History of the city of Toledo and Lucas County, Ohio, Part 62

Author: Waggoner, Clark, 1820-1903
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: New York and Toledo : Munsell & Company
Number of Pages: 1408


USA > Ohio > Lucas County > Toledo > History of the city of Toledo and Lucas County, Ohio > Part 62


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


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and that the proceeds from their sale should go to the States, accordingly. This policy never was adopted, although in June, 1836, the sur- plus revenue in the National treasury, was dis- tributed to the States. Ere long, as the result of the financial policy adopted, the excessive issue of paper money by State Banks, and the spirit of speculation stimulated, the business of the country became demoralized, the cur- reney vicious and general panic and depression ensued. This state of things was greatly pro- moted by the "Specie Circular " of 1836, by which paper money of all sorts was forbidden in the sale of publie lands. The effect of this sudden change of policy was especially severe at the West, where it caused general financial depression and distress. Under such state of things it was, that President Van Buren came into office March 4, 1837. The policy of the preceding Administration, which the new President had approved, was specially ob- jectionable at the West, where its financial effeets were most keenly felt. Many Demo- crats in that section joined the Whigs in their opposition. As the residuary legatee of the Jackson Administration, Mr. Van Buren was called to assume such responsibility, with little of the personal prestige which had so largely contributed to the strength and success of his "illustrious predecessor."


Political lines in Lucas County from the time of its ereation until 1840, were not very clearly defined, although the Whig and Democratie organizations were both maintained. Up to that time, as on many occasions thereafter, there were found to be a plenty of causes of a local nature for division at elections. The conflicting interests of the rival Towns of To- ledo, Manhattan and Maumee City, with the additional eontest for the County-seat, furnished ample sources of disputes, without the aid of National issnes.


1837.


The first election in Toledo under its charter was held in the Spring of 1837, when the issue, " Upper Town" (late Port Lawrence) vs. " Lower Town " (late Vistula), was the main issue. The result was a victory for the latter, so far as the Mayor was concerned.


The first record found of a politieal organi- zation in the County, is that of a Whig meet- ing held in Toledo, July 28, 1837, of which General Andrew White, of Sylvania, was Chair- man, and George B. Way, of Toledo, Secretary.


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POLITICAL PARTIES AND ELECTIONS.


The following delegates to the Whig State Con- vention, were chosen : George B. Way, Wm. P. Daniels, Levi S. Lowusbury, Abram Jessup, Wm. Martin, Platt Card, Oscar White, Samuel M Young, and Welcome Pray. As County Central Committee-James M. Whitney, S. M. Young, A. P. Tuttle, Pierre M. Irving and George B. Way. But even so modest a move- ment by the Whigs, could not take place, with- out an ontcropping of the irrepressible County- seat question. Thus, the Blade (the Toledo Whig paper), under date of Angust 224, had this:


We are informed that emissaries from Maumee have been visiting every cabin in the Western part of the County, with the view of stirring up disaffec- tion and exciting prejudice against the continuance of the seat of justice at Toledo.


The Democrats held their County Conven- tion in Manmee City, September 16, 1837, of which John Van Fleet was Chairman, and E. Lathrop, Secretary. Samuel Barrett was nom- inated for Commissioner, H. Hf. Smith for Aud- itor, H. K. Steele for Recorder, Samuel Scaring for Assessor, Sanford L. Collins for Treasurer, Jolin Fitch for Prosecuting Attorney, D. f'ole for Coroner, D. S. Westcott for Surveyor. For Sheriff, the Democrats supported Benj. D. Cof- fin, " Independent." This was largely " Man- inee " in appearance.


The Whig nominating Convention was held September 25, of which S. W. Allen was Chair- man, and G. H. Rich Secretary. The follow- ing nominations were made : For Sheriff, Cor- nelius G. Shaw ; Auditor, Levi S. Lownsbury; Prosecuting Attorney, John Fitch , Commis- sioner, Eli Hubbard ; Coroner, Sylvester Corn- well ; Surveyor, William Martin ; Treasurer, S. L. Collins. This looks like a "Toledo ticket."


