The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1868-06-24
MiscfllaueOus.
GEORGE H. PEMDLETON.
His Public Career.

|
George H. PendletOn is native Of
Cincinnati, and was born in 1925, and
is, consequently, in the forty-second
year of his age. His grandfather.
Nathaniel Pendleton, was a native of
New York, and was the intimate per-
sonal and political friends of Alexan-
der Hamilton, and was his second ia
the duel in which he lost his life,wIth
Aaron Burr, in 1904. He was a revo-
Iutionary officer, being aid-de-c camp
| to General Greene in his glorious
compaign in the South. He was the
first Federal district judgein Georgia,
and was appointed by President
Washington.
The father of George H. Pendleton
was Nathaniel Greene Pendleton, who
defeated DR.. Duncan for Congress in
Hamilton county, in the celebrated
contest of 1910. He was a leading &
eminent Whig in politics. Descended
| from such ancestry, with his relations
and acquaintances all on the anti
Democratic side in politics, it would
not have been surprising if George
had imbibed the same views and po-
IiticaI tenets. But he was one who
thought for himself-whO was gov
erned by no eXtraneous influence, ,and
from mature conviction and study he
early embraced the Democratic creed,
and cast his first vote with that Or
ganization. In this he evinced the
same resolute independence ond in
diyiduality that has since, on all inn
portant occasions, governed his con-
duct.
He entered Woodward College in
| Cincinnati, and afterward studied at
two universities in Germany. He
then commenced the study of law in
Cincinnati, and upon his admission
to the bar, formed a partnership with
Hon. George L. Pugh, since United
States Senator from Ohio.
In 1853, Mr.. PendletCn commenced
his political career by accepting the
Democratic no1ninatlon for the State
Senate from Hamilton county. The
nomination was made by the popular
vote of the party, and he ohtaiued
within one hundred and fifty votes of
the total number cast. The whole
Democratic ticket upon which he was
placed was elected by about ten thou
sand majority. Although the youn-
gest member of that body, and en-
tirely new to its servicC, h l. 1T once
took prominent position in its delib-
erations, and well sustained the high
anticipations which had been formed
by those who had been instrumental
in his election. So favorable was the
impression produced, that while yet
in the Senate, he was nominated as a
candidate for the House of Represen-
tatiYes of the United States, from the
First District of Hamilton county. -
This was the greater honor, in view
of the high character of the men, who
for long series of years, had been its
Representative. In the list were
such men as General Findlay, Geher-
al Eobert It. LytIe, Bellamy Storer,
DIR. Alexander Duncan, Nathaniel g..
f Pendleton, James J. Faran. and D. T.
Disney. The issue of the election
was unfortunate. The Know Nothing
tornado swept over the country with
irresistible force; and although Mr..
Pendleton run ahead of his ticket, he,
as wellas the other Democrats, were
badly beaten.
In 1856, at the next Congressional
/ election, Mr.. Pendleton was unani-
: mously selected to bear again the
standard, and this time was elected
2 by fiattering vote, over popular and
: worthy competitors. He took his seat
2 in the House Of Representative in
3 IDecember, 1857, in the early part OF
= the administration OF President
r Buchanan, Stormy times were ahead.
5 UItraism, both North and South,
were surging violently against the
: ship of State, giving premonitions to
the far-seeing and sagacious of the
: disasters that were to come.
Mr.. Pendleton's course was soon
e taken. 1t was moderate and highly
s conservative, having this object stea
e dily in view-the preservation of the
| Union by maintaining amity between
f the States. To those extremists
whether from the North or the South
whose policy was continual agita-
. tion, that was menaciDg to the Ma
tional peace, he opposed a firm anC
inf1exible opposition. He was placed
y upon one of the most important COM
s. mittees of the House, that of Military
y Affairs, and was soon known as an &C
u tixe and working member.
II In 1858 he was nominated for
a third time to Congress, His compet-
2 itOr this year was T. q. Eay, Esq.
d who, in 1854, had defeated him by 1
e majority of thousands. The contes
/ was very sharp, and an enormou
sc vote was polled. The general resul
G was unfortunate to the Democracy
le Every candidate on the ticket bu
II one, was defeated. The exception
y was Mr.. Pendleton, who was electe
i' by some three hundred and fifty ma
:, - jority.
u. In 1860 occurred the Presidents
e. election, and the break up of tb
We Democratic party at the Charlesto
ne Convention. There were three Den
1d ocratic and Conservative candidate
or for President, viz: Stephen A. Doug
o. las, John C. Breckenrid and JOh
'ct Bell. This unfortunate breach opel
or ed the way for Lepublican trump
Ier with Mr.. Lincoln. Mr.. Pendleto
5ee' warmly sustained Mr.. Douglas. an
Fr was renominated by that wing of tt
party for reelection to Congress. H
main competitor was Judge Oliv'
ars NJ. Spencer. of the Superior Court
S. Cincinnati, most eminent jurist, ar
nix whose personal popularity was
yer great as any mans in Hamilton couI
ty. The election was very vigorou
'rd ly and warmly contested. Mr.. Pei
yer dleton canvassed his district with Il
same energy and vigor he had dl
played on previous occasions, al
Mt was again elected, although consi
afa erahIa norton Of the county tick