Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1876-06-24
Rutherford b. Hayes.
The Republican Candidate for President
of these United States-The Life and
Record OF the Ohio GOvernOr-An Hon.
est Man n md n Faithful Public Officer.

The Republican Candidate for Presidel,
of these United States-The Life an
Record OF the Ohio Governor-An Hon
Rutherford B. Hayes, whom the Re
publican party presents as its standard
bearer in the contest of the Cenntennia
year, is a man almost unknown at tn
East, save the reputation which he gain
ed as the leader of the army against tn
soft-money faction in Ohio, last autumn
He is an Ohio man in every sense of tn
word; and no man is better known il
the politics of his native State, though
his fellow-citizens have never accorded
to him the possession of remarkable abil
tiles. Men OF all shades of politica
opinion however, have eulogized his hon
esty, applauded his business capacity
and have recognized in him that sterr
devotion to duty united to plain common
sense which is so often lacking in the
qualities of the average politician of the
time. Carl Schurz and Uncle Bill Allen
in the midst of last years excited can.
vass, united in the opinion that Governor
Hayes is good honest man. Ruther-
ford B. Hayes was born in Delaware,
Ohio, October 4, 1922, and is therefore
nearly fifty -four years old. He received
a good academic training, and was grad
uated at Kenyon College in Gambler,
choosing the profession of law for his
calling, Mr.. Hayes began practice in Gin
cinnati when thirty-four years old. He
was soon appointed City Solicitor of Gin
cinnati; and he is said to have discharg-
ed the duties of his office acceptably to
all parties. At the outbreak of the war,
Mr.. Hayes shut up his law-books: and,
like many another young man, entered
the volunteer army. His regiment was
the Twenty third Ohio-as gallant body
of men as ever faced the foe in battle.
Mr.. Hayes developed remarkable apti-
tude in the school of the soldier First
appointed as Major, in less than year
he was promoted to be Lieut.. Colonel.
To him fell the duty of commanding the
Twenty-third in the fierce contest at
South Mountain in the autumn of 1862.
The regiment formed at that time part
of Gen. Reno's division; and Lieut.. Col.
Hayes is entitled to the glory of leading
the men who first established position
and foothold for the Union Army at South
Mountain. He was severely wounded
in the arm during the battle, but gallant
ly remained with the regiment until the
issue was decided. The noble work of
the Ohio men and their leader was COM
mended not only by official order, but by
the people, among whom the news had
quickly spread. For time, Gen. John
d. Cox commanded the division; but in
1864 Col. Hayes was promoted to its
charge and made Brigadier General.
His splendid record in the field made
him the most popular candidate for Con-
gress in his District. He came back from
the war with the highest honor; and was
sent to the Thirty-ninth Congress in Oc-
tober, 1865, with the rousing majority of
309S over his Democratic competitor,
Joseph c. Butler. The delegation from
Ohio in that Congress included Robert
O. Sohenok, Columbus Delano, John A.
James M. Ashley and Samuel
These men all played
most important part in the reconstruc-
lion work of 1866, and in the heated
debates which followed the detection of
President johnson from the party. OF
Gen. Hayes very little was heard in those
exciting times. He possessed neither
he eloquence in speech nor the magnet.
SIN which gives leadership in Congress,
Ind his rank during the first term Of ser.
7ice was with the many who are led and