Standard history of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, Part 99

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 99

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On September 10, 1856, a large Democratic meeting was held in Pittsburg, on which occasion 6,000 people were present. Charles Shaler was chairman of the day. The principal speakers were David Tod, of Ohio; Ely K. Bowen, of Maryland; John C. Breckinridge, of Kentucky, and Colonel Samuel W. Black. Mr. Breckinridge received an ovation, and delivered a speech of intense fire and force. The large procession was led by the Washington Infantry, and comprised secret lodges, chariots, floats, ships of war and many horsemen and pedestrians, and extra cars were run on the railways to accommodate the large crowd in attendance.

On the 17th of September, 1856, occurred the largest mass meeting of the citizens ever held in Allegheny County up to that date: The object of the. meeting was to endorse the nomination of Fremont and Dayton, and to con- centrate the strength and kindle the enthusiasm of the Republican party by an extraordinary display of numbers and a feast of oratory. It was afterward said of this meeting that "the like of that day never was seen before in this city." It was stated that there were 1,740 horses and 442 vehicles in line. The number of persons present will never be known, but probably approximated 30,000.

In May, 1856, the beating of Mr. Sumner in Congress by Preston S. Brooks caused great indignation in Pittsburg, and meetings denouncing in the severest terms that atrocious act were held.

At the October election in 1856 the State of Pennsylvania went Demo- cratic, which fact considerably dampened the ardor of the Republicans in Allegheny County, though they continued to hold meetings until the election in November. At the Presidential election the vote in Pittsburg stood as follows: Fremont 3,821, Buchanan 2,881; in Allegheny, Fremont 2,270, Buchanan 1,118; in Allegheny County, Fremont 13,907, Buchanan 9,062. The Fillmore vote in Allegheny County was 989, and the fusion vote 349. Chicago, Cleveland and Pittsburg were the only three cities of considerable size in the United States to give a majority for Fremont and Dayton.

At the Union County Convention, held in March, 1857, to name delegates to the State convention, resolutions were passed denouncing the action of the majority of the United States Supreme Court in the Dred Scott case, and the opinions filed by the two dissenting justices, Curtin and McLean, were approved. Several of the newspapers published the dissenting opinions. The Post placed as a caption to the head of an editorial, "Republicanism Knocked in the

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Head." The full effect of the decision of the Supreme Court was well under- stood here, and met with severe denunciation and opposition. In May, 1857, Thomas H. Benton lectured here on the subject of "Union." It was a powerful address, full of fire and patriotism, and elicited unbounded applause from the large attendance.

The Presidential campaign of 1860 was one of the most momentous ever held in Pittsburg. Four parties were represented, and during the autumn meet- ings were of almost nightly occurrence. A large Bell and Everett meeting was held August 18, in City Hall, on which occasion an immense bell, built for the purpose, was placed in a four-horse wagon and drawn through the streets about midday, and on the way was frequently sounded. On the side of the wagon was the following sentence: "This is the Bell that tolls the deathknell of Sectionalism, where Everett goes." Dr. W. M. Wright was president of the evening meeting.

On September 26th the Republicans held a torchlight procession, in which it was claimed 2,700 men marched. The following day they held a mass convention, on which occasion it was claimed there were in line 1,027 horses, 222 vehicles and 2,050 persons on foot. A. W. Loomis was chairman of the meeting and Hon. Thomas Corwin, of Ohio, the principal orator. He spoke in the most fiery and eloquent vein for two hours and a half, and was constantly interrupted by the enthusiasm of his auditors. He was followed in short speeches by Colonel, afterward Governor, A. G. Curtin, Benjamin F. Wade, of Ohio, Morton Mc- Michael and Thomas M. Marshall. At the election for governor, Mr. Curtin, Republican, received in Allegheny County a majority of 6,689 over Mr. Foster, Democratic candidate for governor. This was declared to be a Republican gain over the October election of 1859 of 3,475. On October 6th the Douglas Democrats held an immense mass convention, on which occasion Hon. J. H. Wright, of Boston, was the principal speaker. "We desire to see a full expres- sion of the people to-morrow on the question, whether slavery shall be voted up or voted down, whether it shall go into all the Territories in spite of the wishes of their people, and there be maintained; whether the people's unoccupied lands shall be free to actual settlers; whether we shall have free soil for a free people" (d). The vote at the November election, 1860, for President was as follows: "Lincoln, 16,725; Douglas, 6,725: Breckinridge, 523; Bell, 570 (e).

