Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-11-23
AS A PUBLIC MAN.
A Record Not Extraordinary but. Uni

As A PUBLIC MAN.
A Record Not Extraordinary but. Uni
formIy Creditabie The Little
Giant"
Mr.. Payne has always been a Democrat
conservative, AMI at times independent in
thought, but always an unfalteripg party
man. He started with the same general
ideas of Democracy and government a:
those entertained by Stephen A. Douglas
the little giant. Douglas and Payne were
warm friends in the days of their youth, in
the morning of their careers, and the
friendship continued during the life of the
former. II was at Canandaigua, n. Y, about
1881, that the two met, both as students
Of the law. In the spring OF 1888
Douglas desired to go to Illinois, and was
enabled TO do so only by loan OF 500
from his young friend Payne. 1t was this
sum that had worn away until only 81 4
cents remained when the future statesman
arrived at Jacksonville, ILL.,, and earned his
first dollar by cleTking for an auctioneer at
3 per day. When Douglas and Payne met
again both were successful lawyers and
prominent members of their party.
Mr.. Payne was q Presidential elector on
the Lewis Cass ticket in 1913, and the next
wear was elected 10 the Ohio Senate. Here
he at once took such a prominent position
that, in 1851, he was the DemOcraS.ccaucus
nominee for United States Senator. This
was the famous aud protracted Senatorial
contest in winch Ben amin F. Wade finally
carried of the prize Oy majority OF one.
Candidate for Governor.
In 1857 Mr.. Payne Was the Democratic
candidate for Governor sgainst Salmon P.
Chase. The campaign was exciting and
brilliant. Payne took NJ tae prevailing
Kansas question and opposed the Lecomp-
ton constitution, on TIE ground that it was
not the act of the people OF Kansas and did
rot embOdy their will. Payne was defeated
for Governor, but the plUr-hly against him
was only sos, in strong c0ntras: to ChaSe'S
majority OF $4,000 over his opponent two
years before. The next year, at Douglas
request, Payne visited Illinois to Join 10
the campaign there.
II is interesting to note how Douglas
snd PayRe, the intimate law students
stood together IN the Democratic party
Payne was Douglas man at the Cincinnati
convention in lS56, and again at Charles
ton in $50, when the ever-memOrable split
IN the Democratic party made 1t possible
iUr Abraham Lincoln ~ be President. Ia
that convention Sir. Payne occupied the
responsible position OF chairman OF the
Con mittee on Platform, ana was also the
managing representative of Mr.. Douglas.
As The leader and champion of the North
ern wing of the party Mr.. Payne was put
forward as spokesman. The position was
most difficult one, requiring tact, self poss.
essiOD. snd courage. The South was not
modest in its demands, and her
men scarcely realized that the Democratic
party of the North, over which
they had so long been dominant,
could withstand their efforts to continue in
control in behalf of slavery. Many of the
Northern delegates were, indeed, in favor
of submission to the South; but few,
acting upon the most firm convictions,
could not submit, and brayely held their
own. When the report of his committee
the minority report, adverse 10 slavery
extension and protection by the govern
ueDt, was read to the convention, Mr.
Payne made speech defending it amid
great excitement in the hail. His effort
was remarkable for its perspicuity, bril-
lianCy, and power, condenning secession
and warning the South against undertaking
il. The speech had a remarkable effect.
though IL did not prevent the Southern
wing carrying out their extreme pro
gramme.
A Strong UniOn Man.
Neither OF The CanGlCateS UI t"V 49,
ventions into which the Charleston gath
er,pg split was elected but Abraham Lin
coin was, and secession followed. Sumter
was no sooner fired on than Mr.. Payne,
with the great Douglas WAS found Jealous
in unfolding the Federal government.
He encouraged enlistments, Joined N al
The patriotic movements of the times, and
his voice and influence were ever on the
side of the Union. He joined with other
wealthy citizens in 1862 in guaranteeing
the treasurer OF CuyshOga county for
money advanced 10 equip regiments, trust,
ing to secure proper legislation ai'erwar1
10 release their bonds. In lS6j he opposed
Nallandisham in his extreme position anu
candidacy, and made speeches to aid IN
propogating patriotism and enlistment.
MIR. Fayne was chairman of the Ohio dele
gsticn at the Baltimore Convention In loi2,
and favored the nomination OF Horace
Greeley. Two years later he was the Dem
q. ratio can didate for Congress in the CIeve-
land District, against Col. L. c. Parsons,
since OF lie Golyer contract fame, ana was
elected by $500 majority, though the dis
trict had given 5000 Republican majority
only a wear before. Mr.. Payne was the
first Democratic Congressman from Cieve'
lsnG, and he entered upon his Congress
>iopsl career just in time TO take part 10
the n.den.Hayes contest.
He was chairman of the House Confer
euce Committee on the electoral vote, o
strong advocate of the electoral commission
bill, and a member OF the commission 1t
self. His record throughout that exciting
period is creditable to him in the highest
degree, both as 8 representative OF Democ
racy and as a statesman.
He was slso a member of the Committee
on Banking and Currency, and in that
caracity prepared bill providing for thu
gradual resumption of specie payments,
which was adopted by the Democratic eau
Gus but never enacted.
4 Candidate for President.
Mr.. Payne's next appearance in public
politics was as a candidate for the Presl-
dency before the Democratic Convention,
which met in Cincinnati in 1850. But one
man then stood between him and the
prize. Ohio had instructed her forty-tour
delegates to vote for Thurman, and they
followed instructions; but though MI
PAYNE did not receive single vote from
ms own State he was the third highest In
the list on the first ballot, which stood:
Hancock, III; Bayard, l53H, Payne, 81;
Thurman, 6SJ1; Field, IS; Morrison, 81; the
rem ainder of the I3S in all being widely
scattered. Mr.. Payne had, therefore, de-
yeIoped greater strength than any other
Ohio candidate, and, If at that juncture he
could have received Ohio's full strength,
TO which, as her leading candidate, he
seemed fairly entitled, it is believed by his
iriepds he could have been nominated. MI
Thurman declined to interfere, and Mr..
Psyne's name was withdrawn before the
second ballot was taken.
80