The gazette and Democrat. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1860, 1860-08-02

they siaLd On an equal footing with the
people Of other States. and the State thus
organized ought ID be admitted into ths
Federal Union, whether its constitution
prohibits or recognizes the institution Of
slavery.
How Tom COTwIn Converted Stage Full
Of Democrats.
OF the many good stories told Of ToN
CoRwIS. VIC do not know better than this.
which we find is the Urbana Citizen and
Gazette of tie 10Th:
Mr. EDlroR The following story WAS
told me q short time ago, by one who
vouched for its authenticity. 1t should
not. think, be lost.
When Tom Corwin was running for Gov.
ernorship Of this State, great was the fuss
made OF his having been once upon time
wagon boy. "Ths Ohio Wagon Boy,"
they called him. and many and eloquent
were the appeals made by his friends to
the people to support the '"Wagcn Boy"
although. as my informant told ME, he had
never distinguished himself in hat line but
once, in driving Q load Of provisions for
the army about ninety miles; Well, few
weeks before the election. Cotwln, with a
couple Of friends, etitered The stage run
ming between - aud Lancaster. They
had not travelled far when the war Of
wOrds grew hot and sttOng between the
friends of the candidate. aud the rest Of
the pastengets, who it seems. were hard
shell Democrats, to man. Until mile or
SO before they enteted Lancaster. it vas
proposed that Tom should give them a
specimen Of his powers Of driving. and
prove that his reputation as "WagonBoy'
was not wholly undeserving. He would
fain have declined, for be knew that the
drive down the steep hill on which The
town is built. was none OF the easiest; and
the sudden TURN he would be obliged Il
make at the bottom OF said bill, at iul
speed. in order to reach the stage Office.
might somewhat damage his claims as to
the supreme excellence Of driving. But
no refusal would they take, 20 he must
and finally the driver having been Induced
to re!inquish his seat, and take Toms va
Gated Que inside. said Tom entgly EN-
sconcet himself In the drivers box aid
took the "ribbons' Ia bis hands, resolved
to trust TO his lucky star 10 carry him
through. With a queer mixture of'coachy
and the parliamsntariau In his FIRST en-.
enlargement o the horse togo. setup, gen
asmen, away they started. charging over
the brow of the hill, directly past Tom
Ewing's residence. in full view Of the
Senator himself aid his family, the entire
crowd cheering like lunatios; down The
! hill they ratified and rushed Tom. his dark
face shining with delight. nying On the
whip at every jump, the passengers screech
ing and yelling like CansnOhes on a war
trail. Before they were half way down
hill the whole town was i'll an uproar
whether the racket heard was the i6retun-
ner Of an earthquake. or proceeded from a
charge Of ssvages. .cod'd not be satiiactorily
ascsrtsined q. first, and no one could tell,
run or stay. Thus far all had got On veil
with the Wagon Boy, but the "lug Of war
was yet to come. As long az there was a
straight road before him II was all plain
sailing. but the h,rtible turn to reach the
stage Office, which Stood little distance
from the highway, was the thing to be
dreaded The track which led to the Of
fee took a circular sweep round d little
way. aud led close up before it. Had the
amateur driver allowed the horses their
own way, all would have been we'll. for
they were we'll trained, and had travelled
the road for years But no with vio-
lent combihatiun df pull, haul, Jerk and
kick, (be had lost part Of the reiis--
half in Ills hands and the rest tWined
round his legs. he wrenched the horses
sddare off ii rod before a pile Of about
three cords Of wood, without in the least
abating their speed. He had just time to
G ,hvulsiSsly close his eyes and draw .
long shivoring breath when. with bdmE
and a jar, and tremendous shake, they
we're up sddsre Before the Office. and atr,
tip over. How they got over that pile o.
wood no mortal man knows, for Tom de
clares he does not. But safe they we're
although thst unlucky Hoodpile was lying
in wreck and ruins all over the street, ,anC
round about then,
The psralyzed officials. as soon as they
recovered from the stupor into which tn
Internal din and racket had thrown them
rushed pei mel, and wanted to ktOA "*ha
: the - was the matter" Tom. With hi
politest bow. and with his hand on hi
heart. Ito keep theri from hearing ho,
hard i, beat. he afterwards said. inform
. ed them THAT it was merely the Wagol
Boy giving them specimen dfhis art:"
In about FIVE minutes the whole FOWL
, was there viewing with establishment th'
demolished woodpile. and cheering franti
3 cally for "Tom COrwin, the Ohio Wagol
: Boy" ..
The passengers got out subddedly. on
E by one, plcdgins themselves to vote 70
Corwio-for. as one expressed It, "lf b
was good enough driver to drive bi
stage coach over three cords OF wood an
not spill man. he was surely good enoug
helmsman to steer the ship of Stat
through all the perils and dangers, how
ever great.
ETTh population Of the United State
: in 1850, was 1858, 1868 whites, 434, 40
9 free blacks: 3,2O4,313 slaves. Total blac
Il