USA > Pennsylvania > Allegheny County > Pittsburgh > Standard history of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania > Part 92
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Ritner. Porter.
First Ward.
374
233
Second Ward.
295
226
Third Ward.
376
320
Fourth Ward
361
204
Fifth Ward
339
220
Allegheny.
723
382
Birmingham.
93
62
Lawrenceville.
55
72
787
HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.
On December 5, 1838, the firemen of Pittsburg, for the first time, took political action as a body and nominated William Little for mayor. He was notified by the following committee: William H. Shinn, Hugh Arthurs, A. Richardson, Thomas R. Holmes and M. W. Beltzhoover: It was called the firemen's and citizens' meeting. J. M. Brushfield was chairman of the meeting, and W. J. Wilson secretary. The following action was taken: "Resolved, That as firemen we have as deep an interest as any class of our fellow citizens in securing the efficiency of our city police, and an equal right to express our preferences and to designate the individual whom we should prefer to see at the head of that police. Resolved, That the office of Mayor of Pittsburg was not created to subserve the interests of any political party, nor to be made a step- ping stone to political power, or a temporary convenience for those who are patiently waiting the 'moving of the waters' to be cleansed from some, political leprous spots." The Gazette said: "Thus, then, our city presents this remark- able spectacle of the firemen of the city, most of them very young, and some of them little better than boys, nominating a candidate for the chief magistracy of the city, and that candidate accepting" (k). Previous to this date Mr. Little had been a zealous Whig, but at this election the Whig party was divided, part of them voting with the Anti-Masons and part with the Democrats. The old opposition to Democracy was divided between Anti-Masons and Whigs. It was only necessary for the Democrats, in order to secure the election of their can- didate, to widen the breach between the Anti-Masons and the Whigs, and this they invariably did when such a course seemed possible. Pittsburg at this time was an Anti-Van Buren city, but in spite of that fact the Democrats were often successful, owing to the division in the ranks of the opposition. The firemen's nomination of Mr. Little was such a partisan affair that many Demo- crats, Whigs and Anti-Masons held a convention, which nominated William W. Irwin. This meeting became known as the joint convention, owing to the fact that it was wholly Anti-Van Buren, and was composed of fragments of the other parties; all of whom opposed Mr. Little, the firemen's nominee.
When it became known that the Democrats, in the fall of 1838, had suc- ceeded in electing Mr. Porter over Mr. Ritner for governor, all of his sup- porters of this vicinity made arrangements for a huge celebration of the event. Hickory poles were erected in various parts of the city, and David Lynch, the principal supporter of Governor Porter, was placed in the small ship, designed, evidently, to represent the ship of state, and hauled triumphantly through the streets, followed by a large procession, filling the air with cheers and carrying flags and mottos to glorify the hour of their triumph. On the sandbar in the Monongahela River a huge barbecue was held, where many people partook of roast beef and other viands. In January, 1839, William Little was elected mayor by the combined vote of the Whigs and Locofocos, as against the opposing ticket, headed by Mr: Irwin, the Democratic Anti-Masonic candidate. The vote stood as follows:
Little. Irwin.
First Ward.
247
234
Second Ward
232
218
Third Ward.
330
269
Fourth Ward
263
183
Fifth Ward.
222
146
1,294
1,050
Little's majority.
244
It was at this time that Joseph Barker first became conspicuous by reason
(k) Gazette, December 7, 1838.