The result of the election in the County in 1837 was as follows : Senator-John Patterson (Whig), 500 votes; Curtis Bates (Democrat), 420. Representative-G. W. Crawford ( Whig), 500; Parlee Carlin (Democrat), 415. The Whigs elected their entire County ticket, ex- cept Coroner.


At the annual City election, March 5, 1838, the following officers were chosen : Mayor- Jolın Berdan (re-elected); Treasurer-Samuel B. Scott; Marshal-Calvin Comstock ; Ahler- men : First Ward-Junins Flagg, Daniel Se- gur, Leander Hill; Second Ward-Emery D. Potter, Elijah Potter, ". E. Brintnall ; Third Ward-S. B. Comstock. M. H. Daniels, Caleb F. Abbott. James M. Whitney was elected Justice of the Peace, and Township Treasurer; and Luke Draper and James L. Chase, Over- seers of the Poor.


1838.


The Whigs held a County Convention at To- ledo, May 1, 1838, of which Judge Jonathan H. Jerome was made the President and Richard


Cooke, the Secretary. The main business con- sisted in passing resolutions and appointing delegates to the Whig State Convention, May 31st. From the list of delegates appointed (60 in number) it would seem that the Lucas Coun- ty Whigs took a very deep interest in the ar- tion of the State Convention. Their names were as follows :


B. F. Stickney, P. M. Irving, It. D. Mason, Joseph R. Williams, Sanford L. Collins, W. F. Dewey, Platt C'ard, A. T. Tuttle, Win. Martin, M. H. Daniels, W. M. Richardson, C. E. Brintnall. Dan. Segur, Fred. Bissell, John Berdan, Homan Walbridge, Eli Hlub- bard, Henry Phillips, S. W. Allen, John R. Osborn, Richard Mott, Junius Flagg, Edson Allen, Richard Cooke, G. B. Way, James M. Whitney, William P. Daniels, Charles W. Hill, S. M. Young, H. L. Hosmer, John Pray, Oscar White, Jessup W. Scott, G. B. Abell, J. J. Brigham. R. A. Forsyth, George S. Hos- mer, Henry Reed, Jr., J. A. Forsyth, James Wolcott, Samuel Eddy, Josiah Baker, B. P. Peckham, C. I. Keeler, Jr., Myron HI. Tilden, Elkanal Briggs, L. S. Lownsbury, Charles M. Dorr, S. Cornwell. James Wilkison, Samuel Barrett, W. J. Daniels, William Kingsbury, Horatio Conant. John Allen, Elisha Mack, G. P. Knaggs, Wiley Hamilton and J. Austin Scott.


The Convention declared Daniel Webster to be its choice as a candidate for President, naming Henry Clay as an acceptable substituto. The result of the October election in the County ( 1838) was as follows, (those marked thus * being Whigs, and those marked thus t being Democrats ;: Governor- Vance,* 753 ; Shannon, + 466. State Senator Hollister,* 741; Bates,t 465. Congress-Goode,* 757; Sawyer,f 1GG. Repre- sentative-Taylor,* 751 : Carlin, + 473 (both residing in Hancock County). Commissioner- Bartlett,* 401; VanFleet, 1 811. Assessor-Fisher,* 740: Dodd, + 169. Recorder-Flagg, 657 ; Rathbun, + 136; Nichols, 119. Toledo cast 457 votes, and Maumee City 257-there being about 100 Whig majority in each Town.


A Whig mass meeting was held in Toledo. August 27, 1838, with IL. D. Mason as t'hair- man, and A. T. Tuttle as Secretary. Speeches were made and resolutions adopted. when the following named delegates to a Young Men's State Convention at Mt. Vernon, were ap- pointed : John R. Osborn, C. E. Brintnall, Daniel MeBain, Two Stickney, A. W. Fair- banks, S. M. Young, Henry Reed. Jr., II. L. Ilosmer, D. F. Cook. W. R. Hoyt, S. L. Collins, C. F. Abbott, C. W. Hill, W. N. Richardson, A. T. Tuttle, L. S. Lownsbury, P. B. Peckham, Dan. Segur, Chester Walbridge, John Mack, A. Jessnp, Elijah Mack, Thomas Richardson, Thomas Clark, Wm. Martin, F. Lyon, E. E. Evans, C. B. West, Elkanah Briggs, Platt Card, Pliny Lathrop, George B. Way, C'. G. Mc- Knight, W. J. McNamee, E. Roys, C. M. Dorr, W. J. Daniels.