A call for a mass meeting, "without distinction of party," signed by nearly 400 citizens, to be held Saturday evening, January 19, 1861, was circulated on Friday, the 18th. This was really a Democratic meeting, which favored the restoration of the Missouri Compromise or the adoption of the Crittenden resolutions. Many Republicans attended. Mayor Wilson presided, and speeches were delivered by ex-Governor Johnston, J. B. Sweitzer, M. Swatzelder and others. Resolutions were adopted favoring the Crittenden Compromise (f). The war settled the slavery question in the United States. In 1870 colored males of lawful age voted for the first time in this county.

(d) Dispatch, November 5, 1860.

(e) The New York Tribune Almanac reverses the vote for the Douglas and Breck- inridge tickets.

(f) Post, January 21, 1861.

CHAPTER XXIX.

NEWSPAPERS AND LITERATURE-THE GAZETTE-JOHN SCULL AND JOSEPH HALL- DIFFICULTIES AND DISCOURAGEMENTS-THE TREE OF LIBERTY-RIVALRY OF THE TWO PAPERS-LIBELOUS ARTICLES-THE COMMONWEALTH AND THE MERCURY- MORGAN NEVILLE- PITTSBURG RECORDER-MANY NEWSPAPERS DURING THE THIRTIES-WAR OF THE PARTISANS-NEVILLE B. CRAIG-THE STATESMAN-JOHN B. BUTLER-ALLEGHENY DEMOCRAT-LEONARD S. JOHNS-ORGANS OF THE PAR- TISANS-JOHN M. SNOWDEN-WILLIAM B. CONWAY-ELECTION HANDBILLS- INFIDELITY AND CATHOLICISM DISCUSSED-ALFRED SUTTON AND THE TIMES - MR. WILSON'S ADVOCATE - THE MANUFACTURER - ITS ICONOCLASTIC COURSE-OTHER NEWSPAPERS-THE MC DONALD-STEWART IMBROGLIO- BITTERNESS OF THE EDITORIALS-THE PITTSBURGER-THE CONSTITUTION- ALIST-THE AMERICAN-THE CHRONICLE-THE VISITOR-THE DISPATCH -THE COMMERCIAL JOURNAL-THE POST-EDITORIAL TRIBULATIONS -MRS. SWISSHELM-PRINTERS' BANQUET-RELIGIOUS NEWSPAPERS- THE PRESS OF RECENT YEARS-THE FIRST AUTHOR IN PITTSBURG- THE NAVIGATOR AND THE ALMANACS-AUTHORS OF THE TEENS AND THE TWENTIES- THE FIRST POET-THE DIRECTORIES- MRS. ROYALL THRASHED -- OTHER EARLY PROSE AND POETIC WRITERS- AUTHORS OF RECENT DATES - EXTRACTS FROM THEIR WORKS-GREAT VARIETY OF LITERARY PRODUCTS.

