USA > Ohio > Ross County > Chillicothe > Ohio centennial anniversary celebration at Chillicothe, May 20-21, 1903 : under the auspices of the Ohio State Archaelogical and Historical Society : complete proceedings > Part 6
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The Ordinance of 1787 and the state constitution adopted by Tiffin and his co-adjutors, declared that "Religion, morality and knowledge being necessary to good government and the hap- piness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall for- ever be encouraged"; and these were classed as "among the fun- damental principles of civil and religious liberty which formed the basis whereon these republics, their laws and constitutions are erected."
Governor Tiffin regarded education as the handmaid of religion and morality, and like them essential to the public ser- vice and welfare.
His public and official conduct was always guided by pro- found, persistent, untiring purpose to advance the cause of re- ligious morality and education. But this did by no means have its inspiration merely in a sense of official duty, nor did he ever confine his efforts to official action or public service. In and out of office, his influence was exerted in this behalf. At the same time that canal commissioners were appointed, school
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commissioners were appointed. Upon their report, in 1826, the free school system of which we hear so much, was instituted by law and Tiffin, then living in Chillicothe, saw, three years before his death, the fruition of his hopes and efforts in that direction. The system, by gradual development and continued legislative action, has become that which we this day enjoy.
Governor Tiffin was above all else a religious man. In his first message he declared that "The prosperity and happiness of every people is invariably in proportion to their religious moral- ity," and hoped "that the people of Ohio would assume and for- ever maintain such advanced positions in industry, frugality, tem- perance and every moral virtue as would gain for them the admiration of the whole world." He both practiced and preached his religion. From the hour when he and his wife, in 1790, the year after their marriage, were "converted"- under the ministry of Rev. Thomas Scott, who also afterward came to Ohio and became one of the judges of our Supreme Court - to the hour of death he was an apostle of the creed he professed. He began at once to gather congregations about him on the "Lord's Day" and to press upon his friends and neighbors the beauty of holi- ness. During life, he continued this same course, and never allowed the duties of his profession or a public station to wean him from what he deemed a much higher service to the com- munity. His religion was of that Christian type which united love to God and to fellowman. Still did his charities abound. His benefactions were unstinted and even when confined to his bed in his sickness, it is said by his biographer, Col. William E. Gilmore, he kept certain days of the week devoted to gratuitously diagnosing cases of, and prescribing for, the poor.
While love of liberty and devotion to religion were the grand passions of his nature they were not all. He loved Ohio. He probably regarded, as did most public men of his day, the office of governor as much greater than that of being one of two representatives of the state in the National Senate. He resigned his seat in the Senate shortly after his service in that body began, but accepted an election to a membership in the State Legislature, which place he held for two terms. He resigned a place at the head of the Land Department in the national capital to become
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the surveyor-general of the Northwest, with his office on his home lot in this city. He believed that he could do more good here than elsewhere, and was, above all things, interested in the , development of the state.
He was proud of Ohio, the state he had done so much to create. He loved to uphold her prerogatives and maintain her prestige; but Tiffin, like all men then, of his political ideas, was none the less a lover of the Union, quick to combat its real or supposed foes.
During his governorship, when convinced that Aaron Burr was gathering men, boats and provisions and warlike muni- tions on the Ohio border, in furtherance of a conspiracy against the Union, he did not wait for the action of the Federal Gov- ernment, nor for any instructions from it or any department of it; he got the Legislature into secret session and, without the veto power, procured the passage of "an act to prevent certain acts hostile to the peace and tranquility of the United States within the jurisdiction of this state."
The governor acted promptly, seized the boats, provisions, etc., and the Burr expedition came to speedy grief.
Jefferson in his subsequent letter, commendatory of the prompt state action, said: "It is happy illustration, too, of the importance of preserving to the state authorities all that vigor which the constitution foresaw would be necessary, not only for their own safety, but for that of the whole."
Looking back at this Burr affair in view of all ascertained . facts, Burr's alleged treasonable designs seem very much of a myth, but there is no denying that the matter was regarded seri- ously and that Burr procured one thing at least which was very much to his taste, and that was a dramatic situation.
