History of the city of Toledo and Lucas County, Ohio, Part 63

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

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The exercises at the Fort, on the 12th, con- sisted of an organization, with Thomas Ewing for President, and Vice-Presidents from the several States, followed by speeches from Colo- nel Love, of Buffalo, N. Y .; J. H. Paine, of Lake County, Ohio; Oliver Johnson, of Michigan, and John R. Osborn, then of Norwalk. Upon his arrival at the stand, General Harrison was seated with Colonels Tod and Clarkson of Ken- tucky, who had acted as his Aides in the battle 27 years before; and also several of the old Soldiers who were with him at Presque Isle, when Aide to Wayne; at Tippecanoe, when Governor of the Northwest ; at Fort Meigs and the Thames, when Commander-in- Chief of the Northwestern Army. There, too, in his 85th year, was his Chaplain, Rev. Joseph Badger. Upon this occasion, as upon the thrilling occa- sions of 1813, he put up a fervent prayer to the Throne of Grace. General Harrison delivered an address to the immense throng about the stand, which was received with great enthusi- asm, and a portion of which, for its historical

bearing, is here reproduced. After stating that he had come there only at the carnest solicitation of his friends and against his own judgment, he said :

And yet, fellow citizens, had I been absent in body, my spirit would have been present with you. For what spot could excite such reminiscences, as this upon which I now stand? My eye now rests upon a field (the battleground of General Anthony Wayne's Victory in August, 1791, across the Maumee River), where a hero of the Revolution carried out principles which I have humbly tried to imitate. There, gentlemen, I saw the banner of liberty un- furled. There I saw the American Eagle pounce on the British Lion. There I saw the gallant youths, who, with me, had entered the public service, art upon the noble principle which bids the American citizen to die, if need be, for his country. There [pointing to another part of the field], i saw interred the remains of my beloved companions in arms, friends of my youth. If military propriety then for- bade that I should mourn for those who had given up their lives for their country's good, we may now be permitted to drop a tear to their memory and their worth. Nineteen years after these events, gentlemen, I was here as Commander-in-Chief of our Army. We saw here the regular army of the Revolution. Time and disease had thinned the ranks of my old associates, but there was no diminution of valor. Glorious reminiscences crowd on my mind. Would that they were unaccompanied with pain. I expected the gratification I now receive in seeing you come here to raise another banner to Liberty. I expected to receive on this field to-day those evidences of your satisfaction with my conduct which are now bestowed, the adequate reward for the anxiety and pain I suf- fered here. With difficulty can you realize their ex- tent. Can a Commander-in-Chief be satisfied with the glitter and paraphernalia of war, and implicit military obedience ? Oh, no. These may, indeed, serve the office of tyranny ; but let an American place himself in the situation which I then occupied, and say if any reward, except the kind consideration of his fellow-citizens, can compensate him for the in- tense anxiety which every commander must suffer, not only from concern for his own errors in judg- ment, but for the mistaken judgment and defective execution of his subordinates. The painful emotions were increased when I considered who they were that then gathered upon this spot. Lawyers were here, who left their briefs ; physicians, who had left their instruments; mechanics, who had left their tools; and, above all, the yeoman who had left his plow in the furrow and his fields uncultivated, to give up that life that was necessary and dear to his family, to his country, if her good required it. } knew, too, gentlemen, that by coming here to-day, I should be able to take by the hand men-brave and good men-who fought in and who accomplished the Revolution. I behold them here. Would to God, that long ago they could have been placed in the situation they deserve. Why, fellow-citizens, should the army of Wayne have been so long neglected ? The American Revolution terminated, not at York- town, nor at any other Town, but on this battlefield, in August, 1794. t'ntil that day, the settlers of the West were constantly assailed and made victims of the tomahawk and the scalping-knife. Why the dis- tinction between those who acted in the War proper of the Revolution and those who struck the finishing blow in the work of the National defense? If any distinction were to be made, to my mind it appears that it should be in favor of him who fought the sav- age in a savage country. Where the country is set- tled, remedies and means of comfort for the sick and

HISTORY OF TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY.

wounded are easily procured ; but where could the sick and wounded Soldier of Wayne be borne for necessary comfort and shelter ? Whenever after the war, you saw a poor object moving about, from set- tlement to settlement, seeking in intemperance tem- porary alleviation from pain and sorrow, you found on inquiry, that he had been a Soldier of the Revolu- tion. I never ceased to employ my humble efforts in behalf of the Soldier of the frontier. I always in- sisted that the debt of these Soldiers should be paid first of all. The Treasury can afford it, if the string of the door-latch is kept pulled in. I refused, when in Congress, to vote for the bill allowing members $1,500 a session. until provision should be made for Revolutionary and other Soldiers. Gentlemen, 1 have little to say to you upon the politics of the times. That subject I must leave to be touched upon by others. But I must be permitted to say, that the charge that I refuse to declare my opinions, is untrue. Indeed, I believe that no pledges should be given. I have always supposed that the best guar- anty for fidelity would be the previous conduct of the man whose acts had been performed under no temptation to deceive.

