The Portland daily press., 1876-06-19

publish the morning after the nomination.
THE EARLY LIFE OF GOV. HAYES.
The Republican candidate for the Presidency
is native of Ohio, a graduate of Kenyon Col
lege and the Cambridge Law School, an indus
trious lawyer, gallant soldier under Rose
Grams, Mcclellan and Sheridan, Congressman
who rarely made speech, and Governor who
has been twice reelected, and is exceedingly
popular in lis own state. Rutherford b, HAYES
was born in Delaware, Ohio, on Oct 4, 1922.
He led his class at college, and after complet-
ing his studies at Cambridge and in Thomas
Sparrow's law Office at Columbus, acquired a
fine practice at Cincinnati. His genial man
ners and hne voice commended him to public
favor, and his reputation at the bar was so
good that he was elected City Solicitor in 1858.
HIS MILITARY CAREER.
1T the outbreak of the war he received the
appointment of Major of the Ohio Infantry.
This was one of the first regiments in the field,
and had distinguished leader-Col William
s. Rosecrans. Early in June, 1861, the regi-
ment was mustered into service for three years,
but before it left Camp Chase its commander
received commission as brigadier-general in
the regular army. Late in July the regiment
was ordered to Clarksburg, w. Va, and had its
rillas that infested the spurs of the Rich Noun
tain range. Major Hayes served temporarily
as Judge Advocate on Gen. Rosecrans' staff,
and in November, 1861, received his commits
sion as lieutenant-colonel. In April, 1862, the
regiment, under command of Lieut.. Col. Hayes.
left its winter quarters and moved in the direc.
tion of Princeton. After two weeks of skirm-
ishisg and foraging the force was attacked by
four regiments OF infantry uuder command of
Gen. Heath, and after making a determined
stand, was compelled to retire. In the heart
of August orders were received to march with
all possible dispatch to the Great Kanawha.
The regiment made 104 miles in about three
days; embarked on transports for Parkersburg,
and took the cars for Washington, where it
Joined Gen. McClellan's army
The first shots at South Mountain were fred
by Col Hayes command. The regiment was
ordered to ascend the mountain at an early
hour by an unfrequented road. The enemy
were posted behind stone walls, and greatly
outnumbered their assailants, and the regiment
was exposed to q murder0us fire of musketry
and grape at short range. Out Of the $50 men
who went into action, 100 soon lay dead or
wounded on the field. Lieut. Col. Hayes was
badly wounded, his arm being broken, and the
command devolved upon Major Comfy. The
commander, however, was not ready for ambu-
lance or hospital; there was still a good deal of
light in him, for he reappeared on the field
undaunted, with his wound half dressed, and
fought until be was so weak that his men had
to carry him away. After the battle OF Antie-
tam the regiment was ordered to the Kanawba
Valley. Lieut.. Col. Hayes was appointed to
the cOlonelcy of the regiment, and in Decem-
per, 1867, was placed in the command of the
First Brigade of the Kanawha division. Dur
ing the campaign of 1868 his division was ex-
posed to arduous rather than dangerous service,
but in 1864 he won his promotion by his gall
lantry at Winchester, Fishers Hill and Cedar
Creek. In the battle of Opequan, Col. Hayes
brigade, after advancing across several open
fields, gained the crest of a hill and caught a
glimpse OF the enemy's line. Moving forward
under heavy fire the brigade dashed through
a fringe of underbrush and halted on the edge
OF slough 40 or so yards wide and nearly waist
deep When he saw the whole line wavering
Col. Hayes plunged in under shower of bull
lets let and grape, and dragged his way through.
