Standard history of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, Part 100

Author: Wilson, Erasmus, 1842-1922; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926. cn
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: Chicago : H.R. Cornell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1192

USA > Pennsylvania > Allegheny County > Pittsburgh > Standard history of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania > Part 100

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).

In July, 1827, John B. Butler, late of the Ravenna Courier, bought the Pitts- burg Statesman, and at once assumed its management. In July, 1828, the Jackson Free Press was established here by John W. Young, who had previ- ously been connected with the Statesman. In 1828 Messrs. Laird, Williams and Kidd, of Pittsburg, invented an improved printing-press, which they intro- duced, and which possessed facilities not offered by the old presses. In July, 1827, Mr. Callan, of the Western Journal, sold out to his partner, Mr. H. C. Marthens. In September, 1827, John McFarland, of the Allegheny Democrat, died, whereupon Leonard S. Johns succeeded him as editor of that paper. The Jackson Free Press was established as a special organ to support General Jack- son and General Wilkins. The latter was ambitious, and at this time was struggling to gain political ascendancy in Allegheny County, or rather in this Congressional district, and, accordingly, required a special organ for his support. In February, 1828, the Western Journal, edited by H. C. Marthens, who, up to this date, had supported Andrew Jackson for the Presidency, changed its policy and espoused the cause of the Adams administration. The reasons given by the editor for this change were that Adams and Rush were the advocates of the American system of protection and internal improvement as against the "Southern policy and the Richmond construction of the Constitution of the Union." About the same time Mr. Marthens announced his intention to issue a German paper, to be called the Pittsburger Republikaner, which, it was announced, would also support Adams and Rush.

In August, 1829, when the Gazette passed from the Macleans to Mr. Craig, the latter was undetermined at first what position to take on the rising question of Anti-Masonry. He was a man of powerful prejudices and of strong con- scientious scruples. It was his policy in after years never to surrender and never to cease fighting so long as an enemy appeared. He became the strongest

-842

HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.

political force in Western Pennsylvania. No one ever questioned his integrity. His salutatory upon taking charge of the Gazette exhibited his characteristics. He said: "To persons approving this plan, and these principles, and to them only, the subscriber looks for support." He was thus defiant to all who opposed the principles which he announced would be maintained in his paper.

In January, 1829, Mr. Isaac Murphy took charge of the Commonwealth, but after a few issues abandoned the undertaking. In December, 1828, a Mr. Leleu issued a notice that he would soon begin publishing a French and English journal in Pittsburg. In January, 1829, the Liberal Catholic, or Weekly Remem- brancer, appeared for the first time. On Friday, February 8, 1828, John Scull, the pioneer editor of Pittsburg, died in Westmoreland County, in the 63d year of his age. All the local papers published suitable obituary notices, and more than one said that one of the oldest landmarks of Pittsburg had passed away. All bore witness to his unassuming manners and high character. In the fall of 1829 the Independent Republican, an organ which supported the Jacksonian party, passed to James Sharp and was issued by him. He announced that his paper would favor the protective system, and be conducted with a spirit of candor and fairness. The Hesperus was a literary publication, designed to be the. organ of the Hesperian Society. In January, 1828, the first number of the Crystal, a literary periodical, embellished with beautiful engravings, was issued under the management of M. H. Andrews, and was designed specially as a journal of miscellany for the ladies.

In March, 1829, the message of President Jackson was delivered here by the express riders of the mail contractors in twenty-four hours after it had been delivered at Washington. It left that city at 12:35 p. m. on the 8th, and was received in Pittsburg at 12:45 p. m. on the 9th, and, allowing ten minutes for dif- ference of time, it was conveyed that distance in just twenty-four hours. By 5 o'clock a. m. on the Ioth the entire message was in type in the Gazette office and was being rapidly printed. This was looked upon as unprecedented dispatch. In 1829 the strongest political papers here were the Gazette, under Mr. Craig; the Mercury, under Mr. Snowden; the Statesman, under John B. Butler, and the Allegheny Democrat, under Leonard S. Johns.

