Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-11-06
.09io Statesman,
tFrom the Starke County Democrat.l
Joseph Thorn Dsou. Esu.

lFrom the Starke County Democratl
Joseph Thompson, Esq.
We can not forbear, at this time, devotins
lew paragraphs to a sketch of our highly
valued friend. Joseph Thompson, one O.
the members elect from this county to the
General Assembly of Ohio. From his ven.
Ell able age, being In his 74th year, and his
past services and devotedness to the Dem.
ocratic cause through his life, we feel con.
fident our readers will peruse this article
approvingly. This sketch is due to Mr.
| Thompson as one of the old and unswery-
Ing veterans of the Democracy; and too. as
he is probably the oldest member elected
to the lower House of the General Assem-
bly. z.ru s.~rr. ~ e-r7
Mr.. Thompson's native place was in the
Shenandoah Valley in the State of Virginia
whence as boy he emigrated with his
father and settled In Colunibiana county in
lSO4. He first took an active part in poll
tics when General Jackson became the
ralying name for the Democracy
HIS first official position was that OF
Justice of the Peace, being elected in
1897, just forty years ago. In 1888 he
was elected Sheriff of Columbiana county,
and at the conclusion of his term as Sheriff.
was, in 1885, chosen to the Senate from that
county and Carroll. He was reelected to
this position, and shortly after serving out
his second term, he removed TO his farm in
| ". Il
IS4l.e In 1S43 Mr.. Thompson was chosen
one Of the peace magistrates of that
township. and was reelected to the posi-
tiOn several times. y-i,,.. .i...-.f -,
We very we'll remember the wholesome
influence exerted by Mr.. Thompson in
washington township. 1t was visible in
the largely increased Democratic majori-
county ticket from defeat. We believe it
was IN 1916. The independent, or bOlters'
ticket, was elected by the returns in, and
the only township to hear from was WASH
ington. The excitement was intense, and
all were anxious to hear from Washington.
To save the Democratic ticket, 1t would
have to do much better than usual, and
Dence salvation was not really expected.
The Wings and boilers felt good, and were
shouting already over their victory. The
Democrats, on the other hand, were much
cast down. Finally, late in the afternoon
of the day after election, it was ascertained
washington had given the Democratic
ticket some so majority! electing our
whole county ticket by majorities ranging
from z to 20! Our readers can imagine
where the shouts came from after this.
Much of this result in that township was
due to the indefatigable work and sagacity
Of Mr.. Thompson. ,-.r. p. ---
:, In 1850. Mr.. T., with Doctor Har-
man Stidger, was elected a member of the
Convention to frame the present Constitu-
tion of Ohio. No county was represented
In that body by more sound and reliable
men.
With Mr.. Thompson's political opinions
we have been familiar for near TWENTY-FIVE
years: and for number of years past, we
have been intimate with him, and have
oteen protited by his sound views of public
affairs. His political opinions are of the
y eHerson and Jackson school, and no sud-
den burst of noisy clamor ever unmoored
him from his sound constitutional views.
Guided by reason and common sense, he
has ever acted after mature reflection. and
we are confident he looks back with pride,
and no regrets, over his long and useful
political career. Long may it yet con-
tinue.
. In addition to the positions named, Mr..
Thompson was postmaster under General
JacksOn's Administration, and also held
some militia commission from the Cover
nor of Ohio. We must not omit to saw. |
too, that during his residence in Canton
in 1858, MIR. Thompson was elected one of |
our Justices of the Peace. Is 1-
Our readers must be aware that Mr..
Thompson, though over three score and
ten, is as Jealous as ever in the cause of
Democracy. He is now the same consist |
ent, earnest Democrat he has ever been. |
No shinplaster or '.soft" currency ever
shook him from his faith in the constitu-
Ilonal currency OF gold and silver. No |
'Wilmot Proviso," s.Anti-Nebraska," or
Missouri Compromise" howls ever OBJ
'cured his mind or scared him from his |
sound views OF public policy. No word or
act OF his ever encouraged the enemies OF |
)ur Government in their hellish schemes of
bringing on collision of arms between
North and South. ,.7-..
Mr.. Thompson is now as heretofore for
he Constitution and Union of our fathers.
ae never had any faith in disunion fam
ltics, and ever wished to save and preserve
,his Union. He was ever opposed to Sec
.ionalism, and prOphecied sad results from
The rule of sectional fanatics, knowing
heir idea of government was that OF force,
while the Democratic principle is consent
he one is tyranny, despotism-the other
LIBERTY. The former involves US in and
eads to hatred, strife and bloodshed-all |
the horrors OF civil war. The latter is
peace, prosperity and good will among men.
Finally, we rejoice in the election Of
Joseph Thompson to our Legislature. He
has survived the patriotic generation pre-
,eding our own, and he is yet blessed with |
sound mind in sound body. Long may
ne be spared.
Amen to that. A purer, better man than |
Joseph THOMPSON cannot be found in Ohio |
or out OF it. He is emphatically Gods
loblest work, an honest men.