History of the city of Columbus, capital of Ohio, Volume II, Part 55

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 55

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The report concludes by saying: "Mr. Campbell was repeatedly cheered during the delivery of this speech. It had a happy effect upon the vast assem- bly." The same report states that Hon. John Sherman, the permanent chairman, on being conducted to the platform, " proceeded to address the convention in a short but glowing and patriotic speech." Today, he said, " thousands of eyes are anxiously turned to Ohio. Let us unite upon the ticket to be here nominated and go before the people upon the great issue tendered us, and the people of the North, by the slaveholders of the South."

The following resolutions were reported from committee by Judge R. P. Spalding :

Resolved, I. That the people, who constitute the supreme power in the United States should guard with jealous care the rights of the several States as independent governments. No encroachment upon their legislative or judicial prerogatives should be permitted from any quarter.

2. That the people of the State of Ohio, mindful of the blessings conferred upon them by the Ordinance of Freedom, whose anniversary our convention this day commemorates, have established for their political gnidance the following rules: 1. We will resist the spread of slavery under whatever shape or color it may be attempted. 2. To this end we will labor assidnously to render inoperative and void that portion of the Kansas and Nebraska hill which abolishes freedom in the territory withdrawn from the influence of slavery by the Missouri Compromise of 1820; and we will oppose by every lawful and con- stitutional means the existence of slavery in any national territory, and the further increase of slave territory or slave States, in this Republican Confederacy.

3. That the recent acts of violence and civil war in Kansas, incited by the late acting Vice President of the United States, and tacitly encouraged by the Executive, demand the emphatic condemnation of every citizen.

4. That a proper retrenchment in all publie expenditures, a thoroughly economical administration of our State Government, and just and equal basis of taxation and single districts for the election of members of the legislature, are reforms called for by a wise state policy and fully demanded by the people.

5. That a State Central Committee, consisting of five, he appointed by this Conven- tion, and that said committee, in addition to its usual duties, be authorized to correspond with committees of other States for the purpose of agreeing upon a time and place for hold. ing a National Convention of the Republican Party for the nomination of President and Viee President.

These resolutions were adopted unanimously. The nominations of the con- vention were as follows: Governor, Salmon P. Chase, Hamilton County : Lieutenant-Governor, Thomas H. Ford, Richland; State Auditor, Francis M. Wright, Champaign ; Secretary of State, James H. Baker, Ross ; State Treasurer, William H. Gibson, Seneca ; Supreme Court Judges, Jacob Brinkerhoff, Richland

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HISTORY OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS.

and Charles C. Convers, Muskingum; Attorney-General, F. D. Kimball, Medina ; Board of Public Works, A. G. Conover, Miami.

From this time forward the new party bore the name of Republican. On July 18, a meeting so designated ratified the nominations of July 13 at the City Hall. The principal speakers on that occasion were H. C. Noble, G. M. Parsons and S. Galloway. William B. Thrall was chairman, and Milton M. Powers, a former Democrat, secretary. On July 19 a meeting of unconsenting Whigs was held at the City Hall; chairman, B. F. Martin ; secretary, M. L. Doherty. The principal speaker was Joseph H. Geiger, who denounced slavery and the Demo- crats but would not support Chase. He was happy to say that the Town Street Church, in which the coalition convention was held was unfinished, and not yet plastered. J. O. Reamey, J. H. Geiger and Benjamin E. Smith, were appointed members of a correspondence committee. Resolutions violently denunciatory of Mr. Chase were reported by Mr. Reamey, and adopted.

A socalled Anti-Chase Mass Convention, composed of Whigs and Know- Nothings, was held at the City Hall August 5. Irad Kelley, of Cuyahoga, was its temporary, and John Davenport, of Belmont, its permanent chairman. The resolutions adopted denounced sectionalism and the repeal of the Missouri Com- promise ; demanded a radical change in the taxation and currency systems of the State, and reaffirmed the principles of the American (Know Nothing) party. Hon. Allen Trimble was nominated for Governor. The convention was addressed by W. and James R. Stanbery, A. Banning Norton and John Davenport. A mass meeting at the City Hall, August 27, ratifying the work of this convention, was addressed by J. H. Geiger and A. Banning Norton.