788
HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.
of his ardent advocacy of the cause of temperance. Charles J. Avery and H. H. Van Amringe were equally outspoken in the cause of temperance, as well as other reforms, and all three were abused without stint by the liquor element and by one or more of the newspapers which were opposed to such reforms. Mr. Barker was a hard-working, rough-dressed mechanic, but the other two wcre lawyers and were well to do. The Manufacturer poured its vials of wrath upon the head of Mr. Barker for his course on the subject of temperance, but, although Messrs. Avery and Van Amringe took the same coursc, they were not molested by that paper. In 1839 the parties were more hopelessly split in Allegheny County than ever before. Numerous tickets were presented for the suffrages of the people. There were the Democratic, the Anti-bank, the People's, the Hard Money, the Editorial, the Buckshot and Ball, the Imbecile Office Holders', the Coffin Handbill, the Masonic, the Anti-Masonic, the United States Bank, the Whig and others, all representing particular factions and interests, and all sustained by the unswerving and determined advocacy of small followings. Edward D. Gazzam was the Locofoco candidate for the State Senate, and Thomas Williams the Anti-Masonic candidate. Mr. Gazzam received a total of 3.557 votes, and Mr. Williams 3,902. The Anti-Masonic Assembly ticket was elected and consisted of Messrs. Darsie, McDowell, Carothers and Penniman.
The Whig and Anti-Masonic papers severely criticised William Wilkins for his change of methods and principle. It was declared that he had white- washed William Findley, and was rewardcd with an appointment to the judge- ship; that in 1824 he had been the personal and political friend of Henry Clay, but when the current had set in toward Andrew Jackson he awoke one morn- ing a Jacksonian, and was sent as a delegate to the Jackson convention at Har- risburg; that he had been elected to Congress over Mr. Stevenson for no other purpose than to defeat a faction of his party which opposed him; that his sup- port of Andrew Jackson and his withdrawal from an advocacy of the protective system had secured for him the appointment to Russia; that he had then become a candidate for the State Senate, but had been defeated by Mr. Rodgers; and that now, in 1838, he was a defender of the sub-treasury system and a candidate for the United States Senate. His apostasy as a politician was dwelt upon in lurid colors by the opposition newspapers. He was abused for his statement concerning the monarchy at the State convention, and was even twitted about the extent of his property interests in Pittsburg, particularly at the corner of Smithfield and Water streets, where the Monongahela House was in process of erection. It was stated that in 1828 he had loaned himself to the Whigs and Anti-Masons in order to break down that faction of the Democracy which supported Mr. Stevenson, and that when elected he had resigned, and that soon afterward he had again loaned himself to President Jackson and to the South, and that he had doffed his cap as "iron king" in order to break down the tariff and secure the favor of John C. Calhoun. In 1839 he was called the "bashaw with three tails," owing to the fact that he was a candidate on the electoral ticket, was a candidate to the Twenty-sixth Congress and a candidate to the Twenty-seventh Congress. It was further declared that Mr. Wilkins, many years before, though an avowed Federalist, served as secretary at the famous Carlisle convention, which passed resolutions denouncing the prosecu- tion of the War of 1812; and it was further stated that at the same time he was captain of a troop of cavalry in Pittsburg, and that immediately after his return from the convention the troop was dissolved, whereupon he applied to the Governor for a colonel's commission, which was granted him, but the Senate refused to confirm the appointment, owing to his action in the Carlisle con- vention and to his course in dissolving his troop of horse (1).
(1) Daily American, September 1 to 3, 1840.
789
HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.
In January, 1840, the Whigs and Anti-Masons presented William W. Irwin as candidate for mayor, while the Anti-bank people, supported by the Constitu- tionalist, presented John Birmingham. Mr. Irwin was elected, as shown by the following vote. This was the first occasion that the Third Ward gave a Whig majority, and the newspapers spoke of it as "redeemed, regenerated and dis- enthralled."
Irwin. Birmingham.
West Ward
340
II7
South Ward.
26.4
183
East Ward.
353
225
North Ward.
307
99
Bayardstown.
