The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1886-09-02
THE PARTY.
BY DAVIS

III IlcbOIJ vi 0ilS AoN pUDAAONA b
ty, written by Gen. Wilson, and sent
out with the Standard last week, in a
supplement furnished by the Cincin-
natl Enquirer, was very correct. Gen.
Wilson closes thus:
Il will leave this hastily written,
sketchy history of the Republican
party of Ohio right here, subject, of
course. to the criticism of the Old frI-
lows Who know more about 1t than !
Go, bat not 10 the animtdv~rSio's "f
the kids who were pulling IN their
mnth-rS nrius VIXEN the grand party
Gf freedom and equal rights WIS t''rin.
/ took quite an active part iii poll
ties In the early days of the Republi-
can party. I voted against the ex-
tension of slavery ten years before the
organization of the Republican party,
when there were only Is of us in the
county. | was one of those who help
ed to organize the party in this oun
ty, and was appointed to make the
first address before the Fremont Club
in Jackson in the summer Of 1856,
which was tie first Republican speech
ever made in Jackson County.
I attended most Of the State Con-
v%entions, and was a delegate to the
Convention Of 1853. When j. M.
Ashley was appointed Temporary
Chairman, his speech was one of the
finest | ever heard. Poor Ashley! l
believe he is physically alive yet, but
politically he has been dead and
damned for many years. Among the
finest Republican orators of that day,
Gen. Sherwood, the eloquent Fred
Hassaurek. Judge Hoadly, and many
others went over to the enemy.
At the Convention of 1853, John
B. Gregory, of Portsmouth, wanted
to be nominated for Member Of the
Board of Public Works, and he want
ed me to him in the Con-
vention. This I agreed to do. | had
been the first editor to bring Judge
Peck out AS a candidate for Judge of
the Supreme Court, and he was
nominated before the Member of the
Board of Public Works. and we knew
that two candidates would not be
taken from the same county. Edward
Jordan, of Portsmouth, was a delegate
from Scioto County. He and | had
been school teachers in Jefferson and
Hamilton Townships before we were
old enough to vote. He was a Demo
Graf, and | was an Abolitionist, In
1858 we were both lawyers. and both
Republicans. 1t was agreed that for
future advantage, | should announce
Gregory, and Jordan was to withdraw
him. When | announced Jordan 1t
raised a storm, delegates shouting
that Sciuto Comfy alresdv bad Judge
Peck nominated. Jordan stood up.
He was a very fine looking man, had
keen. piercing black eyes, nose slight
ly aquilina, "a clear. musical voice. and
he ALWAYS went neatly dressed. Said
he, IF gentlemen of the Convention
will hear me for a moment, | think
they will In satisfied. | am author
lied Ia withdraw the name of Mr..
Gregory" Now there vas Il roar of
applause.
Next year John B, Gregory was
nominated and elected. l believe that
Gregory is yet living in Columbus,
and Jordan in the State of New York.
None of us three has ever mug
wumped, greenbacked, or t~omfooleried,
in the past twenty-eight years. We
have, through all these years, been
consistent Republicans, and will no
doubt die Republicans, as Republican,
ism was understood in those days.