The term " Black Republican " came into vogue this year as a characteriza- tion of the new party by its antagonists. The Republican County nominations were derisively styled the " Rosetta ticket," the meaning of which term will be understood by reference to the Rosetta Armisted fugitive slave case, an account of which is given in another chapter. Per contra, Messrs. Disney, Olds, Green and Shannon, the four Ohio Democratic Representatives in Congress who sup- ported the Kansas-Nebraska bill, were styled DOGS by their political opponents, the term being an acrostic of the initial letters of the names of these congress- men. Nevertheless, at the conclusion of the canvass, the Ohio State Journal remarked: "We are happy to say that the late election campaign in this county has been conducted with less personal asperity than any other of equal vigor with which we have been connected."

Being successful in the State election of this year, the Republicans held a jubilee over their victory November 14. On this occasion a "grand jubilee supper " was given at the Neil House, and seems to have been of a hilarious character. One of the songs sung was the following :

While speeches fly around the table, Bobbing around, around, around, We'll grind a song out, if we're able, Bobbing around, around : And while the jingling glasses ring, Bobbing around, around, around, For Sam, Know Nothing Sam, we'll sing, Bobbing around, around.

Oh Sam's a funny boy, he goes Bobbing around, around, around, Loves his friends and lams his foes, As he goes bobbing around ; Feathers upon his legs he bears, Bobbing around, around, around,

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POLITICAL EVENTS ; 1854-1860.

And gaffs upon his heels he wears, When he goes bobbing around.

O Sam's a good egg, all Shanghai, Robbing around, around, around ;

His crow's a crow for liberty, When he goes bobbing around, A smart chap, too, he is at figures Bobbing around, around ;

You don't catch him a catching niggers When he goes bobbing around.

The rats o'er yonder in Rat Row, Go bobbing around, around, around, They've got the trembles ; O my O ! How they go bohbing around ! Sam don't like rats, the varmints will Go bobbing around, around, around; Be chased as Chase chased Billy Medill. When he went bobbing around.

Oh, Sam with fusion, not with gammon, Bobbing around, around, around, Went afishing and caught a Salmon, Bobbing around, around ; The Salmon ran and won the race, Bobbing around, around, around, So, hurrah for Salmon P. Chase, Bobbing around, around.

A convention of the colored men of Franklin County was held at Columbus December 28, L. D. Taylor presiding.

1856.

The Democratic State Convention was held in the Theatre January 8, H. J. Jewett presiding. Its nominations were: Supreme Court Judges R. P. Ranney and - Carrington ; Board of Public Works, Wayne Griswold; School Commis- sioner, H. H. Barney. The Democratic National Convention was held at Cincin- nati June 4 and nominated for President James Buchanan ; for Vice President, John C. Breckenridge. The chairman of the Democratic State Central Committee was Samuel Medary ; its secretary, Edward A. King.

The Republican State Convention assembled in the Hall of Representatives May 29, and nominated : Supreme Court Judges, Ozias Bowen, of Marion, and Josiah Scott, of Butler; School Commissioner, Anson Smythe, Franklin ; Board of Public Works, John Waddle, of Ross. David Fisher, of Hamilton County, was chairman of the convention. An evening meeting at the City Hall was addressed by J. H. Lane, on Kansas ontrages; also by Messrs. Chase, Gibson and Spooner.

The National American Council (Convention) met at Philadelphia, February 22, and nominated Millard Fillmore for President and A. J. Donelson for Vice President.

