Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-06-07
GEORGE H. PENDLETON.
His Public Career.

-. - 4 cNNAS'ou - = HdAiNG VI
Cincinnati, and was born II 1925, and il,
consequently, in The forty second year q
his age. Hisigrsndfather, Ealhsniel Pen
dleton, was a native of New York, and
was the intimate personal and political
friend Of Alexander Hamilton, and was
his second in the duel, in which he lost
his life, with Aaron Burr, in 1904. be
was Revolutionary officer, being an Aid
de-Camp to General Greene in his glo-
rfons campaign in the South. He was the
first Federal District Judge in Georgia,
and was appointed By President Washing.
ton.
The father Of George Fl. Pendleton was
Nathaniel Greene Pendlston, who defeated
DR.. Duncan for Congress 10 Hamilton
county, in the celebrated contest Of 1910.
He was a leading and eminent Wing in
politics Descended from such ancestry,
with his relations and acquaintance all on
the anti-Democratic side in politics, It
would not have been surprising if George
bad inbibed the same views and political
tenets But he was one who thought for
himself-who was governed by no extra
neous influences, and from mature convic-
ton and study he early embraced the Dem
ocratic creed, and cast his first vote with
that organization. In this he evinced the
same resolute independence and indiyidu'
ality that has since, on all important Oeca-
sions, governed hiB conduct. f
He entered Woodward College, in Gin
cinnali, and afterWard studied at two uni
Versities in Germany. He then coni2enced
the study Of law ia Cincinnati, and upon
his admission 10 the bar, formed partner
ship with Hon. George E. Pugh, since
United States Senator from Ohio.
To 1853, Mr.. Pendleton commenced his
political career y accepting the Democratic
nomination for the State Senate from Ham
iiton county. The nomination was made
by the popular vote of the party, and he
obtained within one hundred and fifty votes
Of the total number cast. The whole Dem
ocratic ticket upon which he was placed
was elected by about ten thousand majority.
Although the youngest member Of that
body, and entirely new TO its service, he at
once took a prominent position Its delib-
erations, and we'll sustained the high antic-
ipations 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 nomi-
mated as a candidate for the House Of Rep
resentatives 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 a long series
of years, had been its Representatives. In
the list were such men as Gen. Findlay,
Gen. Robert 4. Lyle, Bellamy StOrer, DIR.
lavan1ar n1noap NofhaniaI q pAOHla-
ton, James j. Faran and David 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,
az well as the other Democrats, were badly
beaten.
In 1856, at the next Congressional cleo
ton, Mr.. Pendleton was unanimously Sc
lected to bear again the standard, and this
time was elected by hattering vote, over
popular and worthy competitors. He took
his seat in the House of Representatives in
December, 1857, in the early part of the
administration of President Buchanan.
Stormy times were ahead. Ultraism, both
North and South, was surging violently
against the ship of State, giving Fremont
tons to the far-seeing and sagacious of the
disasters that were to come.
Mr.. Pendleton's course was soon taken.
1t was moderate and highly conservative,
having this object steadily in view-the
preservation of the Union by maintaining
amity between the States. To those ex-
tremists-whether from the North or South
whose policy was continual agitation, that
was menacing to the national peace, he OPP
posed firm and inhexible opposition. He
was placed upon one of the most important
committees Of the House, that of Military
Affairs, and was soon known as an active
and working member.
In 1858 be was nominated for a third
time for Congress. His competitor this
year was T. c. Day, Esq, who, in 1854,
had defeated him by majority of thou
sands. The contest was very sharp, and an
enormous vote was polled. The general
result was unfortunate to the Democracy.
Every candidate on the ticket but one was
defeated. That exception was Mr.. Pendle-
ton, who was elected by some three hun
bred and fifty majority. l
In 1860 occurred the Presidential cleo
ton and the break up of the Democratic
party at the Charleston Convention. There
were three Democratic and Conservative
candidates for President, viz Stephen A.
Douglas, John c. Breckenridge and John
Bell. This unfortunate breach opened the
way for Republican triumph with Mr..
Lincoln. Mr.. Pendleton warmly sustained
Mr.. Douglas, and was renominated by that
wing of the party for reelection TO Con-
gress. His main competition was Judge
Oliver M. Spencer, of the Superior Court
Of Cincinnati, a most eminent jurist, and
whose personal popularity was as great as
any mans in Hamilton county. The cleo
tiOn was very vigorously and warmly con-
tested. Mr.. Pendleton canvassed his dis
trict with the same energy and vigor he
had displayed on previous occasions, and
was again elected, although considerable
portion of the county ticket was beaten.
He received the ardent support of all the
Breckinridge Democrats in his district.
While serving his third term the civil war
between the North and the South, growing
out of the secession of the latter from the
Union, occurred. 1t would be occupying
too much space in a brief biographical
notice to discuss the positions assumed by
Mr.. T. in this unhappy national conVul-
sion. Suffice it TO say, they were those en-
tertained by the great mass of his political
friends, who believed that the war ought
10 and could have been avoided by Mr..
Lincoln's administration, and that, being
wrongly commenced, it would lead TO no
rood result. While such were his views,
he at the same time announced his willing
hess TO vote for all appropriations that
night be necessary TO maintain the nation
Il honor, and prevent disaster to the flag.
In 1861 the Democracy were beaten over
in both Of the Congressional |
districts of Hamilton county, and in 1852 |
here seemed to be little hope that the party |
would again be able to elect Mr.. PendleIon. |
lie was nominated, however, unanimously,
With the most enthusiastic acclamations. |
This was his fifth nomination-an unusual |
iumbeE for an Ohio district to give, where /
he doctrine Of rotation has so long pre- |
Tailed. His competitor was Colonel John /
iroesbeck, whose friends made extraordi- |
lary exertions in his behalf. Mr.. Pendle- |
on's course in Congress was the issue, and /
lpOn IL the Democracy went into the fight 1
n the county. To the establishment Of the
they we're beaten, and Mr..
'endletoR was returned for the fourth time
D his seat by a majority of one thousand
hree hundred. The Democracy also car.
led the other Congressional district, elect
ng Mr.. Alexander Long TO Congress, with
MI ola llau.,,roHso ,,,sr,t-- 81 4