Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-01-18
new news OF YESTERDAY
One Curious Result of the EIec-
ton of 1872.
Hon. William S. Grosbeck, Famous
Cincinnati Lawyer, Received one
Electoral College Vote for Vice
President.
BY (. J. EDWARDS.

The late William S. Grosbeck OF
Cincinnati, who died about ten years
ago, was esteemed at one time one oi
the ablest of the. very brilliant mem
bers Of the bar who practiced III the
states west of the Allegheny noun
tains. He probably ranks with me
half-dozen greatest lawyers the west
has ever provided. Abraham Llncoih
had the highest regard for GrosDech
abilities as a lawyer Edwin Nj. Stan
ION was sometimes associated WIN
him in important legal cases. RE was
one OF the counsel associated WIN
William NJ. Evarts in the defense OF
Andrew Johnson in the Impeachment
proceedings and he was later a mem
Der of the international monetary COM
mission. At the height or his fame as
was regarded as perhaps the nnes'
example or the classic school OF ora
tory the west could furnish. He also
had the almost uxque experience OF
having received one vote in the eiec-
toral college from an Ohio elector lor
yjce-president of the United States.
The late Samuel S. Cox of Ohio, bet
ter known as Sunset" was close
personal friend Of Mr.. Grosbeck;
Il ventured TO say to Mr. Grosbcck
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 candidate
for the presidency and that | hoped
10 live long enough to see him nomi-
mated and elected Mr.. Grosbeck
smiled. not being displeased BY my
remark. and said that no longer ana
pclitical parties nominate orators Tor
The presidency and, furthermore. that
If he had any capacity as a speaker
il was not OF the kind which would APP
peal 10 the masses.
"In spite Of what you say. re-
plied. 1 have a prophetic intuition
that YOU will be nominated for the
presidency some time
In reply he told me that he had
aiways been convinced that there was
! profound truth IN the statement
made bv Senator Leigh OF Virginia III
the early days OF the republic that
the presidency was neither TO De
sought nor 10 be found.
We'll. the incident passed out OF
my mind unit! in the summer OF 1873
There arose then a great deal OF dis
satisfaction among certain liberal ne
Dublicans over the nomination of lior'
acc Greeley for president by their
Marty. Tile dissatisfaction finally
Gagged convention OF boiling liberals
10 he held. think al Cincinnati. !
remember taking up the newspaper
one evening and reading that ms
boiling liberal Republican national
convention had nominated William ,.
Grnsbcck OF Cincinnati for president.
Immediately wrote line TO him 10
this effect: Congratulations you see
my prophetic munitions were cor
rect
MIR. Grosbcck did ont take the
nomination very seriously, but think
he was amazed and perhaps a niue
rra,iiied nj one curious result OF the
election. which ! presume is now al
most entirely forgotten. When the
result OF the balloting in the electoral
colleges was announced. it was dis
covered that William S. Grosbeck OF
Ohio had received one vote, not TOT
president. but for vice-president, from
Ohio. met him shortly afterWard
and told him that he had gone into
history as The recipient of one vote
for the vice-presidency. His reply
was: That is nearer to the presidency
than ever thought ! should get.
rCoryrglIt. ialI. hy T.. J. Edwards. All
Rights Rcscrvedo