The first newspaper to be issued west of the Alleghany Mountains made its appearance in Pittsburg on July 29, 1786, and was called the Pittsburg Gazette. John Scull and Joseph Hall were induced, largely by the representations of H. H. Brackenridge, to come from Philadelphia to Pittsburg and establish this newspaper, and, no doubt, were promised much assistance and many con- tributions from the facile pen of Mr. Brackenridge. The paper was first issued in a little log building on the bank of the Monongahela, at the corner of Chancery Lane and Water Street. At that time the town consisted of a range of log buildings extending from Chancery Lane to Ferry Street, some twelve or fifteen other cabins scattered along Market Street, and to the westward the two redoubts near the "Point" and at the mouth of Redoubt Alley, and the old buildings still standing in Fort Pitt. The outlook was not inviting nor encouraging for the new enterprise. John Walker, who died in 1856, at the age of eighty-six years, brought across the mountains in a wagon the little press . first used by the Gazette. It has been stated that Andrew Brown, proprietor and editor of the Federal Gazette, of Philadelphia, was in some way connected with the establishment of the Pittsburg Gazette. It is not improbable that he may have sold to Messrs. Scull and Hall the first material used by them. Ref- erences have been found to a subscription that was raised for the benefit of the Gazette, whether in Pittsburg or Philadelphia, or both, cannot be learned with accuracy. The subscription price of the Gazette was fixed at I7s. 6d. per annum. The paper started off with valuable contributions from the pen of Mr. Brackenridge. On November 10, 1786, Joseph Hall died, in the twenty- second year of his age, and his death was noticed by an obituary of three lines in the issue of November 18th. Soon after this event John Boyd pur- chased Mr. Hall's share of the Gazette outfit and located in Pittsburg, and

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became associated with Mr. Scull in the publication of the Gazette. Adver- tisements were placed at ȘI per square for three weeks' insertion, and twenty-five cents for each insertion thereafter. As no postoffice had yet been established here by the Government, the publisher was compelled to rely upon the kindness of friends and subscribers for the carriage of his issues to his subscribers, and on more than one occasion was obliged to use cartridge paper from the Arsenal on which to print his paper. This occasioned much uncer- tainty in the delivery, and resulted in many losses and some complaints. Through the utmost discouragements Mr. Scull persistently continued the issue. Many times, as he himself stated, he was without means to purchase a pound of beef, and at all times subscriptions could be paid with produce. "Persons residing in the country who wish to become subscribers to the Pittsburg Gazette are hereby informed that country produce will be taken in payment for their subscriptions" (a).

Early in 1787 Mr. Scull sold a portion of his printing outfit to Mr. Brad- ford, who later in the year established the Kentucky Gazette, the second paper issued west of the Alleghany Mountains. Mr. Boyd continued with Mr. Scull, with one or two intermissions, until February, 1789, when, for some reason not known, he suicided by hanging himself on the hill which afterward took its name from this circumstance. In April, 1789, Mrs. Ann. Boyd, his widow, married William Wilson.

At the end of the first year Mr. Scull issued the following announce- ment: "The undertaking was represented to us to be hazardous, and we have found it to be so. . The encouragement of the public is fluctuating and uncertain. It does not occur to all that they ought to encourage a paper in its infancy for what it may be in future years. The principal difficulty under which we have labored has been a certain and speedy mode of conveyance to our subscribers. We have been at all times careful to seize opportunities of conveyance when they offered, but have been frequently deceived by those who have been entrusted by us. A knowledge of the country and of char- acter may enable us for the future to judge better with whom we may entrust our packets; but it must rest with our subscribers themselves, in the different neighborhoods, to devise means to have their papers brought to them. It will be necessary for those who have been subscribers from the commencement of the first publication to recontinue their subscriptions by sending the sum stipulated in cash or produce." At this time each issue sold for 6d.

At first it was necessary to bring all the paper used across the moun- tains, either on packhorses or in wagons. Many times, owing to bad roads or inclement weather, the supply ran short, and the Gazette was issued in an extremely abridged form on cartridge paper. But on these occasions Mr. Scull stated that "the deficiency will be made up to our subscribers at the end of the year." Late in 1788 the Gazette began to print for the first time lists of uncalled-for letters in the postoffice, Mr. Scull being postmaster. In Novem- ber, 1789, the Gazette appeared with a new illustrated heading, representing an escutcheon, upon which was shown a running deer, and above this was a folio entitled Pittsburg Gazette, and on the sides of this device stood an Indian and a white man.