262
176
In January, 1840, the Gazette said: "Two years ago and three years ago a Locofoco mayor was elected, and one year ago the Locofocos, by uniting with the Whig party, got in a Whig mayor, to the sorrow of the Anti-Masons; but the nomination of Harrison cemented the whole Anti-Van Buren party, and it nomi- nated and elected a mayor by over 700 votes here in Pittsburg." In fact the Whig party, at the election in January, 1840, for mayor, carried every ward, electing seven candidates to the Select Council and twenty-five to the Common Council, and completely snowing the Locofocos under. In the five wards then constituting the city Mr. Irwin, Whig, received a total of 1,526 votes, and Mr. Birmingham, Democrat, received 800. In this election the Democracy called their ticket the Citizens', and Mr. Birmingham was called the citizens' candidate. But despite their efforts thus to divide the Whigs and Anti-Masons, party lines were strictly drawn and the Whigs swept everything before them.
On February II, 1840, an immense meeting was held in the Courthouse to support the nomination of General Harrison for the Presidency. Harmar Denny was president of the meeting, and delivered an eloquent speech on the issues of the day. The house was filled to overflowing, many being unable to gain entrance. All the old surviving soldiers of the War of 1812 were present and were honored with seats on the platform. Among them were Messrs. Willock, John Davis, John D. Davis and John Park. Among the speakers were John W. Lynch, who had been with Harrison at Fort Meigs, General Marks, Moses Hampton and others. It was said of this assemblage that no such meeting had been held in Pittsburg since the immense Jackson meeting of August, 1823. Among the supporters of General Harrison in 1840 were the following: John D. Davis, Harmar Denny, William Leckey, George L. Reis, Colonel Petcr Klingensmith, William Mackey, Nicholas Voightley, Jacob Fedder, Christian Sniveley, John Laughlin, William E. Noble, P. J. Maitland, E. J. Brooke, Jacob F. Wall, H. Mitchell, Josiah King, W. W. Irwin, General William Marks, Hugh D. King, John Parke, John Davis and John Willock. In the summer of 1840 the Whigs organized a Tippecanoe club, having among others the following members: N. B. Craig, Thomas Williams, Robert M. Riddle, Francis Reams, H. P. Schwartz, James Stewart, Harmar Denny, George Darsie, Daniel McCurdy, John Park, James Marshall, Lewis Hutchison, W. W. Irwin, Thomas Bakewell, Alexander Jayne, Alexander W. Foster, Jr., W. B. McClure, James A. McClelland, William Elder, C. L. Magee, W. B. Robinson, John P. Bakewell, William J. Howard, John Laughlin, Samuel Fahncstock, D. P. Ingersoll, John Morrison, O. O. Gregg, George F. Rauhauser, Josiah King, Andrew Wiley, Walter H. Lowrie, Moses Hampton, George Norton, J. H. Sewall, Jr., James Mellinger, Edward Rissick, Charles Avery, H. D. King, Benjamin Weaver, George Stewart, William W. Wallace, David Chess, Joseph Wainwright, Thomas Liggett, Jr., Hugh Arthers, John Jack, John B. McFadden, J. H. Shoenberger, N. P. Pearson and Benjamin Darlington.
790
HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.