Although Tiffin was in public service, and that substantially by common consent, during nearly the entire period of his resi- dence in the state, he kept his soul unstained. He utilized no opportunity for private aggrandizement. His industry was unflag- ging, his fidelity perfect, his tact and wisdom unquestionable. His domestic life was fortunate indeed. He was twice married. His wives were Christian helpmates full of sweet piety and good works. His second marriage was blessed with five
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children of whom four were daughters. His son died as the result of an accident in young manhood. Two of his daughters, Mrs. Scott Cook, and Miss Diathea Tiffin, recently passed from among us, mourned by the entire community, leaving behind them the "sweet savor of a life well spent." Mrs. Reynolds and Mrs. Dr. Comegys, of Cincinnati - women of like mould - died at an earlier period. His children and his grandchildren and his great-grandchildren, one of whom has had the goodness to grace this day by unveiling the counterfeit presentment of her great and good ancestor, have held high the honor of his name and well sustained the heredity of noble blood.
Edward Tiffin was born in Carlisle, England. This is a famous site. Here the semi-mythical, semi-historical king Arthur is reputed to have held his court and gathered about his Round Table, Sir Launcelot, Sir Galleahad and all that company of knights, the fame of whose exploits furnished material for Ten- nyson's "Idylls of the King," and filled the lines of many poets and romancers. King Arthur stands in all these wondrous tales the fit exemplar of a noble life, the knight without reproach or stain ; and when at last, he yielded his magic sword "Excaliber," and turned his face to die, it is said that gentle hands of minister- ing spirits carried him away to the enchanted vale of Avalon, whence he was destined in the after times to return and rule a redeemed land and reunite about the "table round" the broken circle of his knights, coming purified from quests of Holy Grail. And now my fancy pictures that the good king in very truth did come again to old Carlisle, and later in a new world found a land redeemed from old-world ways of greed and ruthless power ; gathered there about him knights good and true who had proven their valor in wild forests beset with wild beasts and wilder men, in search of the Holy Grail of Freedom and had traversed flood and fell to form a state whose cornerstone should be Liberty and capstone Virtue - Massie, McDonald, McArthur, Worthington, Creighton, Morrow, Byrd, Meigs and all the rest of that gallant train. With reminiscent eyes, we see him now amid that circle of strong souls with noble yet unaffected mien, a People's knight indeed.
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In accepting the medallion for Ross County, speaking for the commissioners, Mr. Horatio C. Claypool, the prosecuting attor- ney, said :
MR. CLAYPOOL'S SPEECH.
Mr. President:
The pleasant duty of accepting, for the people of Ross County, this beautiful and appropriate memento of our early con- stitutional history, has fallen to me by reason of my accidental position at the close of our first century.
Here, as we start on our journey of another hundred years, we meet to renew our obligations and to refresh our zeal for popular government ; and standing upon the very spot of our origin, what could be a more appro- priate introduction to our festivities than the elevation of this medallion of Ohio's first governor? The thought- fulness and generosity of the donor (Mr. W. H. Hunter), are hardly more apparent on this occasion than H. C. CLAYPOOL. his patriotism and state pride, as exemplified in his choice of a subject - and speaking for the people of Ross County, we ac- cept this splendid tribute to an American statesman, and in re- turn have nothing to offer but the hearty congratulation of our people.
