic Unionists; this was apparent in the refusal of the convention to adopt as a part of the platform resolutions indorsing Federal and State administrations. This abandonment of Republican principles sorely tried such leaders as Senator Wade and John A. Bingham, both of whom tried to secure the adoption of such provisions. In like manner it must have been from deep devotion to the Union cause that the Republican delegates from the Western
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Reserve consented to the renomination of Judge Scott, who had with Judge Swan held the Fugitive Slave Law constitutional. It was the intention of the Union leaders that there should be no excuse given to the friends of the war policy not to support their ticket and the suppression of the rebellion. They quoted frequently the expression of the late Democratic candidate for President, Stephen A. Douglas: "Who- ever is not prepared to sacrifice party organizations and platforms on the altar of his country, does not deserve the support or confidence of honest people."
For a platform the convention adopted literally the language of a resolution passed by the National House of Representatives and introduced by John J. Critten- den of Kentucky, July 22, 1861, supplementing it by the language of a Douglas Democrat who had served as Postmaster General and Secretary of War in Presi- dent Buchanan's Cabinet. This platform, which was adopted unanimously with great enthusiasm, was as follows:
"I. That the present deplorable Civil War has been forced upon the country by the disunionists of the Southern States, now in revolt against the Constitu- tional Government and in arms around the Capital.
"2. That in this National emergency, banishing all feeling of mere passion or resentment, we will recollect our duty to the whole country; that this war is not waged on our part in any spirit of opposition, nor for any purpose of conquest or subjection, nor for the purpose of overthrowing or interfering with the rights or established institutions of the States, but to defend and maintain the supremacy of the Constitution, and
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to preserve the Union with all the dignity, equality and rights of the several States unimpaired; and that as soon as these objects are accomplished, the war ought to cease.
"3. In the language of Hon. Joseph Holt, that we are 'for this Union without conditions, one and in- divisible, now and forever; for its full preservation at any and every cost of blood and treasure, against all its assailants, and against any and every com- promise that may be proposed to be made under the guns of the rebels.' "
The nominee for Governor was a Democrat, David Tod, of Mahoning county. He was a native of Youngs- town, born February 21, 1805. He was admitted to the bar in 1827, elected to the State Senate in 1838, and was the Democratic candidate for Governor in 1844 and 1846. He was defeated first by Mordecai Bartley and then by William Bebb. It was in one of these campaigns that he was dubbed "Pot-metal" Tod by his opponent. The issue was "hard" and "soft," or bullion or paper money-the Democrats representing the former and the Whigs the latter. In a speech the Democratic candi- date said that rather than adopt paper money it would be preferable to coin our currency out of pot-metal. This was soon taken up by the Whigs and made a source of ridicule in the campaign; it became seriously believed through persistent misrepresentation that he was really in favor of coining money out of pot-metal. Medallions of Mr. Tod about the size of a dollar made from pot-metal were circulated extensively by his opponents throughout the State. It contributed largely to his defeat. The people were in a humor
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to be influenced by small things, and this was an occasion when they were so affected. He served as Minister to Brazil from 1847 to 1852. He was a Douglas delegate to the Democratic convention at Charleston, and when the Southern contingent seceded from the Baltimore convention, taking with them the presiding officer, Caleb Cushing, David Tod became chairman. From the moment of the firing upon Fort Sumter Mr. Tod was among the first of the Democrats of Ohio to advocate unconditional preser- vation of the Union.
By the Union convention and the nomination of David Tod the Republican party went out of existence in Ohio until after the war. The Democratic party as an organization still maintained itself and continued as a partisan body to oppose the war, criticise President Lincoln's administration, and assume every form of political negation. August 7, the Democratic con- vention assembled and nominated Hugh J. Jewett for Governor. There was a radical difference between the candidate and the platform. He was in favor of the war to maintain the Union. He expressed this in his letter of acceptance, much to the disappointment of the rank and file of his party. At the same time the Cleveland Plaindealer refused to support the nominee unless he should repudiate the platform.
Notwithstanding the absence of a large number of the voters in the army, there was a large vote polled, but it was considerably less than that cast at the presidential election of the preceding year. At the election David Tod received 206,997 votes, and Hugh J. Jewett 151,774, Tod's majority being 55,223.
CHAPTER VIII. OHIO IN THE CIVIL WAR (CONTINUED) GOVERNOR TOD'S ADMINISTRATION SIEGE OF CINCINNATI THE ANDREWS RAIDERS
I N the rotunda of the Capitol on January 13, 1862, with more ceremony and display than had ever attended a previous inauguration, Governor David Tod delivered his inaugural address. Its keynote was a demand for the vigorous prosecution of the war and the financial, moral and military support by Ohio of the Union cause. "In this glorious work," said he, "the people of Ohio have most nobly done their duty thus far; laying aside all party prejudices and partialities, they have more than met the calls upon them for men and money, and not content with this they are still willing and eager to meet any further demand upon their means and patriotism. Let us look to it, then, that in our actions we do not dis- appoint the expectations they entertained when, laying aside all considerations except a determined, vigorous and liberal support of the National Government, they committed to our hands the vast responsibilities now resting upon us. Ohio must in all time to come be able to claim for herself her just share of the burden and glory of putting down the rebellion."