Pursuant to noticc a meeting of "those favorable to protecting the industries of the land and taking into consideration the present embarrassed condition of the country" was held at the Courthouse March 17, 1840, on which occasion Thomas Bakewell was made chairman, John Freeman, P. Mulvaney, L. Peterson, Robert Knox and John Arthurs vice-presidents, and P. J. Maitland and W. M. Shinn secretaries. Upon motion a committee was appointed to prepare a set of resolutions to be submitted to an adjourned meeting to be held at the Court- house on March 24, 1840, at 3 o'clock p. m. On that occasion Mr. Bakewell was again made chairman, and William M. Shinn, from the committee, reported a series of resolutions and delivered an argumentative speech bearing upon the same. These resolutions, after declaring the dignity of labor and the great importance of protection to domestic manufactures, reviewed the history of tariff legislation in this country. They recited that the unvarying policy of the country, from the first tariff, July 4, 1789, to the last Compromise Bill of 1833, had been found by practice to be eminently useful and conducive to the general welfare; that the period from 1824 to 1832, when the tariff was highest, was the most prosperous; that the gradual reduction of the tariff by the law of 1833 was already manifest in the present deplorable condition of business; that the evident design of legislating the working classes down to the wages prevailing in Europe was manifest; that the bill of 1833 was a compromise made to conciliate the South, and not a surrender of the right of protection to the dictation of South Carolina, as asserted by one of her senators; that the country could never prosper until a protective tariff to countervail the restrictive systems of foreign nations should become the fixed policy of the Government; that any effort to encourage home manufactures by depressing the price of labor was unworthy of American statesmanship, and that the suggestion to hold a national convention of the friends of the American system met the approval of this meeting. George W. Jackson submitted substitute resolutions deprecating any action on the sub- ject at the present time, on the ground "that the Compromise Act of 1833 had settled the question definitely up to the year 1842, and that we were bound in good faith not to disturb the arrangement until then." Mr. A. Wylie addressed the meeting at considerable length in support of the Shinn resolutions and in opposition to those offered by Mr. Jackson, and ended by reading a strong letter written by Andrew Jackson in 1824 in support of the American system. Charles Shaler was loudly called for, and, consenting, made a brief speech in support of the Shinn resolutions. Among other things he said that after investigation he had become convinced that "we were not bound to avoid dis- turbing the arrangements of the law of 1833," and that a protective tariff was evidently the true policy of the whole country, and of this vicinity in particular, though the "bloated currency should also be curtailed and regulated." A reso- lution offered by J. Knox, declaring that the law of 1833 was not so far bind- ing upon the manufacturers of the North as to prevent them from seeking a modification of the same, was unanimously adopted (m).
"From Pittsburg the delegation was large, and consisted of substantial- looking men, the iron of Pennsylvania. They carried a banner, consisting of a handsome painting representing Harrison and his staff, and on the reverse, a log cabin, with Harrison at the plow in the foreground" (n).
"Glorious Victory .- The most complete and decided victory which has yet been achieved under the banner of Harrisonism was that of Tuesday last in our neighboring city of Allegheny. The city is divided into four wards; in each
(m) Advocate and Emporium, March 26, 1840.
(n) Baltimore American's description of the Allegheny County delegation to the con- vention which nominated Harrison and Tyler, May, 1840.
791
HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.
ward there were three Select councilmen, four Common councilmen, six school directors, one judge and two inspectors, being sixty-four officers; and in the whole city one mayor. Of these sixty-five officers, sixty-one are decided Har- rison men, including the mayor. Four are suspected of being tinged with Locofocoism. There were three candidates for mayor-all Whigs. Indeed, so conscious were the Locofocos of the utter prostration of their party that they only hoped to elect one judge-R. A. Campbell-and he was defeated by a majority of ninety-nine votes" (o).
The nomination of General Harrison for the Presidency met the unqualified support of the opposition to Van Buren in this vicinity. A thorough organiza- tion was instituted, and one of the most spirited campaigns that ever occurred in the county followed. The political assemblages rivaled those which had turned out by the acre in 1829 to support Andrew Jackson. The most intense enthusiasm prevailed, and, in fact, swept everything before it. Hard cider and log cabins were the watchwords of the party. The citizens of the county sup- porting Mr. Harrison met in Allegheny on August 12, 1840, and erected a large log cabin, to be used during the remainder of the campaign as a wigwam. Country folks came in by the hundreds to assist in erecting the cabin. A pine pole, seventy feet long, was brought from the Alleghany Mountains and pre- sented by the Harrison men of Bedford County to the Whigs of this vicinity, and erected in front of the cabin. Among the leading Democrats in 1840 were William Wilkins, Charles Shaler, Wilson McCandless, Edward D. Gazzam, Thomas Hamilton, Robert Galway, Rody Patterson, Thomas Phillips, John B. Butler, William Jack, Robert Porter, Henry Mccullough and Robert H. Kerr. The larger meetings of the Whigs were held in what was called Tippecanoe Hall, in Pittsburg, while informal meetings of various kinds were usually held in the log cabin in Allegheny. During this campaign Harmar Denny was a candidate for elector on the Harrison ticket. In 1840 Richard Biddle, Con- gressman, resigned, and H. M. Brackenridge and William W. Irwin were pre- sented as candidates by their respective parties for that position. One of the important questions discussed during this campaign was the labor problem, which had been brought prominently to the notice of politicians throughout the State by the hostile action of the South and the derogatory remarks of Mr. Buchanan. In July, 1840, William Robinson, Jr., was elected mayor of Alle- gheny, the first under the city charter.