In February, 1830, William B. Conway issued a prospectus for a new weekly, to be called the American Manufacturer. He announced that the first issue would appear on March 6, 1830, and that the paper would support the Republican or Democratic party, and the subscription price was placed at $2 per year. This paper, from the start, took an unexpected and unusual course for that day. In many respects it advocated signal reforms in politics, society and religion. It supported the doctrines of Frances Wright, and openly avowed its hostility to the religious denominations of that day. It precipitated upon itself the wrath of the churches by its public celebration of the birthday of Thomas Paine. Its course was so unusual in that day of inflexible orthodoxy, and so repugnant to the sense of the religious element, that bitter war was waged against it by Protestants and Catholics alike. Mr. Conway ridiculed the proceedings of the churches in attempting to cure or avert the cholera in 1832 by fasting and prayer alone. Speaking in regard to the power of religion to effect a cure or mitigate the evils of cholera, he said: "Religious devotion, we say, is par- ticularly ridiculous, and not more ridiculous than injurious." In his issue of June 22, 1833, he said concerning those who attended church on such special fast days, set apart to pray that the scourge of cholera might be turned aside, that they might be divided into two classes, "the cunning but servile sycophant of popularity, and the simple dupes who swallow all for orthodoxy which their preachers and leaders tell them;" and again, "we, in common with the public, (leem the idea of averting the cholera by fasting and prayer ridiculous." In writ-

843

HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.

ing of these views, "A Catholic," in the Gazette of July 5, 1833, said: "Reader, what do you think of the man who will publish such a sentiment in a Christian land-that will thus insult almost a whole community by an expression worthy any of the apostles of infidelity, even the villain Marat?" The writer further asked, "Would any man but one determined to tell a falsehod make such an assertion-for making allowances for hypocrites and such men as he is, do not the crowds who engage in the religious exercises of that day triumphantly point him out to be a liar? Convince a Christian that his God neither hears nor heeds his prayers, and you take from him the very essence of his religion, without which it were worse than an idle dream. Where will be the binding force of an oath if the dread of punishment for swearing falsely be taken away? If the Bible is but the invention of priests, as this man has on more than one occasion publicly asserted, what human power is there to constrain a villain to tell the truth in a court of justice?" An editorial in the Gazette said of the Manufacturer: "It has always seized with hellish avidity every opportunity to assail temperance societies, missionary labors and all the benevolent efforts of the day. Its former editor (Conway) possessed genius without principle; its present (Phillips) neither. We are well persuaded that nothing we nor anyone else would be able to offer in the way of argument would have any effect in convincing him of error, or of staying his attacks upon the good. He is too closely wedded to his idol-Frances Wright." It must be remembered that this was a period when important social and moral reforms swept in a great wave over the country. Frances Wright, afterward Madame Darusmont, was a prominent lecturer on educational, social and political reforms, and was looked upon with surprise and contempt by men of fixed principles, like Neville B. Craig and the ministers of local churches. The articles in the Manufacturer were therefore regarded as monstrous by the orthodox religious element here. There was in all such articles a devilish spirit of mischief as well as an utter contempt for the usages of orthodoxy. The editor seemed to take great amusement in the indignation which he excited and the determined opposition which he en- countered. No doubt his course and the antagonism which it met greatly increased the circulation of his paper. He likewise entered upon a course of personal abuse of the editors of rival journals, and was unsparing in his ridicule of the war waged by the Protestants upon the Catholics during the decade of the thirties.

In 1831 the Weekly Advocate and Emporium was issued by Robert M. Riddle and George Parkin. In March, 1831, Elijah J. Roberts, late editor of the Rochester Craftsman, announced that he would soon issue in Pittsburg a new paper to be called the Pittsburg Daily Advertiser, and stated that the paper would support the American system. Late in the decade of the twenties John M. Snowden, editor of the Mercury, was succeeded by his son, Joseph Snowden. One of the noticeable circumstances during the decade of the thirties was the extreme personal abuse resorted to by the editors of the various newspapers. The editorial strictures of the present day are mild in comparison with the vindictive personalities of that period. In 1831 the Pitts- burg Times was started by Alfred Sutton, who continued to edit the same until about 1839. In 1832 the Mercury and the Allegheny Republican were consolidated. In 1831, when Mr. Roberts announced that he would soon issue the Daily Advertiser, the editor of the Gasette, in order not to be outdone by such an innovation, also announced that it would soon be issued as a daily. The failure of the plan of Mr. Roberts caused Mr. Craig to abandon his idea of issuing the Gasette as a daily until 1833, at which date the change was finally and permanently made. John F. Jennings in 1833 issued seven numbers only of a penny paper called the Dispatch.

844

HISTORY OF PITTSBURG. .