Not least ofthe events of the occasion, was the Mock Battle on the night of the first day, in which a portion of the military in the fort, met a force of five tribes of Indians banded together outside under their chosen Tecumseh, which was witnessed by an immense throug of spec- tators. The following public account of the engagement was written by Geo. Dawson, then the editor of the Detroit Advertiser, and for many years thereafter the proprietor of the Albany Evening Journal :

The old battleground, on the night of the 10th pre- sented a scene worth a journey of a thousand miles to see. During the day Major Fay's Buffalo detach- ment pitched their snowy tents on the Old Fort, and planted their standards " on the outer walls." Their beautiful brass war-dog breathed defiance to the Brit- ish batteries of Fort Miami across the River. The Cleveland Grays displayed a similar encampment at an equally commanding position on Fort Meigs, and their flag was unfurled over the marquee of Col. In- graham. Tbe Toledo Guards also arrived, and the Old Fort again exhibited all the

" Pride, pomp and circumstance of glorious war."

As evening came on, who could describe the en- campment ? The bivouae of an army with banners was presented. The Fort itself was a mass of life and splendor, and the low, sparse greenwood adja- cent was brilliant in every direction with wateh-tires, and picturesque with tents, flags and banners. The patriotie shout and song went up from thousands of freemen preparing to sojourn for the night on grounds hallowed by deeds of deathless renown. From still farther in the woods the whoop of the savage was or- vasionally heard ; for tbere five tribes had banded under the brave Tecumseh, preparing wigwams, kindled a council fire, and were concerting an attack of extermination on the Fort that night. Heaven's arch above was clear, bright and glorious. The meeting for speaking had held till midnight, when suddenly was heard the alarm drum, the trumpet's clangor, the savage yell, the rifle's crack, the blazing musketry, and the cannon's roar. The firing com- menced with a few scattering shots from the picket- guards. In a moment the sharp crack of an Indian rifle was heard from the adjoining thicket. At first the reports were scattered and infrequent, but mo- mentarily became more frequent. Very soon a fire

was opened from the lower part of the Fort by the musketry, aroused and gathered by the first shot of the guard. Then were heard volleys of musketry from the upper part of the battery, opposite which point the sharp crack of the Indian rifle had also been heard. Volleys were regular, whole companies firing at once; but soon the order was given to load and fire as rapidly as possible, when the air rang with continuous cracking of musketry for several minutes. Then were "let slip the dogs of war." The heavy crash of the cannon added sublimely to the scene, and as the din of small arms increased, and the report of cannon became more frequent, and the shouts of the soldiery were heard above the thunder of roaring artillery, it was difficult to keep off the impression that we were in conflict with the foe, and that Fort Meigs was again the scene of deadly strife. The illu- sion was perfect and the seene sublime. The lighting up of the heavens by the quick flashes from the small arms ; the thick smoke which rolled out from the cannon's mouth ; the rushing soldiery as they changed position to repel the attacks of the assailants; the burnished musket, as it east back the reflections of the moonbeams, presented a spectacle really magnifi- cent. And when to it is added the cheers of the vast multitude gathered to witness the siege, the echo of the cannon's roar, as it bounded from hill to hill, and made the forest vocal with its power, and the occa- sional sound of bugle and drum, the reader may forni a faint conception of the real splendor of the fete. It was certainly well gotten up, well managed and well executed. It will be remembered as one of the most agreeable pastimes of this glorious and never-to-be- forgotten gathering of the people.

We understand that after open hostilities bad ceased, the Indians stole into the Fort and captured three standards and a sentinel. The alarm was given and the enemy driven from the Fort. Two Indians were taken in the skirmish. In the morning an ex- change of prisoners was made, according to the usages of war, the calumet of peace smoked and the hatchet against Old Tip buried forever.

The following touching and beautiful song, set to the tune, "Oh, Lonely is the Forest Shade," was written for this occasion by a " Soldier who fought there :"

Oh, lonely is the old green Fort, Where oft in days of old, Our gallant Soldiers bravely fought, 'Gainst savage allies bold.