The Whigs held their County Convention July 11,1837, of which Richard Cooke was Presi- dent, and S. M. Young, Secretary. Pierre MI. Irving, S. M. Young, G. B. Way, William 1. Daniels and A. T. Tuttle were appointed as the Central Committee. John Hollister of Perrysburg was the Whig candidate for State Senator.


HISTORY OF TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY.


1839.


The result of the election of October 8, 1839, was the choice of General John E. Hunt (Dem- ocrat) for Senator; Moses McNelly (Democrat) for Representative ; David Hobart (Democrat) for County Commissioner; C. G. Shaw (Whig) for Sheriff; John H. Pease (Democrat) for Treasurer ; L. S. Lownsbury for Auditor ; D. Garlick for Coroner; C. F. Abbott for Prose- enting Attorney. The majority against a re- view of the County-seat question, with refer- ence to re-location, was 50-whereat Toledo was pleased, and Manmee City was not.


The Whig Legislative Convention for the Counties of Lucas, Wood, Henry, Williams, Paulding, Allen and Hancock, for 1839, was held at Findlay, August 29th, with John Pat- terson, of Hancock, as President, and II. L. Hosmer, of Wood, and Henry Reed, Jr., of Lu- cas, as Secretaries. Col. John Taylor, of Shelby, was nominated for Senator, and William Tay- lor, of Hancock (father of Milton Taylor, now of Toledo), for Representative.


1840.


The cumulating embarrassments of the Dem- ocratie Administration, together with the ae- ceptable nomination of General Harrison for President by the Whig National Convention in December, 1839, enabled the Whigs of the country, and especially of the West, to start their campaign of 1840, with a zest and a hope entirely new to them. After unbroken sub- jection of 12 years to Democratic rule, they were in good condition of mind to hail even the faintest white on the lining of the cloud which had so long enshrouded them. The con- ditions could hardly have been more favorable to them. Mr. Van Buren, the incumbent and Democratic candidate for re-election as Presi- dent, was loaded down with the aecumulated errors and misfortunes of three Administra- tions, from which there was no escape; and especially had he to carry the severe financial depression which for three years had subjected the country to an experience unknown to that generation. On the other hand, the Whigs were not only free of such load, but had a can- didate combining the precise elements essential to the most enthusiastic campaign. Identified with the West from the very beginning of its settlement, and particularly with the military events of the War of 1812-15 and of the Indian Wars from 1790, he was well calculated to en- list a strong personal sympathy in his support; while he was fortunate in having escaped the personal antagonisms common to men long prominently active in public life. To all these advantages, the Democratie leaders were indis- creet enough to add an attempt to belittle General Harrison's candidacy through sneers at his alleged unfitness for the office, his pov-


erty and his humble position, and by attempts to depreciate his military record. All these, skillfully employed by his friends, contributed to give him a hold upon the public sympathy, which otherwise he could not have secured. The simple blunder of an attempt to deny him eredit for the management of the battle of Tip- pecanoe, in Indiana, in 1811, only made the more popular the title (" Old Tippecanoe ") which his friends at once gave to him, and which was an effective rallying-ery throughout the campaign, which in wildness of enthusi- asm, in personal effort, and in sacrifice of time, as in the number and extent of public dem- onstrations, was then, as it is now, and as it must continue to be, without parallel in the country. Probably no one thing was made to contribute more to the enthusiasm of the Whigs, than did the appearance in the Baltimore Re- publican (a Democratic paper) of this unfortu- nate reference to General Harrison :


Give him a Barrel of Hard Cider, and settle a pen- sion of $2,000 a year on him, and, our word upon it, he will sit the remainder of his days in a Log Cabin.


This simple paragraph, it was, that suggested to the Whigs the key-note, which at once was taken up and most effectively employed throughout that contest. From this ill-timed sneer at Harrison's poverty, sprang all the " Log Cabins " and "Hard Cider " of that his- toric campaign. Throughout the country, the " Log Cabin " came to be the emblem and sign of the Whigs, as it was extensively made the local headquarters of that party. Log Cabins were constructed in most Cities and Towns, with such provision of accommodations and or- namentation as best carried out the pioneer idea. Toledo was not withont such a structure. Following is a reproduction of the cut nsed in the Blade as the Whig insignia during that campaign :


HARRISON


TYLER.