Very little local news was published. The reason for that was owing to the fact that the settlers were thoroughly familiar with local affairs, and demanded news of the East and of Europe, and printers were obliged to acquiesce in this demand. Accordingly, for many years, the early newspapers were filled with the proceedings of European courts and of the United States Congress,

(a) Gazette, 1787.

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and with articles on moral subjects, usually written by ministers, lawyers, doctors and others competent to use grammatical language.

After this the Gazette continued without intermission under the sole man- agement of Mr. Scull. The paper had no rival until 1800. On June 24, 1797, the editor said: "This paper is made in the Western country. It is with great pleasure we present to the public the Pittsburg Gazette, printed on paper made by Messrs. Jackson & Sharpless, on Redstone Creek, Fay- ctte County. Writing-paper of all kinds and qualities, as well as printing- paper, will be made at this mill. This is of importance to the inhabitants of the country, not only because it will be cheaper than that which is brought across the mountains, but it will keep a large sum of money in the country which is yearly sent out for this article." On December 28, 1798, Mr. Scull announced that thereafter the Gazette would be printed on a royal sheet, and thus be little inferior in size to the Philadelphia papers. At this time the price of the Gazette was $2 per year, one-half in advance and the other half in six months. On July 10, 1799, Mr. Scull stated that the Gazette, together with all other institutions in the Western country, was in a flourishing condition, and that there were then west of the mountains five presses in operation. He stated that at first he was compelled to depend upon the fancy, and not the necessity, of his subscribers, but that friends were true to him, and he claimed the credit of having been a pioneer in his profession, and had given the people a useful and impartial paper. He denied the recent charge that he showed partiality to the Administration party by publishing everything in its favor and nothing against it, but admitted that he resented all attacks upon the men who had successfully conducted the Revolution, and had since placed the Government upon a sound and prosperous basis.

Mr. Scull could not brook abuse to the party of Washington, Hamilton and Adams. He took a conscientious view of partisan affairs, and regarded the opposition of the Anti-Federalists, particularly their severity, as wholly unjust and even treasonable. He, therefore, late in the decade of the nineties, began to deny the enemies of the Adams administration their customary unrestricted access to the columns of his paper. This restriction fell with crushing force, particularly, upon Mr. Brackenridge, who was then an ambitious politician, and who felt it necessary for his interests that his views and position on political questions should be accurately known by the people of the Western country. In this view he was supported by Dr. Andrew Richardson, and, in fact, by all other Anti-Federalists living here. As early as 1797 or 1798 the Anti- Federalists had begun to talk of the establishment here of an organ friendly to their cause, but the movement was not carried into effect until the year 1800, when, through the instrumentality of Messrs. Brackenridge, Richardson and others, Mr. John Israel was induced to establish here an organ of the Anti-Federalists called the Tree of Liberty. No doubt the leading Anti-Feder- alists here werc financially interested in this venture. From the commencc- ment the paper took a violent course in opposition to the Federalists, and in support of the measures advocated by Mr. Jefferson. Mr. Brackenridge was a frequent contributor in able and lengthy articles upon political and other questions, and thus the Tree of Liberty proved more than a match for the Gazette. Mr. Scull was a man of humble tastes and medium talents, and lacked the brilliancy, logic and finesse necessary to cope with such a man as Mr. Brack- enridge. It is therefore no doubt true that the establishment of the Tree of Liberty, and the strength of the position it assumed, contributed largely to the marvelous growth of the Jeffersonian party in this vicinity. The Tree of Liberty was issued from a house owned by Mr. Brackenridge. Previous to this time the

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Herald of Liberty had been issucd at Washington, Pennsylvania, under the management of a Mr. Israel, and it was asserted in after ycars that the Tree of Liberty was an offshoot of the Herald of Liberty, and that the object of its establishment was to fight the Gazette. The motto of the Tree of Liberty was, "And the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations" (b). In 1801 Dr. Andrew Richardson said that he had "warmly interested himself in establishing a paper at this place, entitled the Tree of Liberty." So violent were the articles which often appeared in the Tree of Liberty that Mr. Seull, of the Gazette, in 1803, brought suit for libel against Mr. Israel, and secured a verdict against him. On the other hand, Mr. Scull had many able friends, who contributed articles equally as severe and libclous for the columns of the Gazette. One article in particular was of so libelous a nature that Mr. Brack- cnridge called upon Mr. Scull, pointed out the objectionable matter, and threat- ened a suit for libel unless Mr. Scull should reveal the name of the author of the article. This the latter promised to do after consultation.

