The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1888-03-15
HON. HENRY Il. GREGG

I
OF whose death at New Lisbon on tn
9Th inst. the DEMOCRAT had brie
mention, deserves more than passin
, notice, for he was man OF high integ
rity, of noble heart and solid attain
ments.
He was born in Virginia in 1903
learned the printers trade in Washing
ton city, worked as journeyman OF
) Blair 81 Rives's Globe, President Jack
sons organ; came west to New Lisbol
in 1885 and bought the Ohio Patrio
with Mr.. Heltzell of William D. Lepper
who started the paper in 1908.
Forty years ago, on the writer hereo
coming on to the STARK COUNTY
DEMOCRAT William d. Morgan was tht
able proprietor of the Ohio Patriot
having had it some three years. Or
being elected Auditor of State in 1885
Mr.. Morgan sold to William II. Gill
who on being appointed Army Store
Keeper by President Buchanan in 1851
sold to Thomas S. Woods, on whost
sudden death few years after Robert
Woods, brother, got the paper. On
the latter's death we believe the pres
ent proprietor W, s. Potts, Esq, got
control.
Columbiana County, prior to the
Know Nothing year, 1854, was Demo
cratic, but that year it was captured b!
the X. N IS, and has continued adverse
to Democracy and for years has gone
about 1000 Republican.
Mr.. Gregg was a member of the con-
vention which framed the present con-
stitution of our state. In sketch of
MS life, contributed by him to the Ohio
Patriot, Mr.. Gregg said: "In the spring
of 1850, convention was called to
amend the constitution of Ohiv, and l
was elected the senatorial delegate from
the counties of Columbiana and Ma
honing, my colleague being DR.. Samuel
Quigley, who was representative dele
gate from Columbiana county, and
very excellent man. Our first session
was held at Columbus, commencing
on the 9Th day of May,
1850, and closed on the 9th of July
Of the same year, being SO days,
and we then adjourned to the first Mon
day of December, being the second
meeting, in College hall, Cincinnati.
The heat of the weather was the cause
Of our adjourning from Columbus, and
added to this, and no doubt the moving
cause, was the fact that the cholera had
just made its appearance in that city,
and was not a very good accompani-
ment to deliberative assembly. We
therefore adjourned to Cincinnati and
did not get through with our labors or
complete the constitution until the 10th
Of March, 1851, when the instrument
was completed and signed and the con-
vention adjourned sine die, being 1876
days engaged in their labors. There
we're many distinguished men in this
convention, viz, Rufus p. Ranney,
Henry Stansberry, Peter Hitchcock,
sampson Mason, William S. Groesbeck,
Charles Reemelin, William Sawyer,
Mat II. Mitchell, as well as many 9th
ers whom I could name-but Mr.. Ran
ney, more than any Of the others, dis
himself in debate and had
more weight in shaping out and bring
ing the majority of the convention to
form the present admirable constitu
ton of Ohio-not that he had so much |
more talent than StansbeTy or Groes-
beck, but his arguments were generally
plain and plausible and had weight
with the majority. Legislative bodies,
however, move slowly, and we were
one hundred and thirty-tve days in do
ing what should not have taken more
than seventy-fve-but the tendency Of
late in forming constitutions, is to leg
islate or attempt to govern too much,'
and after adopted, to observe too little.
If constitutions are in force, and legis-
ative bodies, as well as judicial courts
sworn to obey them, they
should be strictly enforced or repealed
1r changed by the people II not IN ac-
,ordance with their will. Minorities
being weak, look for protection to the
law, and should always
'eceive such protection at the hands of
he majority, who are for the time be-
ng the ruling power of the land-but
nay in the end have to take back seats
md themselves submit to the penalties
which they first meted out to others"
Many residents of Stark were former
itizens of Columbiana county and
new Mr.. Gregg personally OF through
honorable mention. Deceased married
ate in life and lost his wife years ago,
eaving son who survives. Mr.. Gregg
caves a good estate, mainly through
Investments years ago in Minnesota.
lie was ever the calm, thoughtful,
quable man, and never deViated from
Democracy. His life was gentle and
is death peaceful.