During the Presidential campaign of 1840, 5,000 Harrison medals were struck and distributed in this vicinity. On October 6, 1840, a Whig mass meeting was held in Pittsburg-the largest gathering ever convened in the city up to that time. The Gazette and the Advocate, in their enthusiasm, placed the attendance at from 27,000 to 60,000. Walter Forward was president of the day. John Tyler, candidate for Vicc-President, was present and delivered an eloquent speech on national issues. Mr. Forward also spoke, as did Messrs. Briggs, Weston, Griswold and Loomis. The principal speaking was held during the afternoon, but the celebration was continued late at night, a torchlight pro- cession parading the streets. It was called a convention, but was more properly a mass meeting, and all conceded that it surpassed anything of the kind ever before witnessed in Allegheny County. Thc Pittsburger of the 7th of October said: "Yesterday afternoon the cities of Pittsburg and Allegheny looked like a couple of spacious harbors, in which the hulls of 10,000 ships lay almost invis- ible amidst a forest of masts, adorned with cider barrels, streamers and flags." The Advocate of the same date said: "A more gallant display it was never our fortune to witness, and what is more, almost every flag and every banner
(o) Gazette, July 18, 1840.
e
t-
792
HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.
bore an inscription that gave the lie to the charge that the Whigs had no prin- ciples." It was claimed that one who roughly counted the number present found 27,700. On the contrary, the Mercury said that the procession, by actual count, consisted of but 4,200. On this occasion Mr. Tyler was presented by the Bakewells with a miniature log cabin in glass, and by the Curlings and Robinsons with a glass canoe and glass cider-barrel.
At the October election Mr. Brackenridge, candidate for Congress, received in Pittsburg 1,855 votes and in Allegheny 880 votes; and Mr. Wilkins, candi- date for the same office, received in Pittsburg 1, 165 votes and in Allegheny 412 votes. Allegheny County in November gave Harrison 7,620 votes and Van Buren 4,573 votes.
In December, 1840, the Whigs nominated James Thompson for mayor and called him the Democratic Harrison candidate. As a matter of fact, the Whigs were so popular at this time that several candidates purporting to represent the Harrison ticket were nominated for mayor. The Mercury recommended the Democrats not to nominate a candidate of their own party, but to select and vote for that one of the Harrison candidates who would be most likely to fur- ther their interests. At this election the Democrats represented that party politics should not be brought into local elections, although previously, par- ticularly in January, 1840, they had nominated and vigorously supported John Birmingham for mayor. The result for mayor was as follows: Mr. Thompson, the Harrison regular candidate, 1,148; Mr. Graham, Independent Harrison, 602; Mr. Marshall, Independent Harrison, 124; Mr. McKelvy, the only Democratic candidate, 567. The result in Allegheny for mayor was as follows: Mr. Sample, Whig, 541; Mr. Riddle, Democrat, 419. The Anti-Masons in Pittsburg had nomi- nated Mr. Thompson, and then proceeded to whip the Whigs into line for that candidate. They were not wholly successful, and consequently two Independent candidates were nominated. However, the Anti-Masons had strength enough of their own and drawn from the Whigs to easily elect their candidate.