But with the change of years have passed That unrelenting foe, Since we fought here with Harrison, A long time ago.

It seems but yesterday, I heard From yonder thicket nigh,

The unerring rifle's sharp report, The lodian's startling cry.

Yon brooklet flowing at our feet, With crimson gore did flow,

When we fought here with Harrison, A long time ago.

The River flows between its banks, As when. of old, we came- Each grassy path. each shady book, Seems to mne still the same.

But we are scattered now, whose faith Pledged here through weal or woe, With Harrison our soil to guard, A long time ago.

And many a Soldier's lip is mute, And clouded many a brow:

And hearts that beat for honor then, Have ceased their throbbing now.

We ne'er shall meet again in life, As then we met, I trow,

When we fought here with Harrison, A long time ago.

327

POLITICAL PARTIES AND ELECTIONS.

On his return from Perrysburg, General Harrison, pursuant to the invitation of the cit- izens of Toledo, made a short stop there. IIc was escorted from the landing to the American HIotel, where he received the calls and con- gratulations of those who bad not previously an opportunity of taking him by the hand. The reception at the landing was enthusiastic, while his escort to the hotel by the military, under Generals Chase and Dodd, and their staffs, and the Toledo Guards, under Captain ILill, was creditable. The Blade's report said : " After receiving the calls of all who desired an introduction, which was conducted in an easy, gentlemanly and dignified manner by our worthy and excellent Mayor, M. II. Tilden, Esq., the General was escorted back to the Boat, and took his departure about 12 o'clock M., amidst the deafening cheers of a multitude of people who had assembled on the bank of the River to witness the departure of him upon whom many in the erowd looked as the last hope of the Republic.'

A call appeared in July, 1840, for a meeting of those Democratic electors in Lucas County, who had thus far supported the Democratic party, but were willing to vote for Harrison. The call was signed by Andrew Palmer, C. I. Keeler, Jr., E. B. Dodd, Edward Bissell, Wm. S. Gaylord, John Goettell, John Mosher, Chas. McLean, Samuel Allen, Leverett Bissell. B. F. Stickney, John Divine. J. W. B. Ilyatt, Stephen Sawyer, B. F. Snow, Henry Trask, Dorus Du- senbury, Jos. Chambers. This meeting was held Angust 8, when a " Democratic Reform Club" was organized.

The Fort Meigs Tippecanoe Club ( Perrys- burg), Henry Bennett, Secretary, announced arrangements for an excursion by the Steam- boat Commodore Perry, Captain David Wilki- son, to the Perry's Victory celebration at Erie, Pennsylvania, September 10, 1840-fare 83, for the round trip-meals 25 cents each. The To- ledo Guards went to this celebration, and adopted resolutions of thanks for courtesies ex- tended them -- Dan. Segur, President, and Charles B. Phillips, Secretary.

This extraordinary campaign, as decisive in its general results as it was remarkable in its character, closed with the complete success of the Whigs, who elected General Harrison as President and John Tyler as Vice-President, by an electoral vote of 234, to 60 for Martin Van Buren for President, and for Richard M. Johnson for Vice-President. Ohio gave Har- rison a majority of 23,375, his majority in Lucas County being 415.

It is proper here to state, that the predomi- nance of Whig record in this connection, is largely due to the fact, that none but Whig papers were published in this County until 1841. Consequently, Democratic record is very meagre. There was then a Democratic organ- ization, active and earnest, and embracing

many prominent citizens, some of whose names appear.

1841.

The result of the Toledo election, March 1, 1841, was a Whig success, in the choice of the following officers: Mayor, Myron II. Tilden ; Treasurer, H. G. Cozzens ; Marshal, John Goet- tell. This was the Whig ticket. The Demo- cratic ticket was as follows: Mayor, Richard Mott; Treasurer, Peter Palmer; Marshal, O. W. Whitmore.

