Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-11-21
'" from the GAINESVILLE Sighal.l
A Brief KetrOspectiou.

THE OHIO STATESMAN, with considerable
tact and propriety, recently recognized the
invaluable services to the Democratic party
of Judge Allen G. Thurman. The SiqndL
copied and indorsed THE STATEsMAN's excel
lent notice OF the Judge, as did the other
Democratic papers of Ohio. Several of
them, in doing so, alsolawarded high praise
to John G. Thompson, OF Columbus, who
has been honored with the Chairmanship of
the State Executive Committee. AS the
Democratic press is disposed just now to
duly acknowledge, and recognize the emii-
ent services to our party of prominent
Democrats, we propose to indulge in a brief
retrospection, In order that others, who are
equally entitled to commentator, shalInot
be overlooked .JgIgii 'f.l... OFT 40 l9uf
On the 9TH day of August, 1861, in the
very darkest period of Democratic history,
the Democracy of0hio made Hugh j. jew
EFT, of this county, our standardbearer for
the then approaching political contest. The
war had but just commenced. President
Lincoln had, apparently manifested deter
mination to merit the support of men of all
parties. The Crittenden Resolution bad
passed Congress by an almost uDanirfeus
vote. The Republicans had cast off their
party name, and had assumed the popular
appellation of "Union Men," and were with
seeming patriotism, appealing to Democrats
everywhere to unite with them for the sake
of the Union, and thus avert party con-
test when the country was imperiled. These
appeals were alarmingly responded to /; and
but comparatively few of our public men
were willing to undertake Il, o,stem the cur
rent, and thus preserre our party organization,
in order to preserve the Union -Ofs1hese
States! 10 do this, Mr.. Jewett aceeptedth the
nomination for Governor, with an over
whelming majority against the Democracy
staring him in the face. The manner in
which he acquitted himself during thatcon-
test, his fidelity to Democratic principles,
and the truly National views he tforth in
his letter accepting the nomination, gave
universal satisfaction to the party which
entrusted him with its confidence and sup
port. The State Executive Committee, i'm
mediately on the adjournment of the con-
vention, was called together. and Amos
Layman, then of Marietta, was elected its
Secretary, opposition he now holds, and was
summoned to Columbus to do the work Of
the campaign. HE did it efficiently and sat
.isfaetorily, without hope or expectation of
rdEencouraging and stimulating the
Democracy throughout the State, by hislet-
-ters and circulars and by putting upon the
stump all thepublie speakers Of our party
he could press into the service. In this
work, he had the ablecounsel and co-opera-
ton, of George w. Manypenny, Jacob
'ReinharH, and few others. Judge Thur
+ man promptly returned home from the
Northwest, whittier he had gone to recruit
his health, and joined Mr.. Jewett in can
vassing the State. The election came on,
and while we were not as badly beaten as
was feared we would be, otlrZ organizatton
Was preserved-we aceomplishedwhat weset
out to accomplish; and to Hugh J., Jewett,
Allen G. Thurman, Amos Laymah, George
W., Manypenny, Jacob Reinhard, aud the
few gallant men who stood by them and
aided them in that important contest are
the Democracy indebted for this great
achievement 4g dfffr> lgt e,..g,o.i,1
- The Democratic triumph of 1862 followed
as a natural consequence, Mr.. Layman was
agaid Secretary Of the Democratic State
Executive Committee, and did the work of
the campaign assigned to, that Committee,
and also discharged his duties as one Of the
editors of The ONO STATESMAN, where he
has labOred for the Democratic party ever
since, and where he may now be found with
the harness on. AS member of the DEM
ocratie State Executive Committee--as its
Seeretary-ahd as one of the editors of the
Central Organ of the Ohio Democracy, he
has performed every duty devolved upon
him, In a faithful, efficient, and creditable
manner, during the darkest, st0rmiest, and
most eventful years through which our
party has been calledto pass. bHe ,oi0iGl
* - NNHH IL