650 - HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY. the plates into his hands. At length the angel told him where they were to be found. About four miles from Palmyra, New York, there was a small hill or mound. Smith dug down on the left side of the mound and found a large stone box, so carefully Sealed that no moisture could enter it. Here the plates were found. Orson Pratt, one of the first converts to Mormonism, and one of its most distinguished advocates, gives the following account of the plates as then found : " These records were engraved on plates which had the appearance of gold. Each plate was not far from seven by eight inches in width and length, being not quite so thick as common tin. They were filled on both sides with engravings, in Egyptian characters, and were bound together in a volume, as the leaves of a book, and fastened at one edge with three rings running through the whole. This volume was something like six inches in thickness, a part of which was sealed. " The characters or letters upon the unsealed part were small and beautifully engraved. The whole book exhibited many marks of antiquity in its construction:, as well as much skill in the art of engraving. With the record was found a curious instrument, called by the ancients the Urim and Thum. min, which consisted of two transparent stones, clear as crystal, set in the two rims of a bow. This was in use in ancient times by persons called seers. It was an instrument, by the use of which, they revived revelations of things distant or of things past or future." Is it not provoking that a boy who had ever attended a school in Tiffrn should embrace such humbug as religion ? Joe Smith boldly exhibited these apparently golden plates, but no unsanctified hands were permitted to touch them. He also showed a very highly polished marble box, which he said had contained the plates, and which, in that case, must have miraculously retained its lustre for countless centuries. But it had been 'observed some time before that Joe Smith, his brother, Hiram and another man by the name of McKnight were very busily employed in. some secret work, which particularly engrossed their time in the hours of darkness. It was suspected that they were engaged in some counterfeiting operations. According to Joe Smith's account, they were engaged in lonely vigils and in prayer. It was emphatically true of the new prophet that he had but very little honor in his own country. His peculiar claims excited ridicule and contempt. Mobs beset his house, demanding a sight of the most famous plates. At length the annoyance became so great that he fled from Palmyra and took refuge in the northern part of Pennsylvania, where his father-in-law resided. He secreted his plates for the journey in a barrel of beans. Being quietly housed in his retreat, he commenced, by divine inspiration, translating the Egyptian hieroglyphics. As he scarcely knew how to write himself, he employed a scribe, one Oliver Cowdery. Stationed behind a screen, where Cowdery could not see him, he professed to look through the Urim and Thummim, and thus translated the unknown symbols, sentence by sentence. The work proceeded very slowly, and month after month passed away while it was in progress. During this tithe, John the Baptist appeared to them, having 'been sent by the Apostles Peter, James and John, and or- APPENDIX - 651 dained first Smith and then Cowdery into the priesthood of Aaron. The family of the prophet's father became converts, and then an individual by the name of Martin Harris. The character of this man's mind may be inferred from the fact that he had been a Quaker, Methodist, Baptist and finally a Presbyterian. Harris had some property and Smith importuned him to furnish funds to publish the book, assuring him that it would produce an entire change in the world and save it from ruin. Mr. Harris, a simple-minded, well-meaning man, was very anxious to see the wonderful plates, but the prophet avowed that he was not yet holy enough to enjoy that privilege. However, after much importunity, he gave Mr. Harris a transcript of some of the characters on a piece of paper. As Mr. Harris was parting with his money, he evidently felt some solicitude lest he might be deceived, since all around him were speaking contemptuously of the prophetic claim of Joe Smith, and he adopted the wise precaution, probably urged to it by some of his friends, of submitting the paper with the hieroglyphics to Professor Charles Anthon, a distinguished Oriental scholar in New York. Mr. Howe, in writing a history of Mormonism, subsequently wrote to Professor Anthon, making inquiries upon this subject. He received a reply under date of February 17, 1834, from which we make the following extracts : " Some years ago a plain, apparently simple-hearted farmer called on me with a note from Dr. Mitchell, requesting me to decipher, if possible, the paper which the farmer would hand me. Upon examining the paper, I soon came to the conclusion that it was all a trick, perhaps a hoax. When I asked the person who brought it, how he obtained the writing, he gave me the following account : ' A gold book, containing a number of plates, fastened together by wires of the same material, had been dug up in the northern part of the state of New York and along with it an enormous pair of spectacles. These spectacles were so large that if any person attempted to look through them, his two eyes would look through one glass only, the spectacles being altogether too large for the human face.' Whoever,' he said, ' examined the plates through the glass, was enabled not only to read