In 1833 the Pennsylvania Advocate was started here as a tri-weekly by James Wilson of Steubenville, who announced in its first issue that he would advocate the protective system, internal improvement, a sound currency, the independence of Congress and the preservation of the Union, which, at that. time, was threatened by a faction in South Carolina and elsewhere in the South. It was afterward stated that this paper was established for the par- ticular purpose of breaking down the Gazette. Within a year Mr. Andrews gave up the attempt, although the Advocate, which had secured a considerable . patronage here, was continued by his son. The elder Mr. Wilson returned to Steubenville, where he continued the editorship of his paper there. Upon his departure the paper under the son took the name of the Pennsylvania Advocate and Pittsburg Daily Advertiscr.

In 1833 The Friend, a weekly organ of the Young Men's Society, a branch of the American Young Men's Society, was started, and was first edited by J. W. Nevin. It was confined mainly to religion and morals. It was published by D. & M. Maclean, printers. This paper was strict in its require- ments, refusing articles on the subject of morality which departed from the ultra-religious views of that day. It published an article on the subject of infidelity, partly as an answer to arguments advanced in the columns of the Manufacturer, to which a reader asked the privilege of replying. The paper said, "A rational, temperate, dignified reply would not be refused publication," but so qualified the permission that a suitable reply from the standpoint of infidelity could not be given, and the reader so expressed himself. This in- duced Mr. Craig, of the Gazette, to say: "It did not suit the blackguard to be either rational or temperate or dignified-profanity and scurrilous abuse suit the taste of the worshipers of Tom Paine much better than rational discussion. The writer threatened to take his 'own methods of redress,' and we presume that his profanity and scurrility will appear in the next Manufacturer."

In June, 1833, the German paper called Der Pittsburger Beobachter was issued every Friday on Third Street, by Etzler & Reinhold. The Pittsburg postoffice was the bone of contention during the thirties, for which, and over which, the newspapers of that period fought with a bitterness scarcely paralleled in the history of the city. No sooner was the change made by the appointment of a new postmaster, than a "postoffice clique" or "ring" was formed for political purposes, which became the object for violent attacks from the organs of the opposing party. About this time, also, the question was mooted whether it was proper for the editors of newspapers to establish reading-rooms with their exchanges. It was finally determined that such a course was unprofessional. During the campaign of 1829 the Gazette, which had been recently passed to the control of Mr. Craig, announced that for the time being it would neither support nor oppose the Anti-Masonic element. After the election he came out an avowed Anti-Masonic supporter, and continued so not only as long as he controlled the Gazette, but managed after he had disposed of it to still direct its influence for many years in opposition to all secret oathbound societies.

In January, 1834, when the Manufacturer proposed again to celebrate the birthday of Tom Paine, the Allegheny Democrat, edited by Mr. Johns, said: "It is to be hoped for the credit of our city that but few will participate in this abominable festival." The Gazette warmly commended this statement of the Democrat. In the autumn of 1834 the Times was conducted by Alfred Sutton, who was succeeded in September by James C. Gilleland. Mr. W. D. Wilson, Jr., edited the Advocate, J. B. Butler the Statesman, Leonard S. Johns the Allegheny Democrat, Joseph Snowden the Mercury, Neville B. Craig the Gazette, William B. Conway and Richard Phillips the American Manufacturer, and William H. Smith the Allegheny Republican. The Times, Advocate and Statesman were

845

HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.

Whig organs, the Gazette Anti-Masonic, and the Allegheny Democrat, Mercury, American Manufacturer and Allegheny Republican Democratic.