With these and other like declarations of loyalty to the Government, Governor Tod assumed his office, never realizing that his Administration would be more tempestuous than that of any of the other "War Gover- nors." He little anticipated the herculean task before him; nor could he foresee that his State would be strained by internal strife to the point of civil war, or that it would be invaded and terrified by the armed bands of the Southern Confederacy.
Up to this time no great battles had been fought, and the losses in the field were not such as to deeply
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impress the people of Ohio. The shock of Bull Run and the victorious campaign in Western Virginia only served to increase their determination and patriotic endeavors. But the battle of Shiloh, or Pittsburg Landing, fought on Sunday and Monday, April 6 and 7, 1862, brought war in all its sanguinary horrors to the hearthstones of Ohio. In this battle the young men of the State to the number of 14,688, or twenty- two and one half per cent. of the Union forces, were engaged. The killed and wounded from Ohio were 1,955, or fifteen per cent. of the Union losses. The Ohio organizations that participated in the battle were as follows: Infantry regiments: First, Sixth, Thirteenth, Fifteenth, Nineteenth, Twentieth, Twenty- Second, Twenty-Fourth, Forty-First, Forty-Sixth, Forty-Eighth, Forty-Ninth, Fifty-Third, Fifty-Fourth, Fifty-Sixth, Fifty-Seventh, Fifty-Eighth, Fifty-Ninth, Sixty-Fourth, Sixty-Fifth, Sixty-Eighth, Seventieth, Seventy-First, Seventy-Second, Seventy-Sixth, Seventy- Seventh, Seventy-Eighth, and Eighty-First; the Fifth Cavalry; the Fifth, Eighth, and Fourteenth independ- ent Batteries; and Batteries A and G, First Light Artillery.
When the first news of the battle and its awful carnage reached Columbus, Governor Tod took imme- diate steps for the care and succor of the Ohio troops, and everything that prompt and energetic action could do was inaugurated for their relief. Steamboats were chartered and physicians with large sanitary supplies were started from Cincinnati under authority of the Governor. The Sanitary Commission at Cin- cinnati also chartered steamboats to visit the battle-
DAVID TOD
From a painting by T. C. Crawford in the Capitol in Columbus.
Born in Youngstown, Ohio, February 21, 1805; admitted to the bar, 1827; elected to the State Senate, 1838; un- successful candidate for Governor, 1844; appointed Minister to Brazil, 1847, and served five years; Governor of Ohio, 1862-63; died November 24, 1868.
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impress che people of GOT GIVAThe shock of Bull R and thini lotiqs ont ni biolwsiO .O .Tied ghithisqls monia o ination audratoPatri
Pittsby
Horrors
Dattle the you
14,688, or twent Union forces, we Abd winded from Ohio we wat of the Union losses. T municipated in the batı - blown regiments: First, Sixt There fore Nineteenth, Twentieth, Twen Forty-First, Forty-Sixt A. Tene Ment, Fifty-Third, Fifty-Four
Fifty-Eighth, Fifty-Nin To Sty-Eighth, Seventier Seventy-Sixth, Seventy Mighty-First; the Fin Fourteenth indepen A and G, First Ligi
the battle and its awh tw, Governor Tod took imm Cash sbor and succor of the Ohio troo; pery tug dual prompt and energetic actin could do was inaugu rated for their relief. Steambo Wore chartered and physicians with large sanita! supplies wer canel brie Coordinati under author of the Governor, The Sesauty Commission at ( cinnati albo ebaresed teaintoute sa visit the battle
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field with surgeons, nurses-including ten Sisters of Charity-and stores. Mayor Hatch, for the city of Cincinnati, equipped another boat, and on Governor Tod being advised of his action, promptly telegraphed that the State would assume all expense and that he had selected thirty volunteer surgeons who would reach Cincinnati in time for the passage to the battle- field. The result of this action was that the wounded were brought back to the hospitals at Camp Dennison and other points in Ohio and tenderly cared for. For all this work the State paid out $49,721.60, this being, as shown by the Governor's message of January 5, 1863, the expense of eleven steamboats, surgeons, nurses and sanitary supplies.
After the battle a portion of the public press, particu- larly the Chicago newspapers, published charges of cowardice and misconduct on the part of certain Ohio regiments on the field. Other attacks were made on Generals Grant and Sherman. All of these charges proved to be without foundation upon investigation. In defense of the Ohio troops Senator John Sherman offered a resolution in the United States Senate calling for copies of all the official reports from all the officers in the field. On May 9, 1862, thirty days after the battle, Senator Sherman reviewed in the Senate the conduct of the Ohio troops at Shiloh. The regiments denounced by the press were the Fifty-Third, Seventy- First, and Seventy-Seventh, commanded respectively by Colonels Appler, Mason and De Haas. Senator Sherman in his speech critically examined all the charges and read personal letters from the com- manding Generals. He took up in detail the move-
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ments and operations of the different Ohio regiments and conclusively proved that the charges of cowardice and misconduct against the Ohio regiments were malignant, false, and without any substance or foun- dation.