March 4, 1841, the Whig Administration was installed, with much glee and hope on the part ofits friends, who expected much of partisan advantage, as well as much public good from the change then made. The more promptly to render the relief which the condition of the country needed, President Harrison, March 17th, called an extra session of Congress, to consider financial questions, and to meet May 31st. On the 4th of April, the new Adminis- tration, so hopeful and so strong in the public sympathy, was suddenly closed by the death of President Harrison ; when Vice-President Tyler succeeded. At the extra session of C'on. gress, the several financial questions were acted upon, and it soon became evident that between that body and the President, there was an antagonism in policy which was irreconcilable. This was clearly shown in the veto of two bills for a United States Bank passed by Congress, and other evidences of antagonism, including the resignation of every member of the Cabinet, the Secretary of State ( Daniel Webster) ex. cepted. The result was disastrous to the Whigs as a party, inasmuch as they lost the prestige of Executive power and patronage, which soon were employed for building up a personal party, in the interest of President Tyler-a movement which was no more success- ful, than have been different similar ventures in later years. President Tyler had been a Dem - ocrat, but was a member of the Whig Conven- tion, and there supported the nomination of Mr. Clay, and was selected for Vice-President in recognition of Mr. Clay's claims to consid- eration. This operated to make even more bitter the feeling of Mr. (lay's friends toward the President. As might be supposed, Toledo, with most other Towns in the country, had its " Tyler party," and " Tyler meetings." Of the latter the Blade of November 25, 1842, had a report, which is of historical interest. The re- port was, that the Postmaster and another man constituted the " meeting," the one acting as Chairman and the other as Secretary. It seems they found little difficulty in transacting the business of the occasion. But when the time for adjournment arrived, the true situation was revealed. The Secretary made a motion to adjourn, which the Chairman could not con- sistently put, for the reason that it met with no second ; and as there was no one who could

338

HISTORY OF TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY.

second the motion, the dilemma was serious. The Secretary begged that the Chair "under the circumstances " waive his scruples on par- liamentary law, but he was inflexible. Thus tied up, the " meeting " passed a cold and solitary night, and were relieved in the morning only when, hearing footsteps on the sidewalk, they called in the passer-by, explained to him their distress, and promised that he should have an office, if he would then second the motion to adjourn, attend another " Tyler meeting " the Saturday following, and there render like service. Out of sympathy for the prisoners of parliamentary law, as much as from hope of office, he complied with the request, and the " large and respecta- ble meeting of the friends of President Tyler in Toledo," was released. This may be an ex- aggerated report, in some respects, but the real record of the " Tyler party " makes it a plausi- ble one.

Political matters in Lucas County at once became " mixed." The Whig ticket for 1841, was as follows :

For Sheriff, Daniel Segur ; Auditor, Cyrus Fisher ; Treasurer, Horace Thacher ; Recorder, Junins Flagg ;* Commissioner, John Pray ; Prosecuting Attorney, Caleb F. Abbott ;* Coroner, David B. Mooney ; Surveyor, William Martin .* What was known as the " Union ticket "-made up of Democrats and " Tyler Whigs "-was as follows: For Sheriff, E. S. Frost ;* Auditor, Urial Spencer ;* Treasurer, John U. Pease ;* Recorder, Luther Dodge; Commissioner, Alfred (. Hough ;* Prosecuting Attorney, James M. Coffinbury ; Coroner, Eli Kitts ;* Surveyor, M. D. Hibbard. Messrs. Pease, Frost, Hough and Hibbard were Democrats ; and Messrs. Spencer, Dodge and Coffinbury, Whigs. Those indicated by a star (*) were elected.

The Legislative District tickets for Lucas County, were as follows: Democratic-For Senator, Dr. Jacob Clark ; Representatives, James B. Steedman, of Henry County, John W. Waters. Whig candidates-Senator, Robt. A. Forsyth, of Maumee City. Representatives -John F. Hinkle and Calvin T. Pomeroy. The Democrats were elected.

The Democrats of the County held a Con- vention November 30, 1841, to select delegates to a State Convention. Ex-Judge David Higgins (then practicing law at Maumee City), was the President, and Charles I. Scott, Secretary. The following named delegates were chosen :

lohn E. Hunt, Dr. Jacob Clark, David Higgins, Daniel O. Morton, James Myers, E. S. Frost, Pliny Hoagland, Horace Green, Nam. B. Scott, Thomas Clark 2d, Peter Palmer, James Vickers, John R. Bond, Samuel Jay, Daniel Williams, A. G. Hibbard, David Smith, Lyman Wheeler, D. C. Middleton, Paul Hawes, John Kendall, M. D. Hibbard, Daniel Chase, Elijah Porter, Jona. Barnes, Daniel Swift, R. Hastings, J. H. Forsyth, P. C. Mosher, Luther Whit- more, A. C. Hough, William Prentice, James Mc-

Cabe, D. B. Mooney, Francis L. Nichols, J. Young, James Egnew, John Spencer, J. Van Fleet, John Fitch, C. I. Scott, Richard Mott, Asahel Beals, J. Printup, John UT. Pease, J. Hibbard, L. B. Lathrop, C. H. Ryder, John W. Collins, Jared Cotherell, E. S. Dodd, Jesse Browning, Dr. James L. Chase, Daniel Durgin, M. S. Van Fleet.

1842.

