The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1857-04-22
GOV. WIN. mEDILL.

Su0 OauuusAy 1ISS tSsSJ, VIC
the following from the Ohio Eagle of
the first of January last. 1t is a truth
full vindication, speaking directly from
the record, and sho uld mantle the cheeks
of the maliguers of Gov. MED1LL with
shame
Gov. MEDLL's DIsTRIcT-THE Fro
UREs.-It is a fact worthy of note, and
one which so far as we have observed
has. been overlooked by the press of all
parties that our late Executive, Cover
nor MEDILL, although defeated for. Con-
gress at the recent State election, re-
eeived a larger number of votes han
any Democratic candidate in Ohio, and
more votes than any candidate of any
party with the exceptions of Messrs.
Mott, Horton, aDd Bliss. the abolition
candidates in the 5th, 1lth, and 14th
Districts. The explanation of the Gov
errors defeat in this contest, is to be
found in the fact that his bold and manly
stand on all the great questions Of the
day, narrowed the contest to a fight be-
tween himself and a single opponent on
whom all the force of the opposition was
conferred. In most of the districts of
she State, three candidates were rum
ming and the consequent result was that
but few of u congressman obtained q
majority vote ea0d7h AdUocate.
The efforts that have been making
for some time past in certain quarters,
to depreciate the standing and influence
of those who favored the nomination of
Mr.. Buchanan by the Cincinnati Con-
v%ention have tended in some measure to
misdirect public attention. Even the
Central Committee of the State have
seen proper to refer to the result of the
late election, as furnishing evidence of
superior skill aud ability in the manage.
ment of popular contests. The commit
tee no doubt performed their duty, and
we have no desire to detract one iota
from their well earned reputation in that
particular. But if there was an in
%tention by this reference to institute a
comparison unfavorable to the preeee-
ding contest We beg leave in addition to
thefact pointed out by out friend of the
Advocate to direct attention to a few
other matters.
In 1854 an organization arose of the
most extraordinary character that has
ever been known in this or any other
country, men banded themselves togeth-
er in secret associations, appealed to
the religious and native prejudices of
the masses, and agreed under solemn
oaths to support in all elections tho
nominees of the majority without any
reference to their political principles or
NJ. --alSla~ III
to the people of 9 natural right in the
sudden repeal of a law which however
wrong in It'll character and operations,
had long stood on the statute books of
the country, caused as was to have been
expected some little confusion in our
own ranks. The Abolitionists under
this condition of things saw. that the
moment to strike hak arrived, they held
meetings through out the State. and sue
ceeded in uniting all the elements of OPP
position under one banner. It is hard
ly necessary to say that the Democracy
were overwhelmed and the Fusion tick
ct thus formed elected by some eighty
thousand majority.
The year following, 1855, Gov Me-
dill was induced to accept a re-nomina-
ton for the Office of Governor, more
certainly from G sense of gratitude and
duty, than from n expectation ofbeiag
elected. Without any aid whatever
from the Central Committee, which is
said to have met but once during the
entire canvass, he and a portion of his
democratic colleagues on the ticket call-s
ed meetings in nearly every county in
fha Cfofo on1 aHaafo1 o1 xborou-I ~
organization, as with a proper discharge
of their other duties, it was in their pow
er to form. Gov. Medill alone delivered
seventy-one addresses, in nearly as ma
ny counties, during the canvass; and al
though the elements of opposition were
still fused and thoroughly organized and
had again united on a ticket which had
been SO arranged as to represent the Pc
culiar views of nearly every faction,
Gov. Medill had the qualification and
honor of reducing the boosted majority
of eighty thousand which they received
the year before down to a little oyer
fifteen thousand.
It was owing to the ability and ex-
traordipary exertions of the few noble
that were engaged in that contest
the most successful under the circum-
that has ever been fought in the
State, that the spirit and proper organi-
zation of the party was kept up and
efficient ct the late or ensuing
Now let us compare the re-
suit of that canvass, surrounded and
as it was by the circum-
referred to, with the contest just
The Know Nothing Lodges
had to a great extent been dissolved,
most of the members who once be-
to the Democratic party had re-
to their first love. The Kansas
question had been fully discussed and
explained, and the public mind had be-
come in a measure quoted on that sub
iect. The name and influence of the
most powerful and popular man that
could possibly have been brought for
ward for the Presidency, gave immense
to the party. There are many
motives that impel to the support of a
Presidential candidate, that cannot be
called forth in a canvass for Governor.
The Central Committee formed an or
yanization at the Capitol, and accord
ng to their own report, put forth all
heir energies, and yet the Democratic
State ticket with Chief Justice Ranuey,
one Of the best and most popular men
Ohio at its head, was beaten over
I8, 900 votes.
It may be said that at the elect on of
1855, Mr.. Trimble a third candidate for
Governor received some $4,000 votes,
but it will be seen that the Fillmore or