Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1879-03-06
"reminiscences of an Old Editor.
NUMBER III.

they are the more thankful when they
are kindly remembered in this way. I
was nominated, at Xenia. for Presidential
E1ector on the Fremont ticket. Coming
gracefully, and as an appreciation of my
services as an editor, I was more gratified
with this mark of confidence than any |
ever received. was elected, and, at Co
lumbus, in December of that year,
helped to cast the vote of Ohio for John
C. Fremont. It took us two days to do
it. Our predecessors had left no records
on file to guide US, and hence we were
compelled to look up the law, and square
our actions by its requirements. We left
duplicate for the benefit Of those who
should succeed US.
After this, was fiattered with the pros
peet of nomination for Congress, and
came nigh obtaining it, but was defeated
by the candidacy of Mr.. Corwin. This
was quite CALLING to me, because wasled
to believe, by assurances from his friends
at Lebanon, that under no circumstances
would he be candidate. When he was
announced, made Virtue of necessity
and Withdrew, leaving the race to him
and Aaron Harlan. After sharp con
test, Mr.. Corwin was nominated, at Nor
row, by two votes.
Desiring to occupy a wider field than
presented itself at Lebanon, in October,
1858, disposed of the Star and moved to
Dayton, and engaged in the publication
of the Daily and Weekly Gazette. paid
round price for this office; more than
it was worth. But quickly enlarged its
circulation and business, and, on the
whole, did pretty fair business. Like
Sam Pike, however, Ilonged for achange,
and fell into the temptation of selling the
Office, in 1861, to a party incompetent to
manage it, and as the sequel proved. un-
able to pay for it. BY this operation, 1
sunk three hundred and twenty-five acres
of land, in Jasper county, Indiana, and
$4,000 in cash. This was a little piece of
financiering of so serious a ssharacter
that I have not, to this day, recovered
from it.
/ The Gazette, while had it, was quite
a billigerant paper. cut right and left,
and was engaged in number of severe
personal squabbles with the Journal and
the Empire.
Believing that Twas entitled to some
recognition, on account of my devotion
to the Republican cause, in the Spring OF
1861, resolved to present my claims tC
President Lincoln and ask for the ap-
poiptment of Postmaster of Dayton. Il
was a STAT take and would have beer
an important help in bridging over mon
etary difficulties. A large majority of the
leading business men of Dayton signed
my petition. 1 also had the endorse
ment of Judge Mclean and the Republi
can delegation from Ohio. Senator Wade
with whom was intimately acquainted
also recommended me and undertook tC
engineer the matter for my benefit. W
F. Comfy, the editor of the Journal
was my opponent, and he was backed by
Hon. R. G. Schenck. This rendered tn,
flight. interesting; but Schenck, being
candidate for United States Senator, haC
not much to do with the incipient strug
gle. While he was at Columbus l wa
managing the wires at Washington.
not only had the influence of Wade, anC
formidable petition, but I also had tn
aid of the First Assistant Postmaste
General, John A. Gurley and others. A
far as I could see, from the indications
had sure thing of it. Schenck was
by no means, personally hostile to me, ,bu
he had private reasons for sustaining Mr.
Comfy. i'. 5- ... -
attended the Inauguration of MI
E Lincoln. There were well-grodnded fear
then of an attempted assassination. Gen
Scott disposed the troops in such a way
on that location, as to render deed 0
this kind impossible. He cut the crow,
in two in the parks, and had flying artil
Iery and infantry at all the importan
points. It was military pageant vii
never forget. There were also tens 9
thousands of people, loyal and disloyal
from all parts of the Union, but the for
: mer greatly preponderated.
The oath of Office was administered b
Chief Justice Taney, and Mr.. Linco1
made his memorable address. AS soon q
this was over, courier was dispatched t
Gen. Scott; he was seated in his carriagt
L to him, that all was over. EfThank God !
said the old veteran, and, in short tim
the soldiers were marched to their sep;
rate stations. a-f
Then came an onslaught on the Pres
dent, which was worse than anything
ever encountered during the rebellion
1t was the invasion of the army of Off
seekers. Nothing like it ever oecurre
/ in history. Nearly every man in Washing
lton, at that time, either wanted an off
z for himself or his friend. These polit
cal grasshoppers besieged the Depar
! ments. button-holed the members of Co
gress, and bulldozed the President and L
cabinet. They infested the hotels, occ
pied the galleries eff the Senate al
House, invaded the lodgings of membe
of Congress, and howled around like
lis pack Of hungry wolves in quest of cs
rion.
The main point7was to obtain an int
view with the President, attended by
Senator or Representative. The plan "
to go to the Presidents office, any ds
send in your card and ask for the covet
J. privilege. The answer almost uniform
was, 'sthe President and his Cabinet.
in consultation and cannot see you.
Nothing daunted, the parties repeated
application and met the same rebuke.
was, with hundreds of others, repenet
this way, a dozen times. 1 went by d
light, at noon and atnight, and alw
found the approaches to the Presidel
door surrounded by an anxious and
pectant crowd. I continued this ope
K. ton, off and on, for about month, a
finding my money and patience well n
exhausted, determined to storm the
odane6 on mao