At this time the Gazette was issued from a small building on First Street, next door to the corner of Market Street. At this date John M. Snowden was connected with a newspaper at Greensburg. The following extract from an editorial written by John Scull, and published in the Gazette of August 5, 1803, reveals to an unusual degree the qualities and character of the writer: "If my undertaking was novel and hazardous, my conduct has been honest. In my profession as a printer I never forgot my duty as a man. If I was a printer, I felt alsó I was a member of society and a subject of government, and I respect both society and government. I never printed for hire, nor for party, and for protection of worth and the exposure of vileness my press has ever been open, of whatever party the worth or vileness were. I have made my conscience my guide, and used the best means in my power to inform it." From this extract the strong moral characteristics of Mr. Scull are revealed. No one ever questioned his integrity, and a noticcable fact revealcd by this extract is that he had not yet cast off the old idea that the newspaper, instead of being a partisan organ, was for the benefit of the whole community, irrespective of party considerations, and open to all worthy and moral communications and objects. The rise of the Jeffersonian party had dispelled the dream of Mr. Scull in the sacredness of the newspaper from subserviency to the designs of par- tisans.

Late in 1804 the Tree of Liberty was discontinued, for what reason cannot be learned. In January, 1805, it was succecded by the Commonwealth, under the management of Messrs. Brown and Pentland. The paper was first issued as a four-column folio, at $3 per year, and its motto was "Virtue, Liberty and Independence." This paper was the organ of the Jeffersonian party, and seems to have been conducted with considerable success until about 1818.

In July, 18II, the first issue of the Mereury appeared, with James C. Gille- land editor and proprictor. It was issued on Market Street, between Third and Fourth, and the subscription price was $2 per annum in advance. In a short time it passed to John M. Snowden, who said it was his design "to pre- serve the columns of the Mereury frce from that personality and licentiousness which, unhappily, too much and too generally characterize our public jour- 11als." At first the Mercury seems to have been almost unpartisan, but later, as is well known, it became the organ of the Anti-Federalists, and later of the Jacksonians and Democrats. Mr. Snowden further said that in his journal "the freedom of discussion shall be scrupulously preserved." The Mereury began with 150 subscribers, but within six months, if the statement of the editor be believed,

(b) Revelation, xxii:2.

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the list had grown to nearly 400. The paper was issued every Thursday evening. The Mereury ardently supported the War of 1812, while the Gazette at first opposed it, but later likewise advocated it as a measure of necessity. The Commonwealth, which was still issued in 1812 as a Jeffersonian organ, also favored the war.

There were thus three papers here, the Gazette, Commonwealth and Mercury, in 1812, when the war broke out with Great Britain. The news was of such an exciting character in the autumn of 1812 that all three papers issued extra editions when news of more than usual importance was received. In 1815 the Commonwealth was printed by Henry A. Kurtz & Co., on the west side of Cherry Alley, between Second and Third streets. Riddle's Directory of 1815 con- tained the following statement: "Three weekly newspapers are published in the borough, besides two periodical literary works; the former having an extensive circulation, the latter are chiefly confined to the town and immediate vicinity." James M. Riddle, at this time, announced himself in his directory as a stock- broker.

