Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1864-12-28

Franklin, TO their fellow citizens of
other counties, at which Gov. Chase,
responding on behalf of the people to
the welcome of Senator Kelly, deliv-
cred an address upon. the growth and
developement which had required for
Ohio a Peoples House larger than
had been erected by any other State
iu the Union,
The Governors first regular mes
sage was the 1rst one read in the now
structure 1t was q systematic expo
sition Of the material resources. the f.
nancial and educational condition,
and of the federal relations, Of the
State 1t invited increased attention
on the part of the Legislature, to the
interests ofagriculture and commerce,
recommended Bureau OF Statistics,
(Which has since boen established
and advised other measures of State
policy, which by the voice of tbs
people, were most cordially approved.
During the summer in 1857. Gov.
Chase was brought before the people
of the West under circumstances
somewhat novel. A railroad excur-
sion from Washington City to St.
Louis, to commemorate the opening
of the Ohio and Mississippi Railroad,
was planned by the companies repre-
senting the straight line from the
Potomac across the Ohio to the Mis-
sissippi. Gov. Chase received the
guests at Marietta, the site of the
first settlement in Ohio. A few
weeks afterward. Baltimore, emula-
ting the hospitality of st. Louis,
through the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad Company, invited citizens of
Ohio, Indiana and Missouri or an ex-
cursion from st. Louis TO the Chesa-
peake. Governor Chase became then
the guest of Baltimore. and spoke for
the people of the West, in response to
the hearty welcome extended them.
These speeches. at Marietta and at
Baltimore, eonstrasting the ciroum-
stances of 1900 with those of 1857, in
Ohio and in Maryland, and dwelling
upon the significance of State conrte-
sizes among free people whese COM
munities. with reciprocity of trade
and sentiment, were growing togsth-
er in industrial power, and in moral
and intellectual greatness, were greet
ed with distinguished favor in Mary
land, in Ohio, in Indiana, and in
Missouri.
The prominence given Gov. Chase
by the interchange of courtesies de-
scribed, contributed TO the agitation
which induced his political friends 20
insist that he should he Il candidate
for denomination. He had particu-
larly made it known that he was de-
sirous of relief from official respon-
sibility. His nomination. depended
ouly upon his consent to allow his
name to go before tho Convention,
which met in Columbus. August IL,
1857. A peculiar condition Of public
affairs, growing out Of defalcaiion
of 100000 in the Treasury, forbid
him TO withhold that consent. This
defalcation was discovered a few days
before the semi-annual interest on the
State debt fell due. Promptnsss, on
the part of Gov. Chase, compelled the
resignation of the Treasurer, who
had concealed the defalcation, secured
thorough investigation, and led to
the adoption of line of Policy which
enabled the Fund Commissioners to
meet punctually all pecuniary obliga-
tions, and fortunately avert a large
pecuniary loss.
1t is we'll known that Gov. Chase
did not seek a denomination, but
would not withhold his name from
the Convention; and he was nomina-
ted as u candidate for reelection by
accIamation, upon the motion of Sam.
son Mas N, of Clarke. county, gen.
tleman who represented the Conserv-
ative Wings. In that motion and its
enthusiastic reception, was the Mt
most possible endorsements of the sue
cess of the policy of conciliation, join
ed with steadfast adhesion to prfnci-
pie, which had animated Mr.. Chase's
public speeches and his official
messages; and had chara acterized his
official appointments. In the first
canvass he was the standard bearer
of an aggregate of parties which had
no common bond but opposition TO
slavery extension. In the second he
led a host united upon general prin-
ciples of State and National policy
The canvass was extraordinary. The
peculiar circumstances attending the
defalcation in the State Treasury. the
fact that it had been discovered un-
der a Republican administration
that Gov. Chase insisted upon the
resignation of the Treasurer then in
office, and had appointed a successor
who had received the nomination for
the regular term, at the State Con-
vention, imposed unusual responsible
ties upon him as a candidate. The
canvass was hotly contested. Conf
ming himself chiefly to the immediate
questions OF State interest, Governor
Chase filled q series Of appointments,
arranged by the State Central Com.
mittee, which brought him and the
Issue directly before the people of
more than half of the Lightweight
counties in the State. The canvass
was short-between the 18th of Au-
gust and the second Tuesday of Oc-
tober. From the middle. OF the FIST
week unto the very last day before
the election, without neglecting any
official duties, Governor Chase deliv-
cred on an average two speeches In
every three days-oflen trayersing
the entire breadth of the State be-
tween these meetings.
His election for Governor of Ohio
by vote larger than any ever before
given, notwithstanding the peculiar
circumstances of the canvass, (which
enabled the opposition to carry ms
iority IN both branches Of the Legis-
49, I..s4-atal tka atrornfh and