In 1833 the Saturday Evening Visitor and the Allegheny Transcript ap- peared for a short time. In 1836 the Christian Witness, which had been estab- lished a short time before, became the organ of the Abolitionists, with William H. Burleigh as editor. A literary journal entitled the Pittsburg Mirror was published in the spring of 1834, by Alexander Jaynes. In 1834, at the time the Whig party was organized in Allegheny County, a new paper called the Pittsburg Whig was issued for a few months. For a short time early in 1835 the Mcchanic's Magazine was issued, but not meeting with suitable support, was soon abandoned. In 1836 the Times was under the management of Messrs. Gilleland and Jaynes. In November Mr. Gilleland died, and the editorship passed to Dr. Edward D. Gazzam, Mr. Jaynes continuing as publisher. In March, 1836, the Allegheny Democrat was advertised to be sold at public auction. In 1836 Rev. Thomas D. Baird edited the Christian Herald. This paper was the suc- cessor to the Pittsburg Recordcr. In 1836 Isaac Harris issued the first number of his Intelligencer, a journal devoted to commercial and industrial information. In 1836 William B. Conway severed his connection with the American Manu- facturer, and went to Jolinstown, Pennsylvania, where he opened a law office. The Manufacturer passed to the control of Richard Phillips, who continued its former course of reform, and began a violent attack upon all banking systems. In 1833 Rev. Charles Elliot began issuing the Pittsburg Conference Journal, but in 1836 was appointed editor of the Western Christian Advocate, and William Phillip's was named as assistant editor. In June, 1836, the publishers of daily papers in Pittsburg met and decided upon a standard schedule of advertising rates as follows: For a square of twenty lines in dailies $1.50 a week, $4 a month, Sto for six months, $15 for one year; and for a square of twenty lines in the weeklies $3 for three months and $10 for one year. In 1836 the first society of journeymen printers of Pittsburg was organized. It met with many discourage- ments, and at times was abandoned, but continued to survive for many years. In December, 1836, according to the Western Address Directory, there were thirteen papers published in Pittsburg and Allegheny, two of which were daily, and two others would soon become so, and the others were hebdomadals. In November, 1837, Alexander W. Foster purchased the Times, and announced that it would be issued as an Anti-Masonic journal. In December, 1837, N. R. Smith issued a small paper called the Daily Express. In the spring of 1837 the American Manufacturer was consolidated with a small commercial sheet, and took the name of the American Manufacturer and Commercial Bulletin. In its heading the words Daily Commercial Bullctin were printed in large letters, below which, in much smaller letters, were the words and American Manufacturer. The Gazette said: "In the inside, too, the name Daily Commercial Bulletin appears conspicuously, while its former odious name shuns the light of day and shrinks from the gaze of a long-insulted people." The Manufacturer opposed the temperance movement, which at this time had attained a degree of strength that gave the greatest encouragement to its friends. In January, 1838, the Daily Bulletin ceased to be issued, and the paper resumed its former name of the American Manufacturer. The Gazette said: "It seems we are to have no more lying bulletin; that excrescence from the Manufacturer office gave the last signs of vegetation this morning. Its poisonous exhalations have ceased, and here- after, instead of its daily deadly effusions, we are to have only weekly issues from that corrupt and corrupting source." This extract serves to show the excess of language used by rival editors and the estimation in which the Mamt- facturcr was held by the religious element of this community. In 1837 the Christian Witness, the organ of the Abolitionists, was edited by Rev. Samuel

846 .

HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.

Williams. In June, 1837, the Saturday Evening Visitor, a weekly family paper which had previously been suspended for a short time, was still issued by Alex- ander Jaynes, editor of the Times. Early in 1837, the alarming financial rumors caused nearly all the journals here to issue extras and gave them a great increase in subscriptions. In 1837 the Pittsburg Freiheits Freund was established here by Victor Scriba, having been brought from Franklin County. It became a tri- weekly in 1844 and a daily in 1847. Louis Neeb became interested in it in 1848. In 1850 L. & W. Neeb were the owners.

In 1838 William B. Conway was appointed by President Van Buren sec- retary of Iowa Territory. While he was editor of the Manufacturer some writer, in speaking of him, had called him "the vile and speckled reptile," which term was taken up by his enemies, and used to designate him whenever occasion occurred for the mention of his name. In 1837 Zantzinger McDonald, Thomas Phillips, and James Callan took control of the American Manufacturer. The paper libeled Mr. Craig of the Gazette, whereupon the latter brought suit against McDonald and Phillips, which was finally disposed of in April, 1839, when Mr. Phillips paid the costs which had thus far accrued, and published a retraction regretting the appearance of the libelous article, and stating that he had learned that the charge was unfounded. Mr. McDonald at this time was about twenty- five years old. A short time before this the Allegheny Democrat and Working- man's Advocate had passed to the editorship of Wilson F. Stewart, a young man aged twenty-two years. A violent warfare was begun between this paper, a Whig organ, and the Manufacturer, a Democratic organ. The following ex- tracts concerning a personal encounter between these two men explain them- selves: "This is to certify that about half past 10 o'clock on Saturday last, Z. McDonald entered the office of the Democrat and asked Mr. Stewart if he was the author of a certain article in the Democrat, to which Mr. Stewart replied he was. McDonald drew a large horsc pistol, about nine inches long, and pre- sented it at Stewart, at the same time striking him. After a few minutes' scuffle between them, Stewart drew a small pistol from his pocket and presented it at McDonald, and told him to shoot and be d-d. McDonald refused to do so, and told Stewart to stand at the end of the room and take aim, which Stewart de- clined, stating that his pistol was too small to have any effect at that distance, but if said McDonald would give him one like his, he would do so. We also certify that the said Stewart told him if he would lay down his pistol he would flog him until he could not stand, and that if he was a gentleman he would cowhide him. (Signed) William McEwin, William Getty." McDonald published the following statement: "Stewart's face became perfectly blanched and his lips quivered from fright; his knees smote one against the other, his whole frame shook from head to foot, and no longer able to support himself, he dropped down upon the floor like an empty sack, paralyzed with fear, remaining perfectly motionless, and looking up in the most imploring manner." Stewart retaliated with the following statement: "About noon on Saturday last, Zantzinger McDonald, one of the publishers of the American Manufacturer, entered my office unperceived, my back being in a position toward the entrance door, and in a faltering tone, betraying great fear, inquired whether I had written a certain editorial which ap- peared in my paper the preceding day in reply to a false and malicious statement in the Manufacturer affecting my interest. My answer was frank-I am the author. McDonald then presented a large horse pistol to my breast and struck me with his left hand; his blow I returned, seizing his pistol by the barrel, and during the suffle I drew out a two-inch barreled pistol, to the utter consternation of this modern defender of falsehood and faction. When the fellow saw his perilous situation, and heard my demand, 'If you have come to fight, let me have a weapon of the same length as the one you hold and I shall stand back for a shot,'