On the Ist of August, 1816, John Scull, the veteran editor, relinquished the publication of the Pittsburg Gazette. He was succeeded by Morgan Neville in the editorship of that journal, and his son, John I. Scull, became associated with Mr. Neville. In 1818 the Gazette became a semi-weekly, and was issued every Thursday and Friday, continuing thus until March, 1820, when Scull and Neville dissolved and were succeeded by Eichbaum & Johnston, pub- lishers, and Morgan Neville editor, and the name of the paper was changed in June to Pittsburg Gazette and Manufacturing and Mercantile Advertiser.

In 1818 the Commonwealth seems to have been discontinued, and about that time a new paper, called the Statesman, made its appearance under the editorship of Ephraim Pentland. It espoused the cause of the Republicans, who after- ward became Jacksonians and Democrats.

Mr. Neville's editorials were scholarly, ornate and forcible. His columns were plentifully sprinkled with gems from the classical authors. In common with many editors of that period, he constantly enriched his editorials with quotations from many writers; in fact, to such an extent, that the effect now seems strained and sophomoric. He was guilty of the fault of many young writers, of weakening his composition with too rich a rhetorical dress. But his qualities were brilliant. Like flint, all he needed to show fire was to be struck. He was the antithesis in many particulars of John Scull. All the early newspapers invariably sent out their New Year greetings of poor poetry, gossip and criticism to their subscribers. In March, 1820, young Mr. Scull said: "The feelings of Mr. Scull in withdrawing his name from the head of the paper established by his father thirty-five years ago can only be appre- ciated by those who, like him, have made the experiment of separating themselves even from an inanimate object which a whole life of intimacy has rendered familiar-they are, indeed, of the most painful kind." In 1822 Rev. John Andrews began publishing a religious weekly called the Pittsburg Recorder, which has continued with many changes down to the present date. In 1822 the Gazette passed to the ownership and editorship of David and M. Maclean, who conducted it until 1829. The Statesman, after passing through several hands, was finally owned in 1824 by J. C. and P. C. M. Andrews.

During the War of 1812 a small paper called the Pioneer was issued for a short time, and in 1813 the Western Gleaner appeared.

In August, 1826, Henry C. Marthens called for proposals for publishing a Democratic newspaper to be entitled Farmers' and Artists' Emporium, and at the same time for a German paper, to be entitled Die Dallegencine Zeitung; both were short lived. In 1826 the Western Journal appeared. The Allegheny Democrat

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was started as early as 1824 by John McFarland, with whom were associated at different times several other writers. In 1828 or 1829 the name of the Recorder was changed to Spectator, but was still issued as a religious journal by Rev. John Andrews, who transferred it to Samuel C. Jennings in January, 1829, at which time its name was again changed to Christian Herald. It was afterward claimed by the editor of this paper that it was the first religious journal published in the United States, having been issued at Chillicothe, Ohio, as early as 1814. In September, 1827, John C. Andrews, late editor of the Statesman, began issuing a new paper called the Commonwealth and Pittsburg Manufacturing and Commercial Advertiser. At this time, September, 1827, there were being issued here the Gazette, Mercury, Statesman, Recorder, Allegheny Democrat, Western Journal, and there were soon to be issued the Amaranth, by Mr. Andrews; the Commonwealth, by Mr. Andrews, and the Hesperus, by the educator, N. R. Smith. The Independent Republican, under W. A. Smith, made its appearance about 1829. In 1826 the Macleans dropped the latter portion of the long name of the Gazette. The Allegheny Democrat, under the editorship of John McFarland, espoused the cause of Andrew Jackson, and in a short time was widely known and enjoyed a large patronage. The Commonwealth was also the organ of the Jacksonians. In 1827 the Democratic Press was issued by Mr. Binns, who was assisted by Mr. James C. Gilleland. This paper supported the Adams administration. In 1828 the Gazette was again issued as a a semi-weekly for the city and weekly for the country, the price of the semi-weekly being $4 per annum. In September, 1829, the Macleans sold the Gazette to Neville B. Craig, who, in August, 1833, issued it as a daily. Mr. Craig, in September of that year, said: "Truly the times have changed, and we have changed with them." He further said that the daily seemed almost too small.

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Standard history of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, Part 99

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