A WHIG LOG CABIN OF 1840.


The first conspienous demonstration of the campaign in the country, was the Ohio Whig Mass Convention of February 21-22. As the first clear manifestation of the real state of the


......


POLITICAL PARTIES AND ELECTIONS.


popular heart, it was both a surprise and a stimulus to the many similar, but few equal, occasions which followed. Local gatherings throughout the State, unprecedent of their kind, had raised high expectations as to both numbers and enthusiasm of the coming assem- blage, but the imagination of the most sangnine fell largely below the reality. Then, the rain, which was continuons for some days previous to the appointed gathering, causing a complete " break up" of the roads and a depth of mnud to be reached only after an annual " thaw " had made travel as nigh to impossible as such con- dition could produce. And it will be here borne in mind, that at that time there was not in all the State a Railroad of sufficient length to be available to a single passenger on that occasion. Private conveyance-chiefly by farm wagons, supplemented to some extent by teams more or less immense in size-with what little the few stage lines could do, constituted the entire means of transportation. With this fact, and the weather and state of the roads in mind, the reader may form some slight idea of what was involved in such a demonstration ; it being also remembered, that some of the dele- gates had before them not less than 400 miles of that sort of travel, requiring for the trip not less than two weeks of time; with the further incident, that they were liable, as many were called to realize, to be compelled to find lodg- ings in barns and in the wagons in which they rode-their food, the meantime, consisting of the ample " Inneh " supplied by the ready zeal of wives, mothers and sisters. There were present on the occasion not less than 20,000 people, representing every County in the State.


No record has ever given adequate idea of that event, and in here referring to it, depend- ence is made on the imperfect reports at hand, supplemented by the memory of the writer, which could hardly be more vivid than it is of what he saw, heard and was part. He made the trip in the stages of Neil, Moore & Co., from Lower Sandusky (Fremont); the fare for the round trip, $5.00, or half regular rate. The down passage involved some 40 hours of con- tinuous travel, but was so much more rapid than the average, that many delegations and cavalcades were passed on the way. Among these was the extraordinary contribution of the Maumee Valley, Fort Meigs constructed in miniature, chiefly by the Whigs of Perrys- burg, under the superintendence of Rev. Joseph Badger and John C. Spink -the former hav- ing been a Chaplain in General Harrison's army and a Missionary in this region, and the latter a leading lawyer at Perrysburg. The miniature was Fort Meigs in all its parts, and complete as the original existed when so hero- ically and successfully defended by General Harrison and his command in May, 1813. All this was displayed on an ample platform, rest- ing on four ponderous wheels drawn by six or


eight horses, and wide enough to occupy the entiro width of the average roadway. The movement of such a load must at best be difficult and slow, and was made almost impos- sible by the terrible state of the roads and the heavy rain. This unique structure, with the immense cavalcade attendant, reached Column- bus about 11 A. M. on the first day of the Con- vention, in the midst of the protracted rain, its appearance being hailed with surprise and enthusiasm on every hand.


The arrival of Fort Meigs was preceded and followed by a variety and extent of demonstra- tions too great for detail here. Among these were 600 horsemen from Franklin County. A delegation of 1,100, with bauds and banners, came from Ross County. A train of many hundreds from Clark County, was led by a veritable Log Cabin on wheels, its sides orna- mented with coon-skins, and on its roof " Charley " Anthony, then Senator from that County, and subsequently United States Dis- triet Attorney, whose best energies were de- voted to munching "hoc-cake," the staple bread of the pioneers. From Cleveland came a splendid Brig, admirably equipped and large enough to accommodate a crew in its rigging. Licking County sent a Steamboat, fully rigged with wheels, pipes, etc., and drawn by four horses, with a banner inscribed, " The Farmer of North Bend." Upon the front of the National Hotel was a painting, representing General Proctor (the British commander), de- manding of General Harrison the surrender of Fort Meigs, with Harrison's memorable reply, " Tell General Proctor, if he takes the fort, he will take it in a manner which will do him more honor than would a thousand surren- ders." A Canoe on wheels was drawn by eight white horses, driven by the veteran stage proprietor, William Neil, of Columbus, the stern of the Canoe containing a Buckeye tree in full leaf -- the leaves being the handiwork of Whig ladies of Columbus. This was followed by several hundred Franklin County Whigs on foot. From Ross County came a double Log- Cabin, with " Old Tip " between, drawing cider from a barrel. The Crawford County delega- tion marched under a banner with a living bald eagle perched on the staff, 10 feet high. Greene County had a Log-Cabin on wheels, its occupants dressed in hunting shirts, the roof covered with old hunters cating pone, or johnny-cake. From Guernsey, an Ohio River Boat drawn by six horses and filled with " Guernsey Reformers," the boat bearing the name, " Tippecanoe." The Whigs from Jack- son County wore a bit of ribbon on their coats, with the couplet :


