Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1901-03-08
(By Mrs. T. f. Davis.)

of the Centennial Association:
In attempting to deal with "Ohio in
the Political Life of the Nation" Ifeel
as though | were putting old wine into
new bottles for when, ten years ago,
| read a paper before this association,
every Ohio man was dragged to the
front. Marietta's distinguished
minds have never been for
gotten by the great leaders
of whatsoever calling and surely
not by the great politicians of the
state
One of my friends learning of the
subject assigned me, exclaimed with
dismay pictured upon her face, "What
can woman know about politics.
Ask some man to write it for YOU
But have really found it pleasure to
search the records for the great men
of our day, and to find to my surprise
how many of them claim, with pride,
| Ohio as their birthright. rejoice,
however, that no men grace this audi
ence for although my statements are
allowed a certain amount of i'm.
agination that a man would never
weave into paper like this.
The first man who figured in the pol
itics of our state was Gov. Arthur ST.
Clair, the first and only Governor of
the Northwest Territory. A Scotchman
| by birth, he possessed the sterling
qualities of his race. and so thorough
| ly were they recognized that he was
appointed to fill so important an Of
fee On the morning of July 9th, 1888,
there was unusual activity in the garri-
son at Fort Harmar. The day was to
be memorable one, and care was
taken that nothing should be omitted
that could possibly add to the impress
siveness of the occasion. The soldiers
muskets had been freshly FURNISHED
and the officers wore their newest un-
forms. At an early hour the dsting-
uished citizens dwelling in and around
Campus Martius donned their best at
tire. Old soldiers, brothers of the Rev
olution, were to meet again and unite
in the establishment of the principles
for which they conteuded on the mar
t.al field, in a vast new country. The
day, like the common expectation, was
bright and beautiful. The waters of
the Ohio and Muskingum as they unit
ed and flowed peacefully toward the
western confines of the new land,
seemed to reflect the outlines of the
hills more perfectly than ever before,
and now the signal gun is heard. an
nouncing the approach of the hero,
who steps from the twelve cared barge
upon the shore. Military honors are
not omitted by his companions in arms
and IA guns are discharged with pre-
cision at the fort. Tuesday, July 18th
was red letter day in the annals of
the Northwest Territory, for on thai
day civil government was first estab
lished west of the Ohio river. The
Governors address was concise and
dignified. He expressed his great
pleasure at meeting them upon so i'm
portant an occasion. This was the
happy beginning of five large states
which have contributed to a greater
degree than any other section to the
destinies of the republic and by the vir-
tues of their citizens, the wisdom of
their laws and their faithful observ.
ance of the compact, which says:
They shall forever remain a part of
the Union" have indicated the wisdom
of the old Continental Congress in
creating the ordinance of 1887.
The southwest block house was ap-
propriated for the use of the Governor,
and fifteen acres of ground. In the
midst of this there was not wanting
pleasant social intercourse to relieve
the pioneer life of much of it's rough
ness. AT one time dinner was given
by the directors of the Ohio Company
to the Governor and officers of Fort
Harmar. At the dinner were produced
some peaches grown from trees
planted by Major Doughty when he
landed at Fort Harmar in 1885, very
fine and luscious. The citizens of Ma
rietta gave special attention to the
preparation of a residence for the Gov
ernor an example which the state has
not followed since. Our Governors
live as best they .can
All this may not seem pertinent to
my subject, but those early days did so
much to influence the character build
ing of our great state that hope | may
be pardoned.
In passing, | would relate little in
cident. While in Pittsburg | was en-
tertained by Colonial Dame and
Daughter of the Revolution. who has
just came into possession of the old
home that has been in her family for
five generations at narbv naa, DhiI