them, but fully to understand their meaning.' Although this knowledge was confined to a young man, who had the trunk containing the book and spectacles in his sole possession. This young man was placed behind the curtain, etc., etc. " The farmer had been requested to contribute a sum of money towards the publication of the golden book, and that he had intended to sell his farm and give the amount for that purpose. " On hearing this old story, I changed my opinion about the paper, and instead of viewing it any longer as a hoax, I began to regard it as a scheme to cheat the farmer of his money, and I warned him to look out for rogues. " The paper was a singular scroll. It contained all kinds of singular characters, Greek and Hebrew letters, crosses and flourishes. Roman letters inverted or placed sideways were ranged and placed in perpendicular columns, etc. Sometime after, the farmer paid me another visit. He brought with him 652 - HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY. the gold book in print, and offered it to me for sale. I declined purchasing. I adverted once more to the roguery which, in my opinion, had been practiced upon him and asked him what had become of the gold plates. He informed me that they were in the trunk With the spectacles. I advised him to go to a magistrate and have the trunk examined. He said the curse of God would come on him if he did. On my pressing him, however, to go to a magistrate, he told me he would open the trunk if I would take the curse of God upon myself. I replied that I would do so with the greatest willingness and would incur every risk of that nature, provided I could only extricate him from the grasp of a rogue. He then left me, etc. " Yours respectfully, CHARLES ANTHON." Again the community became clamorous to see the plates, and it was revealed to Joe, to show them to three witnesses chosen by the Lord. These were Oliver Cowdery, Martin Harris and David Whitmer, a new convert, who subsequently getting into a quarrel with some of the Mormons, was accused, together with Cowdery, of being connected with a gang of counterfeiters, thieves, liars and blacklegs of the deepest dye, to deceive, cheat and defraud the saints. This tirade of abuse was set on 'foot, however, only after the Mormons had finished their temple at Nauvoo, and Joe Smith found. Cowdery to be very much in his way for the leadership, when he resorted to all manner of violence to drive Cowdery out of his way. The Elders' Journal also spoke of Martin Harris in the following disrespectful terms :  " Martin Harris is so far beneath contempt, that a notice of him would be too great a sacrifice for a gentleman to make." These were the apostles to testify to the golden plates. Their meagre testimony was as follows :  " An angel of God came down from heaven and brought and laid before our eyes, that we beheld and saw, the plates and the engraving thereon." No one doubted that Joe had prepared these things, yet he was accepted as a divinely .appointed prophet. On the 1st of June, 1830, he organized a band of thirty followers at Fayette, Ontario county, Pennsylvania, but these, saints were held in such slight repute where they were known, that their leader concluded to remove them to Kirtland, Ohio. Here they assumed the name of the Latter Day Saints. Three thousand persons gave in their adhesion to Joe Smith. Some of these had wealth. Now it was revealed to Joe that they should build for him a house and give him food and raiment and all he needed, which was done. Joe became rich and established a bank which, he said, could never fail, as it was instituted " by the will of God." But it did fail—and badly. The losers by the failure of the bank procured process for Joe and Rigdon,. who both ran away. For this runaway Joe excused himself afterwards upon Bible grounds : And as Jesus said, when they persecute you in one city, flee to another. Joe said, " these persecutors followed them more than two hundred miles, armed with swords and pistols, seeking their lives." Thereupon the Mormons moved to Independence, Jackson county, Missouri, where they bought a large tract of land. Converts were multiplied, a newspaper established and a town sprang up as by magic. Soon they numbered twelve hundred. APPENDIX - 653 Ere long the disgust of the people of Missouri was excited against them. People did not wish to live near them, and their presence diminished the value of . property in the surrounding country. The Mormons became defiant, raised a large military force and declared that they were a law unto. themselves, and set the public authorities at defrance. The governor marshalled a force of four thousand militia to keep order and probably to intimidate the Mormons and actuate them to leave the State. There had already been a conflict, in which eight Missourians were wounded and twenty-five Mormons were killed and thirty wounded. The enraged Mormons burnt the small towns of Gallatin and Millport. They ravaged the country in midwinter, driving the women and children from their homes and laying the farm houses in ashes. General Clark was in command of the governmental forces, who wrote to the governor : " There is no crime, from treason down to petit larceny, but these people, or a majority of them, have not been guilty of ; all, too, under counsel of Joseph Smith, the prophet. They have committed treason, arson, burglary, robbery, larceny and perjury. They have societies formed under the most binding covenants and the most horrid oaths to circumvent the laws and put them at defiance, and to plunder, burn and murder and divide the spoils for the use of the church." The