But this emblem stands for something more than personal greatness, however esteemed and renowned Edward Tiffin may have been; for in this twentieth century we do not worship the individual so much as the results of his labors. Our meeting to celebrate on this occasion is a happy reminder that we are still hero worshipers as in the days of old - the commendable change being in the choice of subjects. Human nature changes slowly, indeed, but upon the pages of authentic history we can readily discern the havoc which scientific investigation has wrought upon superstition. The theory of the "divine right of kings" has. crumbled and given place to the choice of the people. Step by:
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step humanity has been going in the right direction. While the Persians had their Xerxes, and Carthage its Hannibal, worship- ing destroyers of human life and human happiness, writing the history of their greatness with the blood of the slain, we, the American people, find more pleasing worship in our praises of the Jeffersons, Lincolns and Tiffins, the men whose kindly feel- ings for humanity will cause them to live in the hearts of the people while democratic principles shall prevail. For, while our Revolutionary heroes stood for the will of the people in a national sense, the founders of our state government, as they sat here, one hundred years ago, provided for us the most liberal govern- ment yet known to man, exerted an influence for good that hastened to modify restricted liberty throughout this nation, and for at least another century, we hope will stand a menace to usurpers of human power.
Governor Tiffin was not simply the head of the executive department of our state government; he stood for something more - he was the exponent of element of hardy pioneers of our «commonwealth, who believed in a government by the people, and who dared to formulate a constitution providing for the greatest personal freedom consistent with good government. In no other locality does history show so complete a separation of the execu- tive from the legislative functions of government, and a hundred years of experience illustrates the wisdom of our departure from the national forni.
Those fathers of ours never lost sight of an opportunity of ·showing their opposition to what was then known as a strong government. But, ladies and gentlemen, as we go on day after ·day, praising our dead statesmen and pointing out their green graves upon the hill, our visitors may get a wrong impression .and leave the city, believing that all our greatness lies buried upon our hill tops. Let us here and now assure our visitors that such an opinion would be foreign to the facts. We have live men here in the valley, possessing both ability and inclination to fill the chief executive's office, with no thought of lowering the dignity of the place, once graced by Tiffin, Worthington, McArthur and Allen.
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But there is another class of persons who should not be for- gotten while speaking of the men who : endered valuable services to our state. They could not all be Solons, however praiseworthy the vocation of the statesman may be. The pioneer of a hundred years ago found our valley a wilderness; busy sons of toil were as essential as statesmen. The man with a gun had his usefulness in guarding both laborers and statesmen against the assault of wild beasts and wilder men, and upon these hills may lie many a Cromwell, guiltless of his country's blood.
In this connection I am reminded that the names of all our true heroes do not find a place on the pages of history. For illustration, it is said upon good authority that when McPherson fell in front of Atlanta, the surprise was so great that for a few moments he was deserted by all, except a single private, who stood bending over his dying commander ; yet history is searched in vain for his name, though reciting the incident.
And again, as we recall our heroes of the many wars in which we have unfortunately been engaged in the last hundred years, we wish to remind you that here sleep as brave soldiers as ever graced a field of battle. History is full of the names and fame of Massie, Sill and others of equal renown.
Let us, as we advance, set ourselves high ideals of a perfect government and by proper enforcement and application of law in this court of justice, watched and guarded by the spirit of Edward Tiffin, promote our liberty and independence based upon a government of our own choosing, and upon our birthright of free men, the gift of Heaven, secured to us and to succeeding generations to guide us in the path of our duty and when the people of Ohio meet upon these grounds one hundred years hence, may the sun be still shining on a free, intelligent and happy people, worthy descendants of a noble ancestry, and still worshiping at the shrine of Ohio's first governor.
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
OF
OHIO'S ADMISSION INTO THE UNION.
The exercises of the centennial anniversary of Ohio's state- hood began promptly at ten o'clock A. M. on Wednesday, May 20, 1903. They were held in the large tent erected for the pur- pose, and which served as an admirable auditorium, in the beau- tiful Yoctangee Park, Chillicothe. An audience of some five thousand assembled to participate in the interest and honor of the occasion. Upon the stage were seated many of the speakers, a number of distinguished guests, state officials, including the judges of the Supreme Court, members of the Centennial Com- mission, trustees and officers of the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society. Back of the speakers' stand, in elevated seats, was the chorus of two hundred and fifty pupils of the high school and grammar grades of the city schools. The program opened with a stirring national air by the Fourth Regiment Band. General J. Warren Keifer called the meeting to order. Rev. A. M. Courtenay, of Chillicothe, invoked the divine blessing on the great celebration. His prayer was most fitting in words, sincere in expression and eloquent in delivery.