The political campaign of 1842 in Ohio, was mainly distinguished for the long and bitter contest over the apportionment of the State into Congressional Districts under the census of 1840. The Democrats had a majority in both branches of the Legislature, and had pre- pared an apportionment bill, to which the Whig minority took most determined excep- tion. After a long and bitter contest, the Democrats persisting in their measure, the Whig members, as the only means left them to defeat the bill, resolved to resign their seats in a body, and thus break up the Legislature, and appeal to the people in a new election. This they did in August, and issued an address to the people setting forth their grievance. The style of apportionment of which they com- plained, was then and still is known as "Gerry- mandering "-taking its name from an alleged unfair apportionment of Massachusetts at an early date, under the auspices of Elbridge Gerry, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Another term quite freely used by the Whigs, was " Tin-Pan," which referred to the Legislative caucus of the Democratic members, to which all political matters were referred, and the decisions of which were rigidly enforced. The style of campaigning to which that contest led, is shown by the call issued by the Whig Central Committee of Lucas County, September 5, 1842, for a Mass Meeting. It was as follows:

RALLY, WINGS, AND KILL THE MONSTER!

" FIRST, LOOK ON THIS PICTURE "_

WASHINGTON

ATHENS

MEIGS

SCIOTO

GALLIA

LAWRENCE

Sixteenth Congressional District (extending about 250 miles along the Ohio River).

339

POLITICAL PARTIES AND ELECTIONS.

AND THEN ON THIS! "-

The Gerrymander.

THE GERRYMANDER, delineated above, is a rare animal of the genus Locofoco .* He was discovered in the " Tin-Pan," at Columbus, on the 10th of last month, where Byington & Co. had got him so trained that he could destroy annually, for ten years to come, from twenty-five to THIRTY THOUSAND WHIG VOTES, and thus secure to the Locofocos for that time, though vastly in the minority. fourteen of the twenty-one members of Congress !! As soon as the intentions of his keepers were known, the Whig members of the Legislature gave chase to the "Varmint," and com- menced a fire of hot shot upon the whole menagerie. Ilis keepers were routed, and the Gerrymander, severely crippled, was taken, and now awaits the sen- tence of the People. Here is a

SPECIMEN OF BYINGTON & CO.'S GERRYMANDERING :

A Whig District (16th.)

A Locofocu District (4th.)

Washington.

20,823

Stark 34.603

Athens

19,109

Tuscarawas 25,631

Meigs

11,452

Gallia

13,444

Population,

60,234

Lawrence

9,738

Scioto

11,192

Population 85,758

Whig Majority 3,440

The Whig District (a map of which may be seen above) has a population of more than 15,000 above the ratio ; while the Locofoco District is more than 10,000 below the ratio! And this is done by those who prate about "Equal Rights" and " Democracy." Out upon such Hypocrites ! Whigs of Lucas! Let

*The term " Locofoco," was in common use in this country for several years, being applied to the Demo- cratie party by the Whigs. It was the original name given to friction matches. In 1834, it was sportively applied to the extreme portion of the Democratie party in New York, because at a meeting in Tam- many Hall, at which there was great diversity of sentiment, the Chairman left his seat and the lights were extinguished with a view to dissolve the meet- ing; when those in favor of extreme measures pro- duced " Locofoco " matches, relighted the room, con- tinued the meeting and accomplished their object. From such application the use of the term was ex- tended until it came to be applied to the entire Democratic party.

us have a Mass Meeting at the House of David Mills, in Swanton,

ON SATURDAY, THE 17TH INST., AT 10 A. M.

And try, like good citizens and real Democrats, to kill this monster of a Gerrymander. Several Stump Speakers are expected to be present, and among them,

NATHANIEL B. ADAMS AND JAMES DURBIN,

Whig candidates for the Legislature from this Dis- triet, will be present to speak to the People and learn their wishes. Come up, then, one and all -Farmers, Mechanics, Merchants and Professional Men and let us counsel together. Friends of CLAY and CORWIN, turn out, and organize for the coming election ! AROUSE, WHIGS ! and make one more struggle for the election of honest men, the ascendaney of correct principles and the payment of the Contractors and Laborers on the Public Works ! Delegates are to be appointed to attend a Whig Mass Convention at Tiffin, in Seneca County, on Friday, the 23d instant, where TOM CORWIN, " the Wagoner Boy," TOM EWING, " the Salt Boiler," and many other promi- nent Whig Speakers, will be present and address the People. Rally, Whigs! Rally as you did in 1840, and all will be well.

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History of the city of Toledo and Lucas County, Ohio, Part 63

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

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