The Republican National Convention, held at Philadelphia June 17, nomi- nated John C. Fremont for President and William L. Dayton for Vice Presi- dent. On the evening of June 19 one hundred guns were fired in Columbus in honor of these nominations, and a mass meeting to ratify them was held " near the Johnson Block." A Young Men's Fremont Club was organized July 16; president, E. N. Barr; secretaries, E. A. Fitch and J. M. Comly. A Wheatland Club (Democratic) held its meetings at the Ambos Hall; president, James H. Smith ; secretary, Joseph P. Santmeyer. The Democrats stigmatized the Republi- can party as "wooly horse;" the Republicans retorted upon the Democrats by

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HISTORY OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS.

calling them " Buchaniers." A colored men's State Convention was held in the City Hall January 16, J. T. Thomas presiding. A Republican meeting, at the corner of Town and High streets August 16, was addressed by Senator Harlan, of Iowa, William Cumback, of Indiana, and Samuel Galloway. The Kansas Aid Society of Columbus, was addressed at the City Hall June 11, by Doctor Wilcox, of Kansas. A committee to procure funds to aid the free state cause, viz: D. W. Deshler, chairman ; A. M. Gangewer, secretary; L. Goodale, W. E. Idc, J. J. Janney, H. B. Carrington, H. C. Noble, W. H. Gibson and W. B. Thrall. A Fill- more meeting held May 27 was addressed by Hon. James Brooks, of New York. The most important Democratic mass meeting of the canvass took place October 2. Numerous decorations were displayed thoughout the city, the princi- pal work of this kind being a large double arch erected at the intersection of High and State streets. Surmounting the arches at their junction was a huge globe, from which waved a flag and streamers. Across High Street were stretched numerous banners bearing mottoes, some of which were the following: The Union ; Distinct as the Wares but One as the Sea-Our Country, One and Indivisible. We will Defend the Constitution - Let the people of each State and Territory Govern themselves - We Maintain the Sovereignty of the People, whether in the States or Terri- tories - We carry the Flag and Keep Step to the Music of the Union - By the Eternal, the Union must and shall be preserved -No North, no South, no East, no West ; one Country, one People, one Union. In the procession, which was extensive, were num- erous " floats" one of which contained thirtyone German misses, representing the the States, and bore the motto : Germans by birth, Americans by choice, Democrats by principle. A " Buck and Breck Battalion " of young men was another conspicuous feature of the parade. The day was a lovely one and the attendance very large. The Ohio Statesman cxultantly said it was the " most glorious political day ever seen in Columbus . . . So long a procession was never seen at the Capital of Ohio." The speaking took place at Goodale Park, the principal addresses being delivered by Judge A. G. Thurman, Jacob Reinhard, H. J. Jewett, R. B. Warden and S. S. Cox. In the evening a torchlight procession took place ; also a street meet- ing in front of the American House. A German Meeting was held at the City Hall.

Fillmore mass meetings took place in Columbus September 10, day and even- ing. The leading speakers were Judge Sutton, of Arkansas, J. Scott, Harrison, Frank Chambers and J. Davenport. The following nominations for State officers were made: Supreme Court Judges, S. Brush, of Franklin, and Daniel Peck, of Belmont; School Commissioner, D. W. Stevens, Clermont; Attorney General, J. M. Bushnell, Guernsey ; Board of Public Works, William Oldfield, Scioto. The Republicans held their principal meeting of the canvass September 18. An exten- sive parade took place, and a banner was presented to Sharon Township for the largest delegation. The flag was received by Miss Alvira Dixon from the hands of Doctor Barr. The principal speakers of the day were Caleb B. Smith, Judge Humphrey, Judge Stallo and S. Galloway. On September 30 a joint political debate took place between J. O. Reamey and H. C. Noble, in front of the Ameri- can House. About 500 persons were present. The weather was inclement.

1857.

The usual Democratic festival was held January 8, C. L. Vallandigham presid . ing. The banquet was spread at the American House. Chief among the speakers were Charles Sweetser, J. J. McDowell, William Lawrence, S. S. Cox, A. G. Thur- man, C. Follett and Stanley Matthews.

THE CRYSTAL ICE MANFG & COLD STORAGE CO.