In January, 1841, great preparations were made here to formally receive President-elect Harrison while on his way to Washington. The Whigs deter- mined to make it the most dazzling display ever conducted in Pittsburg. All the leading Whigs were appointed on some one of the numerous committees of reception, arrangement, etc. The steamboat Fulton was dispatched to Wheel- ing to meet the steamboat Ben Franklin, which was to convey Mr. Harrison to Pittsburg. Upon landing at the wharf on Saturday afternoon he was con- ducted in an open carriage to the Pittsburg hotel, accompanied by all the dig- nitaries of the two cities. In the evening hc addressed an immense assemblage of citizens from the front of Iron's Hotel. Mr. Harrison remained here over Sunday, the guest of the twin cities, and on Monday sailed up the Monongahela to Brownsville. He was escorted to the boat by the city officers, the various militia companies and a large assemblage of citizens.
In June, 1841, the Anti-Masons nominated for State senator George Darsie; the Whigs nominated William Little, and the Democrats nominated Edward D. Gazzam. The Gazette supported Mr. Darsie, the Advocate Mr. Little, and the Mercury and Democrat Mr. Gazzam. The Gazette and Advocate supported John Banks for governor. The death of President Harrison, early in his first few months of office, occasioned great sorrow in Pittsburg. In July his remains passed through here under the escort of Colonel Henderson and a guard of honor. Fitting memorial services were held on that occasion.
At the October election, 1841, for senator, Mr. Darsie received 4,267 votes, Mr. Gazzam 4,314, and Mr. Little 766. For governor, Banks 5,068, Porter 4,281. In 1841 Walter Forward, the idol of the Whigs and Anti-Masons, was appointed Secretary of the Treasury.
793
HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.
At this time a strong sentiment in favor of dropping the Anti-Masonic party as such prevailed in the community. This sentiment was vigorously opposed by the Gazette, which, by this time, had come to hate all secret societies. In fact the Gazette, at this time, published what purported to be all the secret words and signs of the Masonic order. It is within the bounds of probability that had it not been for the persistency of Mr. Craig, the Anti-Masonic party of Allegheny County at this time would have been merged into the Whig party. All the Whigs desired it and many Anti-Masons favored it, but the Anti-Masons, as a party, refused emphatically to yield the principle which they contended was the para- mount one of that organization. The Whigs, by this time, saw the useless- ness of the contention of the Anti-Masons, and realized that to annihilate the Masonic order was out of the question. In fact Masonry at this time enjoyed a period of revival and greatly increased throughout the United States in numbers and in strength. But the union of the two parties, Whig and Anti- Masonic, was destined not to take place yet in this community. The Gazette continued its warfare. Listen to the following from the issue of September 29, 1841: "After all that Anti-Masonry has done to break down these unhallowed combinations of men for unlawful purposes, yct Masonry still rears her horrid front through the length and breadth of the land, and by its audacity seems to bid defiance to all attempts to overthrow it. Even in our own county the attempt is now made by haters of the 'Blessed Spirit' to break down our organ- ization and destroy the influence that Anti-Masonry has hitherto exerted for the welfare of the body politic. But we do not despair of final success, even throughout our whole beloved country." "The citizens of Allegheny County, however, need not look to New York for evidences of the evil nature of the Masonic institution. The hailing sign of distress has been thrown in the course of judicial proceedings in the city of Pittsburg; and our fellow citizens will long remember that the notorious scoundrel Pluymart, who had robbed a bank in our city, and who was running at large in contempt of the law and of the judgment of a court, was pardoned through the influence of Masons in New York, Philadelphia, Cleveland and Columbus. . More than twenty years ago a Presbyterian synod in this very city condemncd and denounced that institution, its blasphemous ceremonies and its evil tendencies, and at a late day twenty-seven of the most respectable Masons in this vicinity declared that its practices were calculated to weaken all the securities of life, liberty and property" (p).
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