The general disappointing results of the war this year -more particularly the failure of McClellan's Pen- insular Campaign and the inactivity of the Union forces in the Southwest-prompted President Lincoln to make further demands on the Nation. Accordingly, July 2, 1862, he called for three hundred thousand men, and again, on August 4 following, for three hundred thousand more. The quota of Ohio under these calls was 74,000. At this time there were already volun- tarily enlisted in the service of the United States 115,200 men from Ohio, and of these 60,000 were in the field for three years. In order to secure further enlistment Governor Tod resorted to extraordinary means of inducement. It was at this time that Ohio commenced paying local bounties, which continued until the end of the war, and for which there were paid in that period over fifty millions of dollars. Notwith- standing all these efforts, a draft was necessary. Conscription for military services has always been unpopular among Americans, and the draft was there- fore regarded as discreditable. Although the number drafted amounted to 12,251, but 2,400 were secured for the service. This was due to the facts that 4,800 either in person or by substitute volunteered after the draft, 2,900 were discharged for various reasons, and 1,900 fled their jurisdiction and could not be found.
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It was apparent to Governor Tod that there were some anti-war influences operating to deter enlistments. This was ascribed to the speeches and writings of radical Democratic politicians and editors. Under the au- thority of the President's proclamation suspending the writ of habeas corpus, Governor Tod determined to arrest those who were discouraging enlistments by expressions antagonistic to the Government and the prosecution of the war. The first arrest made was that of a leading Peace Democrat, Dr. Edson B. Olds of Lancaster. It was made at the direct instance and request of the Governor, for on July 29, 1862, we find him writing to Secretary of State Seward: "I have most satisfactory evidence that Edson B. Olds, a former member of Congress, is doing all the mischief he can. He is a shrewd, cunning man, with capacity for great mischief, and should at once be put out of the way. I have, therefore, to advise that you direct Marshal Sands to arrest him and confine him at Fort Warren, at least, until I shall have suc- ceeded in raising my regiments." Dr. Olds was accordingly arrested for disloyalty, preventing enlist- ments and treasonable utterances. Other arrests of prominent Democratic editors soon followed.
The military arrests of 1862 formed a subject for the gravest protests on the part of the Democrats. They claimed that they were arbitrary, cruel and unconstitutional, and an unwarranted and tyrannical exercise of power. They declared that the arrest, by alleged military authority, of citizens "for no other pretended crime than that of uttering words of legit- imate criticism upon the conduct of the Adminis-
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tration in power" was a palpable violation of the Constitution. The answer of Governor Tod was that this exercise of military power was necessary to enable the State authorities to raise its quota of troops; that these men were interfering with the defense of the Government in its struggle for existence, and that consequently their utterances and acts were treason- able. A full examination of these arrests was made by the House of Representatives of the General Assembly which followed, and assembled January 5, 1863. The result of this inquiry was published as the "Report of Select Committee on Military Arrests," and may be found as the Appendix to House Journal for 1863. It is one of the most important and interest- ing State publications of that period. It was made by a special committee of the House of Representatives and covers all the facts connected with these arrests. This committee consisted of William H. West, P. Odlin, Thaddeus A. Reamy and John Bartram.
The report considers in detail the cause and method of the arrests, and in every case they report that they were necessary to the safety of the Government, and that the offending parties were giving aid and comfort to the enemy in the field. The committee, answering the cry of "wholesale arrests," said: "But eleven citizens of the two and one-half millions have been restrained of their liberty, and that for a short time." The testimony taken by the committee shows that during the summer and fall of 1862 the following per- sons were arrested by military authority, viz .: Edson B. Olds of Fairfield county; Peter N. Reitzel and Archibald McGregor of Stark county; Judge L. W.
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Hall and Daniel Tuttle of Crawford county; John W. Kees of Pickaway county; Daniel M. Allen of Colum- biana county; Samuel Flowers and Bethuel Roberts of Champaign county, Warren Stanton of Ashtabula county, and Alexander Wallace of Brown county.
In the summer of 1862 General John H. Morgan, a daring Confederate raider, marched through the interior of Kentucky and made a feint of attacking Cincinnati. The Queen City was unprotected in any way, and for a while the panic-stricken citizens were all convinced of the danger to their city. Public meetings were called, and every preparation was made for defense. Governor Tod sent arms and soldiers, and these with the Cincinnati police force were sent to Lexington, Kentucky, to impede the enemy's advance. But Morgan retired, and the citizens of Cincinnati regained their feeling of safety, only to be aroused from their sense of security later, and to find out in what real danger their city was.
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