Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1853-08-31
Mr.. wright. Of Wood county, then arose and


Mr.. Wright, Of Wood county, then arose and
nAfr. President many Of the members of
this Convention may not be personally acquainted
with Mr.. H. III. Barney, for whom we have just
voted for State Commissioner of Common Schools,
it may not be improper for me to say few words
in reference to him. When q young man, he
graduated at Of the best Colleges in the east;
after which he studied law, was admitted to the
bar. and pracficed in that profession some time;
but having love for teaching, and being desrous
of accomplishing all the good he could, he en-
gagged in that noble calling--the business of
teaching.
aIfirsf made his acquaintance i'm A.sora, Cay
,iga county, N. Y.,where he was then the popu-
lar and highly respected Principal of the Aurora
Academy. AS IL teacher, he was distinguished
for his zeal efficiency and success; and his school
was a model for the schools in that part of the
State. While engaged as a teacher, he was one
Of the most ardent advocates of popular educa-
ton. can confidently state this, for have Of
ten worked shoulder to shoulder with him, in
pushing forward the great educational improve
sa1ents ia that State. Having passed through a
lonr course of usefulness as teacher, he became
20 much beloved by the young men of his county,
whom he had educated. that they procured his
noDnination by the Democracy for Member of
the Convention to revise the Constitution of the
State. Although the county of Erie was whig
county, yet his popularity was so great that he
was elected, and served out the session which
formed the present Constitution ofthe great State
of New York. His course in that Convention
was that of sound and reliable Democrat, His
reputation, however, as a teacher and an educa-
zionist, had extended beyond the State of New
York, and when the people of Cincinnati had de-
termined to havea Central High School of su.
perior character, the School Board wishing to
procure the best talent of the country, sent a
proposition to him to remove to their city and
conduct this highly useful institution. But tai
ents ike his could not be obtained without an
ADEQUATE compensation, and the Board at once Of
fered him twelve hundred dollars a year, a higher
salary than was ever before given to teacher of
a public school in Ohio. This he accepted, and
took charge of the school. Subsequently, in
consequence of his eminent services and useful
labors, this salary has been raised to fifteen hun
dred dollars year. / mention this fact, simply
to show that he stands the very head of the tea
ehers profession in Ohio. Since coming among
tls, i have met him at nearly all the annual and
semi-annHal meetings of the State Teachers As
4soeiation, in which he has been a leading and
efficient member In every movement, except be-
ing accessory TO their class nomination of Lorin
Andrews, at Dayton.
sHe stands in the very front rank of the lead
ing educatiorists of the age and is fully posted
up in reference to all the educational improve
ments of the day. No man in the State of Ohio
could be selected who has such high qualifica-
.tions for the Office, and know that he will be
ztrinnphantly elected. I, therefore, move that
Hiram III. Barney be unanimously nominated by
this Convention for State Commissioner of Com
mon Schools.
Mr.. Cistsaid that lately the taunt had been
thrown out that the Democratic party could not
put in nomination for this position candidate
equal to Lorin Andrews; but he rejoiced to know
that no man who at all knew the present nomi-
zee would indulge in such taunts. He was a
man of talent. a scholar in the fullest sense, a
practical man and a Democrat man whom the
Democrats could support with pride. In these
remarks he intended no dsparagement to the
other candidates whose names had been used in
connection with this nomination They were all
! good men, and well qualified.
The nomination was then unanimously con-
firmed.
sss On motion, it was
ResoEred, That these proceedings be published
III. the Ohio Stateman Ohio State Democrat, West
botc, and the Democratic papers throughout the
s State.
On motions the Convention adjourned sine die
SIGNED By THE OFFICERS.