He was the first man over. The infantry
houndered through the morass, aud the enemy
were driven back. Col. Hayes exposed himself
recklessly, and was half the time in advance of
the line. At Winchester his horse was shot
under him and he narrowly escaped with his
life. AS he Icy on the field, stunned by his
fall and wondering why the troops were not
ordered to charge the enemy's line, there was
0 cloud of dust on the Winchester turnpike,
aud Sheridan rode into camp on his msgnif-
cent horse in time to save the day. During
this terrible campaign Col. Hayes had three
horses shot under him and was wounded four
times. In the spring of 1866 he was given the
command of an expedition against Lynchburg
and was preparing to cross the mountains OF
West Virginia when the war was brought to q
close. For his bravery at Fishers Hill and
Cedar Greek he was breveted maior-general.
In 1864, while in the army, he was nominat-
ID by the Republicans of his home district for
to Congress and urged to return
home and take the stump. He was then Just
entering the brilliantand effective campaign in
The Shenandoah Valley under Gen. Sheridan.
He sent the following reply, which is said to be
of the man:
Yours of the goth ult. is received. Thanks. have
he army at this time to eectioneer for Congress
'ught to be scalped.
Truly yours, RIB. HAYES.
IN CIVIL LIFE.
Although Gen. Hayes did not go home to
'lectionecr the fall of 1864, he was elected to
Congress from one of the Cincinnati districts
oy large majority. He seldom appeared on
he floor of the House, not making any elabor.
'te speeches nor taking prominent part in
he reconstruction measures which engrossed
he attention of Congress. He was q member
If the Committee on Private Land laims, and
vas chairman of the Committee on Library.
The delegation from Ohio at that time was q
7ery strong one, including Gen. Schenck, John
Bingham, James M. Ashley. Samuel Shell
abarger, and Columbus Delano, and it is not
surprising that the inexperienced member took
! lower seat than his brilliant colleagues, and
to ha ESta t. -
but resigned the position in 1867, in
order to accept the Republican nomination for
Governor
In August Mr.. Hayes entered actively upon
he canvass, in the course of which he made
me or more speeches in nearly every one of the
,ighty-four counties of the State. The Demo-
rats had nominated Hon. Allen G. Thurman
Is his competitor, and now threw their entire
fray of forensic talents into the contest.
Messrs. PendletoD, Vallandigham, Renney,
Morgan, S. S. Cox, Voorhees,, GIoesbeck, and
indeed all the ablest men of the Democratic
)arty in Ohio, brought the full weight of their
alents and influence to bear in behalf of their
lick ct. Added to the prejudice against the
uffrage measure, which accrued wholly to the
benefit of the Democrats, was the demoralizing
Effect of Mr.. Pendeton's plausible currency
theories, then new to the people, and peculiarly
specious and captivating. The proposition to
pay the bonded debt of the nation in green
backs was brought out prominently in the can
vass by the Democratic speakers and advo-
Gated by them with great ingenuity and dam
gerous effect.
Gen. Hayes vigorously opposed these mis-
cheyous doctrines, and with equal zeal sup
ported the suffrage amendment. The canvass
was indeed a pivotal one with reference to
Ihese questions and determined the subsequent
lrift of public opinion with regard to them.
The Republicans lostIthe Legislature, but Gen.
Hayes and the rest of their State ticket were
elected. The suffrage amendment was de-
feated, mainly because of its odious and un-
necessary disfranchising clause, but the princi-
Pile of equality before the law had developed
popular strength, which amounted to victory,
aud which insured its subsequent triumph.
The contest was the Gettysburg of the struggle
TOR the sacred keeping of the public faith, and
the enfranchisement of the freedom. Other
battles for these great principles were yet to
come, but the final issue was no longer doubt
Iul. Though subject to the severe test of an
opposition Legislature in time of great politi-
,al feeling, Gov. Hayes administration was in
to criticism, and commanded the re-
;pect of his political antagonists. Accordingly
when the Republican State Legislature met in
] June, 1869, his nomination for q second term
became matter of course, and was made by
amid great enthusiasm.
The Democracy again realizing the neces-
'ity of making the strongest nomin alton pos
'ible in order to win, selected Gen. W. s. Rose.
,rans, then absent in California, as their STAN
and adopted radical Democratic
platform, Gen. Rosecrans, when these facts