With Tip and Tyler, We'll bust Van's biler.


The " Mad River Trappers " came in a " lodge " similar to those used to protect trap


HISTORY OF TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY.


pers from the weather. Skins were stretched on the sides, curing for the market. The Trap- pers were led by a hardy, venerable man on a mule, dressed in hunting shirt, with his tin-cup and knapsack. His company consisted of 30 Trappers, dressed in Indian blankets. From Union County came a Log-Cabin on wheels, filled inside and out with the " truck " of that primitive tenement, the delegates on the roof singing, loud and shrill, to the tune of " The Blue Bells o' Scotland," the following original


LOG CABIN SONG.


Oh where, tell me where, was your Buckeye Cabin made ? Oh where, tell me where, was your Buekeye Cabin made ? 'Twas built among the merry Boys that wield the plough aud spade,


Where the Log Cabins stand in the bonnie Buckeye shade. 'Twas built. &c.


Oh what, tell me what, is your Buckeye Cabin's fate ? Oh what, tell me what, is your Buckeye Cabin's fate ? We'll wheel it to the Capital, and place it there elate, For a token and a sign of the bonnie Buckeye State. We'll wheel it, &c.


Oh why, tell me why, does your Buckeye Cabin go? Oh why, tell me why, does your Buckeye Cabin go? It goes against the Spoilsmeu, for well its builders know, It was Harrison that fought for their Cabins long ago. It goes, &e.


Oh, who fell before him in battle, tell me who ? Oh, who fell before him in battle, tell me who ? Hedrove the savage legions and British armies, too, At the Rapids and the Thames, and old Tippecanoe. He drove, &c.


By whom. tell me whom, will the battle next be won ? By whom, tell me whom, will the battle next be won ? The Spoilsmen and Leg-Treasurers will svou begin to run, And the Log Cabin candidate will march to Washington. The Spoilsmen, &c.


Oh what, tell me what, then will little Martin do ? Oh what, tell me what, then will little Martin do? He'll follow in the footsteps of Price and Swartwont, too, While the Log Cabins ring again with Tippecanoe. He'll follow, &c.


The Convention was held in the open air, at the corner of High and Broad streets (being the Northwest corner of State House Square). It was called to order by James Wilson, of Steubenville, and was organized by the ap- pointment of General Reazan Beall, of Wooster, as President, with a Vice-President from each Congressional District, among whom were Aurora Spafford, of Wood County, and Eleu- theros Cooke, of Erie, with nine Secretaries. General Beall made a brief and stirring address, when Captain "Dick" Douglas, of Ross County, offered resolutions directing the order of pro- ceeding. The Convention was then addressed by Thomas Ewing, Sen., and General W. S. Murphy, when an adjournment was taken until the next day.


The second day's session was held at the same place, and amid an unbroken fall of rain, with " Charlie " Anthony, as a Vice-President, in the Chair. Nehemiah Allen, of Geauga County, made the report of the Committee on nomina- tion for Governor, and presented the name of Thomas Corwin, of Warren County, which was received with great enthusiasm. Ex-Governor "Joe " Vanee, of Champaign County, reported the names of Presidential Electors.


The grand procession, which came off on the second day, was greatly embarrassed by the continuous rain and the consequent mud in streets without a particle of pavement. Truly did the enthusiastic Whigs then sing,


"Bravely we'll tramp the mud through."