Hon. W. D. Yaple, as mayor of the city, then extended the welcome of Chillicothe to the officials of the centennial and the visiting people of the state.
MAYOR YAPLE'S ADDRESS.
Your Excellency, the Governor, Citizens of Ohio, Invited Guests of the State:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN - We have assembled on this occa- sion to celebrate, in an appropriate manner, the one hundredth anniversary of one of the most important events in American history - the organization of Ohio as one of the union of states.
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It was an important event to Chillicothe, for it was here that the great political battle was waged between St. Clair and his followers on one side, and Tiffin, Worthington and Massie on the other, which culminated in Ohio's statehood; it was an important event to Ohio, for it marked the beginning of her marvelous development ; it was an important event to the nation, for it gave to the Union one of its most powerful and pro- gressive states; it was an important event to the advocates of the principle of democratic government, for Ohio's first consti- tution was the first of the American constitutions which denied the executive authority the right to veto the acts of the legislative body.
It was one hundred years on the twenty-ninth day of last November since the first constitution of Ohio was adopted by the constitutional convention in session in Chillicothe; and it was one hundred years on the first day of last March since the machinery of government that made Ohio one of the union of states was set in motion.
It was here that the first seat of government was estab- lished, and during the first few years of Ohio's statehood all roads led to Chillicothe, and all eyes were upon the little city lying in the fertile and picturesque valley of the Scioto, and beneath the shadow of Mount Logan. Then came the wonderful growth and development of the state, and the consequent removal of the seat of government to a more central location; and now again, after the lapse of eighty-six years, all roads again lead to the "ancient metropolis"; and when we consider that much of the early history of the state belongs to Chillicothe it was certainly appropriate for the State Archæological and Historical Society to select this city as the proper place for celebrating the state's one hundredth anniversary.
I am not commissioned to speak of Ohio's progress, or to deal at length with historical matters, for that duty belongs to the long list of speakers on the program and I shall not trespass upon their time; but I am here as the mayor of the old capital, to extend to you the hand of welcome.
0. c .- 4
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Chillicothe has been noted from the earliest days for her generous hospitality ; she has never yet been weighed in the bal- ance and found wanting, and I assure you that upon this occa- sion her citizens will maintain her well-merited reputation; the latch string is out, and I am glad to have the honor and pleasure of extending to you, on behalf of our citizens, a hearty welcome and the freedom of the city.
To the hearty welcome of Mayor Yaple, Gen. J. Warren Keifer, chairman of the centennial commission, responded on behalf of the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society.
Mayor, and Citizens of Chillicothe:
On behalf, not only of the people assembled here, but of the whole people of Ohio, I am commissioned to thank you for this generous welcome. The presence of so many dis- tinguished citizens testifies more adequately than my words can express their deep interest in this, the first centennial of Ohio as a state, and their deep interest in the inhabitants of this his- toric city, to whom so much is due for the ample and liberal preparations made.
This city, with its patriotic people, singularly illustrates the transformation which has taken place in our state.
Here, a little more than one hundred years ago, was the chief habitation of the most warlike (Shawanee) of the savage tribes of Indians. Here, on these grounds, have been enacted the barbaric scenes incident to wild savage existence. Here Boone, Kenton, and others, of the earliest western pioneers, who as advance agents of a coming civilization, fought, and some of them, in captivity, ran the gauntlet and were doubtless burned at the stake to testify barbaric vengeance.
How changed! Here, many of that worthy and heroic class met and planted a settlement, established trade and com- merce, built churches and school-houses, and organized a com- munity which became the territorial capital of the great North- west Territory, and, one hundred years ago, the capital of the first of the states born of the immortal Ordinance of 1787.
The welcome you, Mr. Mayor, extended to us is the more acceptable because you speak on behalf of so many of the de-
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scendants of the undaunted pioneers who settled here, and who largely aided in giving birth to a state in our Union eternally dedicated to freedom.