GOLD STOIDE

PHOTOGRAPHED BY BAKER.

The Crystal Ice Manufacturing & Cold Storage Co., West Broad Street, built in 1891.

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POLITICAL EVENTS ; 1854-1860.

The Democratic nominations for State officers this year were: Governor, Henry B. Payne ; Lieutenant-Governor, William H. Lytle; Supreme Court Judge, Henry C. Whitman ; Secretary of State, Jacob Reinhard, Board of Public Works, Abner L. Backus.

During a debate in the General Assembly on January 14, Representative John P. Slough, of Hamilton County, struck Darius Caldwell, Representative from Ashtabula County, with his fist. Slough was expelled for this act January 29, whereupon an indignation meeting of his partisans was held January 30, at the City Hall. At this meeting Thomas Sparrow presided, and resolutions severely condemning Slough's expulsion were adopted. The expelled member was renom- inated as his own successor by his party, and in the special election which followed claimed a majority of three over his Republican competitor, Robert Hosea, but Hosea was seated.

The Breslin-Gibson Treasury defalcation profoundly affected the State and loeal polities of this year. The events of local interest to which it gave rise have been narrated in another chapter. The famous Dred Scott slave case was decided by the National Supreme Court March 7.

The Republican State Convention was held at the Theatre, Angust 12. Wil- liam Dennison was its temporary and Caleb B. Smith its permanent chairman. Its nominations were : For Governor, Salmon P. Chase; Lieutenant-Governor, Addison P. Russell; Treasurer, Alfred P. Stone; Supreme Court Judge, Milton Sutliff; Board of Public Works, Jacob Blickensderfer, Junior. The convention was addressed by S. P. Chase and B. F. Wade.

1858.

The beginning of a schism disastrous to the Demoeratic party, and of portent- ous consequences in National affairs, was signalized by a large meeting of the Anti-Lecompton, or Douglas Democracy, held March 10, afternoon and evening. George W. Manypenny presided ; Frederick Fieser. of the Westbote, was one of the secretaries. Stanley Matthews and Frederick P. Stanton? were the principal speakers. Letters from Henry A. Wise, of Virginia, Senator David C. Broderick, of California, and Robert J. Walker, late Governor of Kansas, were read to the meeting. The attendance was large.

To break the force of this demonstration a meeting of the Buchanan Democ- racy was held at the Concert HIall March 12. Speeches were made by William A. Neil, S. Medary and Sterne Chittenden. S. S. Cox, representing the Columbus district in Congress, wrote at this time that those who undertook to read ont of the party the Western Democrats who were opposed to the Lecompton measure " might as well try to read the hickories out of the western woods."

The Republican State Convention was held at the Concert Hall July 13, J. M. Ashley temporarily and Samuel Craighead permanently presiding. Nominations: Supreme Court Judge, William V. Peck, Scioto ; Comptroller, William B. Thrall, Franklin ; Attorney-General, Christopher P. Wolcott, Summit; Board of Publie Works, John L. Martin, Butler.

The Democratic State Convention met at the Theatre July 29, T. J. S. Smith, of Montgomery County, presiding, and nominated : Supreme Court Judge, T. W. Bartley, Richland ; Comptroller, S. W. Gibson, Mahoning; Attorney-General, Durbin Ward; Board of Public Works, R. H. Hendrickson, Butler.

1859.

A Democratic festival was held at the American House January 8. Among those who responded to toasts were Allen G. Thurman, Durbin Ward and Wayne

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HISTORY OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS.

Griswold. The Democratic State Convention was held May 27, at Armory Hall ; temporary chairman, William B. Woods ; permanent, Barnabas Burns. Nomina- tions : Governor, R. P. Ranney, Cuyahoga; Lieutenant-Governor, William H. Safford, Ross; Supreme Court Judge, Henry C. Whitman, Fairfield ; Auditor, G. Volney Dorsey, Miami; Treasurer, William Bushnell, Richland ; Secretary of State, Jacob Reinhard, Franklin; Board of Public Works, James Tomlinson, Washington ; School Commissioner, Charles N. Allen, Harrison.

