CHAPTER XVI

The Renaissance of the Democratic Party-The Thirteenth and Fourteenth Amendments-Opposition of Ohio Democracy-Notable Democrats of Ohio Who Contributed to the RenaissanceCause of the Renaissance-Nomination of Gen. George W. Morgan for Governor of Ohio in 1865 and of Allen G. Thurman in 1867-Thurman's Splendid Campaign.

President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation made certain the abolition of slavery in the United States. The Democracy of Ohio seeing that abolition was inevitable and anticipating what subsequently happened set its face rigidly against negro equality.

A joint resolution of Congress providing for the abolition of slavery in the United States was adopted by a two-thirds vote in the Senate, the majority including all the Republican Senators. The resolution failed in the House, however. That was in 1864. On January 31, 1865, the House adopted the resolution and it was transmitted to the several states for ratification. It was necessary that twothirds of the states should ratify the measure and all the states not in rebellion, except Delaware and Kentucky, did ratify it. The act was approved by President Johnson on December 18, 1865, and became the Thirteenth Amendment.

Two Ohio Congressmen, Le Blond and McKinney, Democrats, voted against abolition and the Democrats in the local Legislature adopted the same policy. The resolution came up in the State Assembly February 8, 1865, and was carried by strict party votes, the record standing 58 Republicans for the measure and 12 Democrats against it. The following day it was ratified in the Senate by 20 affirmative votes to 4 negative votes, the four being Democrats. The ratification was celebrated in Columbus by the firing of two hundred guns in the State House yard and by a large mass-meeting that evening which was addressed by Governor Brough and other prominent Republicans. The foundation was being laid for the perpetual control by the Republican Party of the colored vote.

The Democratic State Convention of 1865 met at the Atheneum in the city of Columbus on August 24th, with Clement L. Vallandigham as temporary chairman. Rufus P. Ranney was elected permanent chairman. The convention presented a striking contrast to that of 1863 when Vallandigham, then in exile, had been nominated for Governor with an enthusiasm that prevented the consideration of any other name. The war had closed gloriously for the North and every Republican speaker, every Republican newspaper, every individual Republican in the United States was declaring and insisting most vehemently that the Republican Party had carried on and won the war against the South and the Democrats; had freed the negro and saved the Union; had proved themselves patriots and heroes while all the Democrats who were not rebels were Copperheads and Butternuts. There were great men in the Democratic Party of Ohio in that day and they realized the situation. Feeling the injustice of the charge against them they yet knew the futility of fighting a popular prejudice while every wound of the war was still open. With dutiful courage they placed a ticket in the field and made a thorough campaign. The nominations were: for Governor Gen. George W. Morgan of Knox County, for Lieutenant-Governor William Lang of Seneca, for Supreme Court Judge Philadelph Van Trump of Fairfield, for Supreme Judge to fill a vacancy Thomas S. Key of Hamilton, for Clerk of Supreme Court Daniel S. Dana of Vinton, for Attorney-General David M. Wilson of Mahoning, for Treasurer of State George Spence of Clark, for Commissioner of Common Schools Hiram H. Barney of Pickaway, for Member of Board of Public Works Charles Boesel of Auglaize.

GEN. GEORGE W. MORGAN, the Democratic nominee for Governor in 1865, was one of the noted lawyers as well as one of the distinguished public men of his day in Ohio. He was born at Washington, Pa., September 20, 1820. He attended the old Washington College in his native place and also received some grammar school education before he enlisted as a private soldier in the army of the Republic of Texas. That was in 1836 and he was a member of Captain Thomas J. Morgan's company. He soon gained promotion to the rank of Sergeant and subsequently to that of Lieutenant. After

the struggle between Texas and Mexico came to a close he came to Mt. Vernon, Ohio, and entered the law office of John R. Miller, where he completed his legal studies, was admitted to the bar and became the partner of his preceptor.

When the Mexican War broke out in 1846 young Morgan enlisted again and became captain of the Young Guard, organized at Mt. Vernon. Soon afterward he was elected Colonel of the First Ohio Regiment, and with it and the Second Ohio, fought through the Mexican War, gaining distinguished mention. After the Mexican War he resumed his practice at Mt. Vernon. In 1853 he was made Consul to Marseilles, France, by President Pierce. When the Civil War broke out in 1861 he, for a third time, gave up his profession to take the field. He was made a General and saw a great deal of active service during the great Rebellion. His evacuation of Cumberland Gap has always been considered one of the most brilliant military achievements in the history of that great contest. His entire military record was excellent. After the war he returned to the practice of law. In 1865 General Morgan was nominated for Governor of Ohio by the Democratic Party, but already there was a feeling that spread over the state against the Democrats because they were not thirsty for the blood of the South, and Morgan's contest was futile. He was very popular personally, not only because of his distinguished military record, but for his personal qualities; also he was an avowed Union man and his defeat was not so very overwhelming. His opponent was Jacob D. Cox, who received a vote of 223,642, while Morgan's vote ran up to 193,797; a majority of 29,845 for Cox. Subsequently General Morgan served three terms in Congress and filled two foreign appointments, one as consul and one as minister plenipotentiary.

There was a faction of the Democratic Party in Ohio in those days which called itself the States Rights Democracy. They held a convention in Columbus, August 17th, and adopted a lengthy platform after which they nominated a state ticket headed by Alexander Long of Hamilton and Chilton A. White of Brown for Governor and Lieutenant-Governor. White withdrew and Michael N. Maginnis of Perry