Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1861-03-20
Columbus Correspondence.
CoLuNBUs, March lG. 1851

ton has made the week an exciting one
Not only have the numerous friends anC
rartzans of candidates filed up the Hobbies
but we have lad the men themsclveI
here, looking after their own interests
Schcnck, Gurley, Stanton, Horton and De
lano have all been here together, and vol
may be sure that the consciousness of fight
ing under the eve of their chief has slim.
uisted the zeal and courage of each one:
supporters.
Schenck. Horton and Stanton all looked
for their first support to the conservatives,
and wurc understood to be conservative
candidates. Gov. Dennison is undoubted-
Il the best representative of the true Re-
publicanism CT Ohio, and Sherman, though
naturally approximating to the conscrva-
tives, draws his support from the same
ranks as the Governor.
;, The first caucus of the Legislature on
the subject of the nomination was held on
Tuesday evening last. and by agreement
was made purely informal, so as TO give an
opportunity to the ''nominals"" to como in
without fear that they would be held bound
by the c1ucus action. In this way it was
hoped hat some of the a%ntagonism might
be h~armonized, and the final nomination
be made in a manner which would secure
the united support Of the whole party in
the Legislature. At that meeting the
merits Of the different candidates were dis
cussed and they were fairly put in the
deld with the advantage Of a full statement
Of their claims. but no vote was taken.
On Thursday evening the caucus met fer
! wcrk and went at it industriOusly. From
half past seven till nearly Ole o'clock the
Hall of the House of Representatives was
as busy as a hive of bees. No speecl eS
were madsebut ballot after ballot was
taken with real business like dispatch. and
with great earuestness and deep though
not noisy excitement. That evening twen-
t~y-nine ballots we're taken, which reduced
the contest at first to Dennison and Scheneh
though subsequently Horton Gained some
votes from both, and led Schenck at the
close. Sherman's vote was reduced to six
at the 2Gth ballot, and his name was then
withdrawn. Several things conspired to
prevent Shcrman's nomination. Even his
friends feel that the leadership of the
House Of Representatives, with the Speak
ership within his grasp, is a position more
honorable to him personally, and puts him
more prominently before the country, than
4 scat in the Senate, where it must be
years before he could hope for any decided
prominence. Again the geography Of the
State is against him. 1t is universally !
said that the north part of the State must
not have both Senators in Congress unless
it is ready to abandon the support of Mr..
Wade when his term expires-which it is
not rery likely to do. As to ability, with
out detracting from Mr.. Sherman's talents,
Gov. Dennison's friends claim for him
greater strength as q public debatcr, and
equal talent for all departments Of public
business.
The third meeting Of the caucus was on
Friday evening. and the work went on in
the same steady and industrious manner.
Owing to an effort of a few persons to bring
Sherman into the contest again, a conccn-
tration of votes was prevented and no final
result was reached. After the 4Sth ballot
Counting both evcnings) an adjournment
was carried, and further contest postponed
til next Wednesday evening. Some of
the facts in regard to the caucus action are
n little singular. On the second evening
of the caucus Gov. Dcnnison was once or
twice within an ace of election, but owing
to some irregularity in the balloting or the
counting. the vote was declared informal,
and renewed efforts were made by his oP-
ponents to prevent his immediate and ap-
parently inevitable nomination. They
were so far successful as to be able to pro-
tract the contest till late in the night and
force an adjournment The next day gave
an opportunity to rally their forces and re-
arrange combinations, of all which the
practical result was to throw matters near
ly into the condition they were at on the
start. This was not entirely 80, however,
fcr the voting en- the third evening was
modified by a plan laid by a few Sherman
men to bring him upon the track again,
contrary to the advice and wish of his
friends who were authorized to speak for
him.
The plan was to combine a few ardent
sherman men who would agree to cast their
votes upon other candidates at the start,
for the express purpose of making a scat
and then gradually to rally on Sher-
man so as to produce the impression that
he was drawing over the Delano and Hor-
ton men and would therefore be acceptable
10 the conservative" 1t was thought
if this impression was made the Den
lison strength would be broken, and that
Sherman might thus be nominated more
~ management than by inherent strength.
It was a very nice arrangement and prom
sed well, but unfortunately for the plan
lers, the plan leaked out, and the result
vas that the second evening was wasted on
Totcs which were significant of nothing but ,
hat Gov. Dennison is the only candidate :
laying a decided and permanent lead in
he caucus, and whose friends arc enthu-
iastically determined to stand by him. 5
move Of the Sherman men was mani
estly injudieious, and that is abundant !
violence that it was a thing he himself !
Fould rcpudiate. 5
As specimens of the votes for the lead !
candidates. [ give you a few balIotings /
at random: forty two votes being /
e~cessary to a choice. I
THURSDAY EVENING. @
Isl bagst sh lth 18Th zsrd zzh ah aoA
ennison l3 - 81 ~ - 81 3i .
90 81 81 81 10 6 o q
chraek II II u q IS "a l6 Il =