Republican State Convention, Armory Hall, June 2; temporary chairman, Benjamin Eggleston : permanent, B. F. Wade. Nominations: Governor, William Dennison, Franklin: Lientenant Governor, Robert C. Kirk, Knox; Auditor, Robert W. Taylor, Mahoning; Secretary of State, Addison P. Russell Clinton ; Treasurer, Alfred P. Stone, Franklin ; Supreme Court Judge, William Y. Gholson, Hamilton ; Board of Publie Works, John B. Gregory, Scioto; School Commis- sioner, Anson Smythe, Franklin. The convention was addressed by Henry S. Lane, of Indiana, and Benjamin F. Wade.

Hon. Stephen A. Douglas addressed a large Democratic meeting on the East Terrace of the Capitol September 7. This was the first public meeting held on the terrace and was spoken of as " the inauguration of that convenient place for pub- lic assemblies." A platform for the speaking was built on the outer edge of the terrace, facing toward the building, and was canopied with brown sheeting. This arrangement proved to be a very bad one, the acoustie effect being such that Mr. Douglas could be heard only a few feet from the platform.

Abraham Lincoln spoke from the Terrace September 16, but faced from the building instead of towards it. He was announced as " Hon. Abraham C. Lincoln, of Illinois," and came to Columbus under the auspices of the Young Men's Republi- can Club. This was his first speech in Ohio. He was introduced to a large audi- ence by Hon. George M. Parsons. A political discussion between opposing candi- dates for the office of Governor took place on the East Terrace October 4.

The John Brown raid on Harper's Ferry was announced October 17. On December 2, the day of Brown's execution, a meeting of the colored people was held at the Second Baptist Church, James Poindexter presiding. Resolutions extolling Brown and justifying his efforts to liberate the slaves were adopted. A State Christian Anti-Slavery Convention was held at the First Congregational Church August 10-11, its delegates consisting mostly of clergymen. Resolutions were passed denouncing the fugitive slave law, and, in effect, declaring it void of obligation. The State Journal stigmatized the convention as a "farce of the preachers." Twentyone liberated slaves, manumitted by the will of Peterson Bur- net, of Mecklenberg County, Virginia, arrived by canal packet in August. They were forwarded to Ifardin County, where lands for their use had been purchased. A letter written by various interested persons in Columbus to Mr. Lincoln, request- ing, for publication, copies of his speeches delivered in debate with Senator Doug- las, elicited the following reply :

SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, December 19, 1859.

Gentlemen : With greatful acknowledgments . .. I transmit you the copies. The copies I send you are as reported and printed by the respective friends of Senator Douglas and myself, at the time - that is, his by his friends, and mine by mine. It would be an unwarrantable liberty for us to change a word or a letter in his, and the changes I have made in mine, you perceive, are verbal only, and very few in number. I wish the reprint to be precisely as the copies I send, without any comment whatever.

Yours very truly, A. LINCOLN.

427

POLITICAL EVENTS ; 1854-1860.

1860.

On January 26, of this year, the legislatures of Tennessee and Kentucky visited the capital of Ohio, on invitation of the General Assembly, as guests of the State. The invitation was extended at a time of critical relations between the North and South, and was meant as an expression of good will. The legislative bodies arrived at Columbus by special train from Cincinnati about four P. M., and were accompanied by the Governor and other State offieers of Indiana. Four military companies - the Miami Light Guard, the Montgomery Guards and the German Jägers, from Dayton, and the Light Guards from Springfield - arrived simultaneously, and were received by the Fencibles, Vedettes, Montgomery Guards and Artillery, of Columbus. The troops, in column by companies, marebed as an escort to the legislators from the railway station up High Street to the Capitol, where the guests of the State and city were received by the General Assembly in the Hall of Representatives. The visitors were welcomed on behalf of the State by Governor Dennison, who spoke as follows :

Friends of Kentucky, Tennessee, and Indiana : On behalf of the people of Ohio, speak- ing through their General Assembly, I receive you at this their capital. I greet you as rep- resentatives of sovereign States; I salute you as brethren of the great Valley of the Missis- sippi, the centre and the citadel of the national confederacy. I greet you as fellow citizens of the Union so dear to us all, the source of whatever makes us most proud of our country, and the preservation of which for the equal and common benefit of all the States is alike the highest and most grateful duty of the American citizen. By all these honorable titles you are heartily welcomed here today.