Here was the home of Nathaniel Massie, John McDonald, Dr. Edward Tiffin, Thomas Worthington, Duncan McArthur ; later, William Allen and Allen G. Thurman.
What a galaxy of great men !
I do not attempt to exhaust the list. And I must not an- ticipate the work of others. .
I must therefore content myself by expressing the sincere gratitude of those present, for the hospitality and warm welcome extended by the good people of this fair city. Chillicothe will live in the annals of Ohio as typical of the planting and marvelous growth of a new and higher Christian civilization in a wilder- ness, and to testify to the possibilities that may be realized by a race of people, inspired by the principles of universal liberty for all mankind, tempered by a holy religion, practiced in the light of the beatitudes, proclaimed to the world by Jesus Christ in the Sermon on the Mount.
When the ceremonies of this centennial are ended we shall carry to our homes a happy memory of the people of this city, as well as of the pleasurable enjoyment the time and the occa- sion of our assembling has given us.
Again I repeat the thanks of this vast concourse of men and fair women to all the residents of this city, and especially to the efficient members of local committees who have so as- siduously labored for the success of this centennial.
And now, as chairman of the joint committee, composed of the executive committee of the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society - the society that inspired the idea of this centennial and has done so much to make it a success - and the commission authorized by law, appointed by the governor of Ohio, I now announce that the formal ceremonies of Ohio's first centennial are ready to begin.
The program prepared is long, but it will furnish a relation of statehood-greatness not anywhere equaled in ancient or mod- ern history. Long as it is, it is more subject to criticism for important subjects omitted, than for the long number included.
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The committee congratulates itself, and you, upon its being able to present, as orators, on this occasion, some of the great men of this country, all of whom, I believe, are of Ohio, if not all residents of the state. Many of Ohio's present honorable officials are before you, and many are here who have, with singular fidelity, filled high offices in the state and nation.
Here are Ohio's senators (Foraker and Hanna) and many of her representatives in Congress. You will hear from some of them.
Here are all the judges of the Supreme Court of Ohio, a court that has, without exception, brought honor to the state throughout its existence.
Ohio has never had an unworthy governor - from Edward Tiffin to the present one - thirty-eight in all.
It now becomes my duty to introduce to you your pre- siding officer for this day. He will make the opening address. of the centennial. You know him and his history. He was a farmer boy of Medina, where born (August 14, 1842) ; in youth he became a student at Oberlin College, leaving it while yet a boy to become a private soldier in the Civil War; after that war closed he became a lawyer in Columbus, Ohio; later, attorney- general of Ohio; then a member of the Supreme Court Com- mission ; and he has worthily held other places of honor, always ably and unpretentiously discharging the high and important duties devolving upon him. He has twice (1899 and 1901) been elected governor of Ohio. I now have the supreme pleasure of presenting to you, as the first speaker, and the presiding officer of the day, your distinguished centennial governor, George K. Nash.
OPENING ADDRESS .*
GOVERNOR GEORGE K. NASH.
Mr. Chairman (turning to General Keifer) : I desire to thank you and the society which you represent for the honor which you have conferred by asking me to preside at this cen- tennial celebration of the birth of our great state, Ohio.
And Citizens of Ohio (turning to audience) : I desire to congratulate you to-day upon the fact that Ohio is now one hundred years old. For one hundred years our state and national union have lasted, growing stronger and better as each year passed by ; for one hundred years they have preserved your lib- erty and freedom, without license, and regulated by law.
And, citizens of Ohio, we have many things for which to be thankful. Our great state has grown from a small beginning of forty-five thousand people until to-day she is a great empire with a population of about four and one-half million. What one hundred years ago was a vast forest has now become the garden spot of our country.
In all the industries we have grown. Our state which one hundred years ago did not know a railroad, is now traversed by eight thousand seven hundred miles of railroad. Annually these railroads give employment to sixty thousand men and their annual wages now amount to forty-two million dollars. The gross receipts of these great arteries of trade last year amounted to one hundred and one million dollars, and their net receipts amounted to about ten million dollars.
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