847

HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.

his contemptuous soul shrunk within him, he pocketed his pistol, while I pro- nounced him a blackguard and told him if he was regarded as a gentleman I should cowhide him." Later the belligerent editors proposed to settle the diffi- culty at fisticuffs. Mr. Stewart said he would relinquish his support of Mr. Cooper, candidate for sheriff, if he failed to thrash Mr. McDonald, provided the latter would give up his support of Mr. Peterson, also candidate for sheriff, if he failed to lick Mr. Stewart. The latter said: "I am ready in true Yankee fashion to knock the noise out of this prig of nobility to the entire satisfaction of his friends-a native mechanic against one of the silk stocking nobility."

In January, 1838, Mr. Craig was convicted of having libeled John Watt, whom he charged with having voted twice on the same day, and a verdict of $6 and costs was rendered against him. In the autumn of 1837 Matthew M. Grant became associated with Mr. Craig in the publication of the Gazette. Robert M. Riddle and James Moorhead conducted the Times, W. F. Stewart the Democrat and Advocate, Robert Morrow and William H. Smith the Mercury, Zantzinger McDonald and James Callan the Manufacturer. In 1838 appeared Sibbet's Western Review, a monthly publication devoted to financial and com- mercial news. For many years it was the most reliable authority in the Western country on the mongrel money of that day. E. Sibbet & Co. were the publishers. In October, 1838, the Times office was offered for sale. In May, 1838, appeared the first number of the Western Emporium, a weekly paper started in Allegheny by Lawson & Parkin. In about 1837 Richard Phillips, who had been con- nected with the Manufacturer, went West to Illinois, leaving his brother, Thomas Phillips, to take his place as associate editor of that journal. In 1838 the Daily Express was started by Anderson & Loomis as an avowed organ of that branch of the Whig party which supported Henry Clay for President. In November, 1838, the Allegheny Democrat published at its head the motto "Van Buren and an Independent Treasury." In April, 1838, this paper passed into the control of Benjamin Patton, United States District Attorney, and others, and announced its support of Van Buren the "Little Magician." Mr. Stewart had been connected with this paper in the capacity of associate editor, but about this time retired, and was succeeded by William Jack. The latter declared, in answer to charges to the contrary, that Mr. Patton had no interest whatever in the journal. However, the Advocate insisted that the Democrat had been pur- chased by David Lynch, Benjamin Patton and others, and this was no doubt the truth. As a matter of fact, Mr. Stewart was too conservative and inde- pendent to suit the postoffice coterie, and was, therefore, bought out by those iho believed in the wisdom of pursuing a severer course in politics. In 1838 the Pittsburg German's Freedom's Friend was published for a short time. Jacob Smith seems to have been connected with this paper. William D. Wilson pub- lished a small sheet called the Citizen's Press for a few months in 1838. Early in 1838 the Times was changed to a daily. At this time it was edited by Alex- ander W. Foster. About the middle of November, 1838, Mr. Foster sold out to David Grant and James B. McFarland, the latter officiating as editor. They announced that the paper would be continued as an organ of the Anti-Masonic party. . At this time the Mercury was controlled by several young men who lacked the stability. to make it much of a power in politics.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Standard history of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, Part 100

Author: Wilson, Erasmus, 1842-1922; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926. cn Publication date: 1898 Publisher: Chicago : H.R. Cornell & Co. Number of Pages: 1192

Author: Wilson, Erasmus, 1842-1922; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926. cn
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: Chicago : H.R. Cornell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1192