Response was made by Governor Magoffin, of Kentucky, and Lieutenant- Governor Newman of Tennessee. The General Assembly then adjourned and the speaking continued for some time, informally. In the evening the guests were banqueted at the hotels. At these banquets table addresses were spoken, in response to toasts, by Senators J. W. Fisk and L. W. Andrews of Kentucky ; by Honorables John W. Crockett and Curtis F. Burnham of the same State ; by Speaker Whitthorne and Hon. Jordan Stokes, of Tennessee; and by Judge T. M. Key, Ex-Governor Chase and Speaker R. C. Parsons, of Ohio. Quitting Columbus at nine A. M., January 27, the legislative party returned by rail to Cincinnati where the party was greeted with artillery salutes and was banqueted at the Burnet House.

1860.

A Republican State Convention was held at Columbus March 1, James T. Worthington presiding. Thomas Spooner, Jacob Muller, C. Brodbeek and V. B. Horton were appointed delegates-at-large to the National Convention. The dele- gates were instructed, by a vote of 375 to 73, to vote for S. P. Chase for Presi- dent.

The Democratie National Convention assembled at Charleston April 23, and after adoption of a platform as to slavery which was unsatisfactory to the Southern delegates, the latter withdrew, and on May 3 the convention adjourned to reassemble at Baltimore June 18. At the adjourned meeting thus provided for, Stephen A. Douglas, of Illinois, was nominated for President, and Benjamin Fitzpatrick, of Alabama, for Vice President. Herschel V. Johnson, of Georgia, was subsequently substituted, by the National Committee, for Mr. Fitzpatrick, who declined. The bolting delegates, immediately after their withdrawal at Charleston, adopted a slavery-extension platform and ealled a convention to be

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HISTORY OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS.

held at Richmond June 11. This convention finally met at Baltimore June 23, readopted the platform of the Charleston seceders and nominated John C. Breck- enridge of Kentucky, for President, and Joseph Lane, of Oregon, for Vice President.

The "Constitutional Union " party, consisting for the most part, of a residuum of Know Nothings, held its National Convention at Baltimore, May 9, and nominated John Bell of Tennessee, for President, and Edward Everett, of Massa chusetts, for Vice President.

The Republican National Convention, sitting at Chicago May 16, nominated Abraham Lincoln for President, and Hannibal Hamlin for Vice President. On receiving the news of these nominations at three P. M., May 18, the Republicans of Columbus caused 100 guns to be fired on the Capitol Square. In the evening bonfires were lit in the streets and fireworks were displayed, A Republican mass meeting to ratify the nominations was held at the West Front during the evening of May 21. Speeches were made by R. P. L. Baber and Ex-Governor Chase, and songs were sung by the Lincoln Glee Club. The organization of " Wide Awake" companies in the interest of Lincoln and Hamlin began soon after this meeting. The officers of the first of these companies, chosen at a meeting held at the City Hall, May 30, were : Commandant, William L McMillen ; Assistant Commandants, James N. Noble and Edward Fitch; Secretary, Dwight Bannister ; Treasurer, Charles T. Wing. The Central Lincoln Club was organized at a mass meeting held in front of the Capitol June 1; President, R. W. Taylor ; Treasurer, Luther Donaldson ; Secretaries, James M. Comly and Hermann Reuss. The theatre building, on State Street, was leased for the use of Republican clubs and commit- tees during the campaign.

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History of the city of Columbus, capital of Ohio, Volume II, Part 55

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