The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-31
A GREAT MANS EARLY LIFE.
John Sherman's First Nomination as O
Candidate for Congressional HOnors.
How Ford Was Induced to Withdraw from
Hopeless Contest and the Prize Awarded
to Sherman-His Later Public Life.
Special 10 the indianapolis Journal.

correspondent had talk with an old Ohioau
about the early career of Senator John Sher-
man. The gentleman lived in Mr.. Sherman's
neighborhood when young man. and takes
pride in saying that he had something to do with
giving the brilliant statesman a start in public
life.
mo man before the whole people stands fairer
in public estimation than Senator Sherman
said he. II notice." continued the Buckeyeans
that the boys Of the press in campaign times
have their good -natured filings at him for his al
legged GOODNESS of temperament, and once in a
while some opponent whose sense of justice and
truthfulness has been blinded by his extra ultra
partisan virulence. hints-and only hints in .
| cowardly way-that the Senator's large fortuna
has been accumulated by unfair or dishonest
means; but the better men of all parties are now
agreed that such accusations and iunuendoes
| have been made without any evidence whatever
to sustain them"
''How did Mr. Sherman make his money!
asked.
''Why, the great and most characteristic
feature of Senator Sherman's public life haG
been in the direction of fnanciering' was the
reply. HE naturally has turn to money.
making He makes wise investments, and his
investments have largely grown into what he has.
The almost inestmable services he rendered the
country in the matter of resumption and re-
| funding have placed him at the very head of the
| list of great men who have come to the front
within the last thirty years. The entrance Of
| such man into public life is an epoch mark in
the history of the country-an event that is OF
great interest to his contemporaries, and way
mark for the guidance Of the future historian OF
the country
"At the congressional election in 1852 the
Thirteenth Ohio district composed of the coun-
ties of Morrow Richland, Huron and Erie-the
| two last named being part of what Is known az
| the Western Reserve-was carried by the Demo
! Gratis by large majority. The Wing candidate
was Judge Saddler, Of Erie county; his success
| full competitor a cornstak militia major-genera1
named Lindsay, who during his service in Con-
gress, won the sobriquet of 'Seed-corn Lindsay
by writing to one of his constituents that he had
franked to him a small sack of 'cede koirne' Of q
new variety, obtained from the Patent Office.
which then had charge of the garden truck busi--
ness.
'"The bills of Judge Douglas. introduced dur
ing the session of 1884, stirred the Nation like
a whirlwind. Every man who was In the slight
est degree inimical to the further extension Of
slavery saw at glance that stand must be
made, and at once, or slavery would be national
lied and freedom be prescribed in the North and
West as it already was in the South. The tenn
pest drove into unity Of action tens Of thousands
of men who had previously been pulling at cross
purposes on this very question.
"Shrewd politicians soon saw that if the oppo-
nents of the pro-slavery Democracy could be
united one ticket, the district could be-
triumphantly carried for freedom. One Of the
earliest men to realize tais fact was Colonel
Tom Ford. Of Mansfield, the same town in which
Mr.. Sherman then resided and now lives Be-
fore any opposition to him was manifested he
had secured the united delegations of Richland
and Morrow counties, while Judge Saddler had
| the united vote Of Huron and Erie counties.
Everything was done in hurried and crude
manner, and it had been agreed that each town
ship in the district should be allowed two votes
in the nominating convention Upon looking
over the map it WAS discovered that the two
southern counties of the district had been put in
hole as it were, by this arrangement, as the
two northern counties would have four more
votes in tie convention than Richand and Nor
row, and could nominate whatsoever they pleased
If they remained united when it came to voting
for candidates.
Now it SO happened that three Of the dele
gates from Morrow were on the ground before
| anybody else, and the evening before the con-
vention met one of these delegates ran across an
old schoo-mate who was doing business In Ply
mouth, Huron county and who informed the dele
gates that Judge Saddler would be nominated
next day if Colonel Ford remained on the track,
but that If he could be induced to withdraw and
the two counties supporting him would unite on
John sherman, he could be nominated beyond q
doubt, because there were two townships Of
Huron county which had more intimate business
relations with Mansfield than with Norwalk,
their own county-seat.
when the delegates from Richland and Nor
row arrived the situation was impaired to them.
The two delegations went into an informal joint
caucus As it was, the hands Of the delegates
were tied, because they had been formally In
structed by their constituents to support Colonel
Ford till he was withdrawn or beaten. The only
chance for the southern end of the district to
| secure the nominee seemed to be to get Colonel
Ford to withdraw in favor Of his toynsmau,
John Sherman.
After much haggling. Colonel Ford agreed to
withdraw, with the under standing that he should
have the support OF the two counties Tor Cow
ernor in the State convention in 1855. The
agreement was 80 faithfully carried out that
| although he was not nominated for Governor, ha
was chosen for Lieutenant governor by the con-
vention. and was triumphantly elected by the
people. With Colonel Ford out of the way the
nomination of John Sherman was quickly and
tremendously effected, and he carried the dis
trict by majority that reached into the thou
| sands. This was his entree into public life.
almost as soon as Mr.. Sherman entered Con-
| gress he took high rank among the uncompro-
| missing opponents of the pro-savery Democracy,
his speeches attracting the attention of the whole
| country. on account of their courage, fire, and
| vim, and he steadily rose In the esteem of the
people till he was transferred to the upper branch
| Of Congress, where he has remained ever since.
except for the four years that he served as Secre
| tary of the Treasury And it may easily be- con-
tinued the old Ohioan, his eyes swapping with
enthusiasm, that, before he closes his public
career, he will have reached the highest station
in the gift of the American people. If he does.
the same magnificent qualities that have made
him such marked success in every position he