History of the city of Columbus, capital of Ohio, Volume II, Part 49

Author: Lee, Alfred Emory, 1838-; W. W. Munsell & Co
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: New York and Chicago : Munsell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1196

USA > Ohio > Franklin County > Columbus > History of the city of Columbus, capital of Ohio, Volume II > Part 49

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374

HISTORY OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS.

impertinence and dandyism-the sound of the spinning wheel to the charms of the lute -but O ? - if they don't may they never be married.

The celebration in 1842 is thus referred to in the Gazette of July 11 :

The citizens of this town Celebrating the Anniversary of the American Independence met about 12 o'clock at the place appointed (the acting Governor of Ohio being present on the occasion) formed procession and marched to the Presbyterian meetinghouse, when the services of the day were opened by a suitable address to the throne of grace from the Rev- erend Mr. Bigelow. A very interesting discourse was then delivered by the Rev. J. Hoge, and several pieces of music prepared for the occasion, performed by the Handel Society. After which the exercises were closed by prayer from the Rev. Mr. Burton, the procession again formed and marched to the Courthouse and partook of a very excellent dinner.

Mr. Hoge's address here referred to contained strong antislavery sentiments. Twentyfour " regular" and eleven " volunteer " toasts were drunk; among the regular ones were these :

Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and Charles Carroll. The only surviving signers of that Instrument which will immortalize their names.

The State of Ohio -- The Fourth in the Union, may she be worthy of the high station to which her rank entitles her.

The town of Columbus - May the enterprise, industry and morality of its citizens make it worthy to become the great metropolis of a great State.

One of the volunteer toasts was this :

Commodore O. H. Perry - He has erected for himself and his compatriots a monument of fame which shall endure till Erie's waves shall cease to roll and "Time blots out the Sun."

Of the observance of the independence anniversary in 1826 the Ohio State Journal of July 6 narrates :

This day was celebrated in this town with much hilarity and withal decorum. At 12 o'clock the citizens of Columbus and neighborhood to the number of ahont 300, followed by 24 revolutionary soldiers formed a procession and proceeded to a beautiful grove in the skirts of the town. After an impressive prayer, the Declaration of Independence was read and an ap- propriate Ode (composed for the occasion) was sung, a brief address was delivered - another appropriate Ode (also composed for the occasion) was sung, and the exercises closed by prayer. After which the assembly sat down to an excellent dinner. [Thirteen toasts were drunk.] About three o'clock the citizens formed a procession and returned to town, and after cheering the revolutionary soldiers as they passed through the open rank, dispersed.

Of the celebration in 1827 the Ohio State Journal of July 12 gave this account :

This ever memorable day [July 4] was celebrated in this town with more than usual splendor. At the dawn of day a national salute was fired. About 12 o'clock a procession was formed by the marshals of the day, General J. Warner and Captain Joseph M'Elvain, con- sisting of the military, citizens and Revolutionary soldiers, on the green in front of the Academy. The procession moved up Rich Street to High Street, and up High Street to the State House. The assembly being seated, the Rev. J. Hoge made an appropriate and elo- quent prayer. Samuel Bigger read the Declaration of Independence, and Samuel C. Andrews delivered the following oration :

The excellent manner in which the choristers performed the odes added not a little to the pleasing ceremonies of the day. At the request of the revolutionary soldiers " Yankee Doodle " was played by the band which seemed to light up their countenances by bringing to their recollection time long gone by. After the ceremonies at the State House, the company repaired to a grove at the North end of the Town3 where they partook of an excellent dinner

375

POLITICAL EVENTS ; 1797-1840.

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.

Olio - 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, con- sisting of the clergy, the orator of the day, and the reader of the Declaration of Independence, sundry grayheaded Revolutionary patriots and a number of citi- zens, preceded by a good band of music, was formed at Mr. Heyl's Hotel and pro- ceeded 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 Declara- tion 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 Rev. 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 sumptu- ous dinner provided by John Young - General Jeremiah M'Lene presiding, assisted by Robert W. MeCoy, Esq., and Colonel William Minor."

Among the mentionable politieal 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 Lueas Sulli- vant 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 wben 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 Rug- gles 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 ani- madversions east 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 con- form 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 observa - tions 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 :

GKEYE

BUssy

.....

BUCKEVE-BUGGY . COMPANY

BUCKEYE BUGGY CO.

BUCKEYE BUGCY, CO

BUCKEYE SUCCY CO

-I

MAUC-HLIN

THE BUCKEYE BUGGY CO.

377

POLITICAL EVENTS ; 1797-1840.

The dislike of " caucuses " is so violent in this section as almost to verge upon ahhor- rence. 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 pre- sented 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 obsequions candidate.

In the Freeman's Chronicle of January 21, 1814, appeared the following adver- tisement :

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, abont 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, Ken- tucky, 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 nerv- ous and active ; of brown mulatto color ; has two remarkable scars, one on his back just below one of bis 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 liv- ing near Huntsville, Ala., a Negro man slave named Bob . . . The said Bob is an artful sen- sible 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 elass 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 seetion 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 pur- chaser a certificate thereof and deliver over the prisoner to him; from which time the rela- tion between such purchaser and the prisoner shall be that of master and servant, until the term of service expires.5

378

HISTORY OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS.

Twelve of the thirtytwo 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 settle- ment 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 reso. Intion 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 Com- missioners, in compliance with instructions, therefore suggest to the General Assembly of Ohio " the passage of an act to prevent evil disposed persons resid- ing 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 provid- ing more efficient and certain means of recapturing and bringing away abscond- ing slaves by their masters, or legally authorized agents.

On January 8, 1822, the anniversary of the battle of New Orleans was form - ally observed, probably for the first time. The Gazette of June 10, 1822, con- tained 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 coun- cils 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.

379

POLITICAL EVENTS; 1797-1840.

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. Cannons have been firing ever since daylight. A magnificent State Convention is now sitting at the Theatre. . . A hickory pele was planted at the southwest angle of the State House last evening. The military of our city are all ont with drums and fifes.

A banquet was held, on this occasion, at the American IIouse, Samuel Spang- ler, of Fairfield, presiding. Table addresses were delivered by Governor Shannon, Hon. Thomas L. Ilamer, 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. Waleutt, 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 direc- tien of William Armstrong and Robert Riordan, marshals of the day, which extended from State Street te 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 din- ner 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 can- didate for the Presidency, arrived at Columbus and alighted at Armstrong's Tav- ern, 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 Messrs. Alfred Kelley, J. B. 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 men- tion 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. Pres- idential 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. M. Walcutt, John Cutler, M. R. Spurgeon, William Armstrong and Robert Pollock were named as members of a committee on resolutions. The meet- ing 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 Thomp- son 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 beld 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; Com- mittee of Correspondence, John G. Miller, Dwight Woodbury, N. M. Miller, P. C. Gallagher, M. 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 Magistraey, upon which he administered the Government while in office, to be the true principles of the Federal Com- pact, and those only which can insure the continnance 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 arrange- ments 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. Harrisou to the Presidency was held in Columbus. S. G. Flenni- ken 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. Flenni- ken was appointed president and Smithson E. Wright secretary. Francis Stewart,

381

POLITICAL EVENTS ; 1797-1840.

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 Colnm- bus, 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 B. 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.

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History of the city of Columbus, capital of Ohio, Volume II, Part 49

Author: Lee, Alfred Emory, 1838-; W. W. Munsell & Co Publication date: 1892 Publisher: New York and Chicago : Munsell & Co. Number of Pages: 1196

Author: Lee, Alfred Emory, 1838-; W. W. Munsell & Co
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: New York and Chicago : Munsell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1196