Despite all drawbacks of rain and mud, how- ever, the procession was a grand display, being four deep, and led by several military com- panies and many bands, the whole being about a mile in length, with Fort Meigs, the Steam- boat, the Brig, the Log Cabins, the Canoe, the Trappers' Lodge, the River Boat, etc., attended by an immense troop of footmen, horsemen and carriages of every sort. The homeward trip of these thousands, as the result of almost un- interrupted rain, was even worse than that to the Convention. This faet will be better understood when it is stated that the stage, with six passengers, in which the writer re- turned, was drawn most of the distance by six horses, and was 60 hours continuously traveling in making the 105 miles -or 12 miles per hour for the trip.


The Whigs of Lucas County held their Con- vention June 3d, in Toledo, for the choice of delegates to the Congressional District Conven- tion, when Andrew Palmer (who had recently left the Democratic party) was made Presi- dent. Morrison R. Waite was the Secretary, such being the first public position occupied by him in Ohio, as it probably was the first of his life. The delegates chosen were as follows :


Toledo-Geo. B. Way, S. B. Comstock, C. M. Dorr, Dan Segur, L. S. Lownsbury, Sylvester Cornwell, S. L. Collins. Maumee-Oscar White, Isaac Hull, Eli Kitts, G. B. Knaggs, S. M. Young. Waterville- Oliver Pray, David Robbins, Jr., Welcome Pray. Providence-Aaron B. Mead. Amboy-Cyrus Fisher. Chesterfield-Harlow Butler. Oregon-Oliver Ste- vens. Clinton-Elisha Williams. Royalton-Wm. Smith. Sylvania-D. L. Westcott. Richfield-Pliny Lathrop. Swan Creek-John Emery. Springfield -- Peter Holloway. Wing-P. B. Scott. York-E. C. Lathrop. Gorham-Gorham Cottrell. German- Samuel Gibeney.


A " Tippecanoe Club " was organized by the Whigs of Toledo, April 3, 1840, to " promote the good cause of Harrison and Reform," with the following officers : President, Edward Bis- sell; Vice- President, S. B. Comstoek; Treas- urer, W. N. Richardson ; Secretary, Robert W. Titus. The Club held weekly meetings.


Seeond only to the wonderful manifestation of popular sentiment made at Columbus, Feb- ruary 22, was that which took place on the site of Fort Meigs, near Perrysburg, June 11, 1840. In some respects the latter was most remarkable, but these referred more to the greater system and order of its characteristics and the numbers present, than to the degree of enthusiasm manifested, although this was seen in foree beyond anything shown previous to that extraordinary year. Then, it should be


POLITICAL PARTIES AND ELECTIONS.


borne in mind, that the Fort Meigs demonstra- tion had the great advantage of the Summer season, with its good weather and good roads, with the further essential aid of Steamboat com- munication with all points on the Lakes -- con- siderations which can be appreciated only by those who have both " bravely tramped the mud through " and traveled on smooth, solid roads and by steam navigation in June. The anniversary of the siege of Fort Meigs by the British force under General Proctor, occurred May 1st-9th, but the celebration of that event was judiciousły postponed to June 11th, for prudential reasons, chief of which was the bet- ter condition of the roads and the more settled weather of the latter date-which decision was fully justified by the result. The occasion, as will be seen, was something more than a local or a State affair ; but one of National interest. The tens of thousands that made up the in- mense throng there assembled, were drawn from every State in the Union, although chiefly from Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Pennsylvania and New York. Of course, the expected pres- ence of General Harrison added largely to the attraetion of the gathering. A large number of military Companies were present, including the Buffalo Flying Artillery, Major Fay ; the Buffalo City Guards, Captain Vaughn ; the La- fayette Guards of Buffalo, Captain Hanner; the Washington Guards of Buffalo, Captain Palmer ; the Fredonia (N. Y.) Guards, Captain Barret ; Cleveland Grays, Captain Ingraham ; the Summit Guards of Akron ; the Tiffin Blues; and the Toledo Guards, Captain C. W. Hill. With these were several excellent bands of music from Buffalo, Fredonia, Cleveland, Belle- vue and other places. It was estimated that 35,000 people were there. So great was the multitude, that no attempt was made to form a procession.




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