Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1879-07-24

emu, GneV were sure UnaC his seat WOuiu
be awarded to the Wings This was
the situation when Thomas L. Hamer,
his friend on the committee, by pre-
vious agreement, Informed him that the
case was to be decided that day.
Every well,' was the reply; "now l
will go before them and tell my side of
the story" He did so very briefly,
made no Argument, but showed simply
that his opponents had not complied
with the law in making their contest.
They had served him with notice of
contest before he had received the GER
tifcate of election, and not after its re-
ceipt, as the statute clearly stipulated
should be done. There was no way of
getting around this point 1t was too
late TO serve second and legal notice
of contest, and the committee gave the
seat to Allen. In Congress he soon Oh
tanned a prominent place, and by par
ticularly strong speech against the po-
sition which John Quincy Adams had
taken on the Oregon boundary line
question, became recognized as one of
the leading Democratic orators in the
House. At the conclusion of that
speech, Horace Binney of Pennsylva-
MIA, who was on the floor, came over to
him, shook his hand and said: "Mr.
Allen have not the pleasure of know
ing you, but l am convinced you are
right on this question"
THROUGH THE FLooD-VICTORY AND DE-
FEAT.
While still serving out his first term,
Mr.. Allen was again nominated by the
Democrats of the Chillicothe district.
His opponent was William Key Bond,
and the campaign is still spoken Of by
the old residents of the neighborhood
as the most closely contested and ex
citing ever held in the state. "Every
hole and corner in the district" to use
Mr.. Aliens own expression, was thor
oughly canvassed; personal appeals
were to every loyal voter, and both can
6idates worked day and night as can
didates had never worked before. In
the very midst of the campaign, when
the excitement was at its height, they
agreed to take part in two days joint
discussion at Portsmouth, where court
was in session, and an unusally large
number of people were in attendance.
On the first day Bond appeared accord
ing to this agreement, and occupied
nearly all the time set apart for the
meeting, but on the second day it was
found that he had suddenly and myster-
iOusly left Portsmouth. Allen suspec-
led that some trick was being put upon
him, but could get no hint of its char
acter. Not knowing what else to do,
he stayed quietly in Portsmouth
| Meanwhile,i in Washington Court house,
seventy FIVE miles away, flaming
hand bill announced that on the next
day the honorable and distinguished
Whig candidate, William Key Bond,
would address the people, ard challenge
William Allen to reply. At first the
Democrats of Washington saw no harm
in this announcement, but hearing
from Allen, and being assured by the
leading Wings that their champion
would arrive that night, they became
alarmed, and sent well mounted mes
senger to Chillicothe with copy Of
the hand-bifi This was Immediately
sent to Mr.. Aliens Office. Of course
he was not there. At last, however
his nephew, Allen G. Thurman, was
found, and he at once, seeing what was
in the wind, put Il messenger on the
fastest horse in the place, and sent him
on to Portsmouth. with the announce
ment of the meeting to be held at Wash
ington. The Democratic candidate
was at supper when the messenger ar
rived. He read the hand-bill; saw
through the attempt which was being
made to outwit him; saw that his op
onents, at this exciting stage of the
canvass, could make much capital out
of his failure to meet Bond in a joint
discussion, and with characteristic en-
ergy determined to brave the storm
which had unfortunately set in at sun
down, and ride through the storm tC
Washington. His friends tried 10 dis
suade him. Thurman's messenger rep
resented that the roads were in a ter
rlble condition, the fords almost impas
sible, and there was not a man in Ports
mouth who would consent to take the
journey with him. Still he persisted in
his determination. His horse, favor
ite animal ofextraordinary intelligence
and purest blood, was saddled, and ht
rode out of the town. The first stage
of the journey was passed over rapidly
and safely, and the lonely traveller was
Just beginning to congratulate himself
on the progress he was making when he
was startled by the sound Of rapidly
rushing waters. He was approaching
the swift-fowing, and at times treach
rous, Scioto River, which would have
o be passed if he would reach Wash
ington in time for the meeting. 1t was
now nearly an hour after midnight, the
darkness was oppressive, and, trusting
more to the instinct of his horse thar
to his own Judgment, he rode toward
the spot where he thought the rude
ferry-house ought to stand. At last ht
came to it, and with difficulty shout
ing against the noise of the swoller
river, succeeded in waking the keeper
Of the ferry, an old and feeble man, who
as it happened was his staunch politi
cal supporter.
"Be quick, Brown" he cried, wher
the ferryman at last appeared. "Yot
must swing me over as fast as posi-
ble"
at can't be done, Mr.. Allen" replied
the old man, shouting through the winC
and just recognizing the traveller by
the light of the lantern which he helt
high over his head. at can't be done
sir The old boat and all the ferry
rigging was swept away early in The
night"
"But must get over" impatiently
shouted Allen. "Pll go down to the
ford"
| lST@fo - ,,o~ 80, - 49,