The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1912-03-29
xeW NEWS or YESTERDAY
One Curious Result Of the EIec-
tor Of 1872.
Hon. William 8. Grosbeck, Famous
Cincinnati Lawyer, Received One
Electoral College Vote for Vice.
President.
BY E. ). EDWARDS.

by Z. ~. VV0S.
The late William s. Grosbeck Of
Cincinnati. who died about ten years
ago, was esteemed at one time n of
the ablest of the very brilliant mem
bers Of the bar who practiced in the
states west of the Allegheny noun
tains. He probably ranks with the
half-dozen greatest lawyers the west
has ever provided. Abraham Lincoln
had the highest regard for Grosbeck's
abilities AS d lawyer. Edwin NJ. Stan
ton was sometimes associated with
him in important legal cases. He was
one of the counsel associated with
William NJ. Lvarts in the defense OF
Andrew johnson in the impeachment
proceedings and he was later a mem
her of the international monetary COM
mission. At the height of his fame as
was regarded as perhaps h finest
example of the classic school OF ora
tory the west could furnish. He also
had the almost unique experience OF
having received one vote IN the cleo
toral college from an Ohio elector for
vice-president of the United States.
The late Samuel s. Cox of Ohio. bet
ter known as Sunset" was a close
personal friend of Mr.. Grosbeck.
II ventured to say to Mr.. Grosbeck
when he returned to Cincinnati with
national fame after the impeachment
proceedings against President John
son were ended that l felt sure he
would become some day q candidate
for the presidency and that l hoped
to live long enough to e him nomi'
mated and elected. Mr.. Grosbeck
smiled, not being %diapleased by my
remark, and said that no longer did
political parties nominate orators for
the presidency and. furthermore. that
II he had any capacity as "A speaker
II was not of the kind which would ap-
peal to the masses
"'In spite Of what you say re-
piled, I have a prophetic intuition
that you will DE nominated for the
presidency some time
"In reply he told me that he had
always been convinced that there was
a profound truth in the statement
made by Senator Leigh of Virginia In
the early days of the republic that
the presidency was neither to be
sought nor to be found.
We'll, the incident passed out OF
my mind until in the summer Of 1873.
There arose then a great deal of dis
satisfaction among certain liberal Re.
publicans over the nomination Of Hor-
ace Greeley for president by their
party. The dissatisfaction finally
/. caused a convention of boiling liberals
to be held, I think at Cincinnati. ]
remember taking up the newspaper
one evening and reading that this
boiling liberal Republican national
convention had nominated William 8.
Grosbeck Of Cincinnati for president.
I Immediately wrote a line to him to
this effect: Congratulations; you see
my prophetic imtnitions were cor
rect
"Mr. Crosbeck did ont take the
nomination very seriously. but | think
he was amazed and perhaps a little
gratifled ut one curious result OF the
election, which I presume 10 now al.
most entirely forgotten. When the
result Of the balloting In the electoral
colleges was announced. 1t was dis.
covered that William 8. Grosbeck Of
Ohio had received one vote. not for
president, but for vice-president, from
Ohio. l met him shortly afterward
and told him that he had gone into
history as the recipient Of n vote
for the vice.presidency. His reply
a That is nearer to the presidency
than ! ever thought l should get"
Copyright. 1911. by E. ]. Edwards. All
Rights Reservcd.)