governor issued an order, which was worded very unfortunately : " The ringleaders of this rebellion, should be made an example of. If it should become necessary to the public peace, the Mormons should be exterminated, or expelled from the State:" The people of Jackson county offered to buy them out and to have the prices of their property fixed by three commissioners, with one hundred per cent in addition. They refused to leave. The militia disarmed the Mormons and took about forty prisoners, Joe Smith amongst them. They were compelled to enter into a treaty, by which they agreed to withdraw from the state. Five commissioners were appointed to sell their property; pay their debts and aid them in removing. The state appropriated two thousand dollars for their relief. Still there was much suffering, as, in mid-winter, these numerous families traversed nearly the whole breadth of Missouri, and crossing the Mississippi river, entered the state of Illinois. The cry of persecution had preceded them, and the people of Illinois received them very kindly. The American people are very prompt in throwing their sympathies on the side of those that are persecuted for opinion's sake. The Mormons settled down in, Hancock county, on the eastern bank of the Mississippi. Here they commenced rearing a new city, Which they called Nauvoo. Missionaries of the new faith had been sent abroad in all directions. Converts were multiplied. They flocked to Nauvoo. In a short time they increased to fifteen thousand inhabitants. Smith had a new revelation. The faithful were enjoined to, "bring gold and precious materials for the building of a temple for the worship of God, and a house for the dwelling-place of the prophet." Ere long it was estimated that by the labors of the missionaries in this country and Europe, the Mormons numbered 150,000. Nauvoo assumed a thriving aspect. A military band was organized, consisting of 4,000 men, 654 - HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY. well armed and disciplined. Joe had another new revelation, not only authorizing the saints to take more than one wife, but enjoining it upon them as, a duty to take several maidens to wife, and thus lead them to heaven. This step shocked quite a number of the simple-minded victims and led them to withdraw, but more were lured to join them by the license, and converts were multiplied faster than ever. Joe was accused of seducing the wife of a Dr. Foster. The injured husband published affidavits, clearly proving the charge. A warrant from a neighboring magistrate was secured for the arrest of the culprit. Joe called out his armed men and drove the sheriff from the city. This caused great excitement and the state militia was called out to enforce the laws. There was every prospect for civil war. The governor came to Nauvoo. Joe knew what was coming, and he and his brother, Hiram, surrendered to the warrant under a pledge of personal safety. They were both taken to the jail at Carthage, where they were held under the charge of treason. Popular excitement and indignation were intense. A guard was placed around the jail to protect the prisoners from an exasperated community. The cry was loud for the destruction of Nauvoo, and the expulsion of all the inhabitants. At six o'clock on the evening of the 27th of November, 1844, two hundred men in disguise approached the jail, thrust the guard aside, broke open the doors, and shot the two Smiths. Joe's last words were, as the balls pierced his body, " O, Lord, my God:" The governor was deeply aggrieved by this violation of the public faith. He issued a manifesto, in which he said " I desire to make a brief statement of the affairs at Carthage, in regard to the Smiths. They have been assassinated in jail; by whom, it is. not known, but it will be ascertained. I pledged myself to their safety. Upon this assurance they surrendered themselves as prisoners. The Mormons surrendered the public arms and submitted to the command of Captain Singleton, of Brown county, deputed for that purpose by me. I had secured a pledge of safety for the Smiths, by the unanimous vote of all the officers and men under their command.* * * * * When I had marched about three miles a messenger informed me of the occurrence at Carthage. I hastened on to that place. The guard, it is said, did their duty; but were overpowered.” The news of the death of the prophet created the wildest excitement at Nauvoo. In their organization a man by the name of Brigham Young was president of a band called" the Twelve Apostles." These chose Young as the successor of Joe Smith, and to be the head of the church., Sidney Rigdon rebelled, demanding the position for himself. Brigham arrested him; declared him to be an emissary of the devil, excommunicated him, and "delivered him over to the buffetings of the devil in the name of the Lord." All was quiet for a while, and the Mormons built a temple one hundred and twenty-eight feet long by eighty-eight feet wide. The Mormon Times and Seasons said of it: "Our temple, when finished, will show more wealth, more art, more science, more revelation, more splendor and more God than all the rest of the world." During the calm outside of Nauvoo, all sorts of rumors were in circulation as the great number of crimes being constantly committed within the city. APPENDIX -655 A convention was called and a resolution passed that the Mormons must leave. Brigham Young saw that it was useless to resist, and at once made preparations to leave and move beyond the boundaries of the United. States into the territory of Mexico. Young displayed great skill in removing 15,000 souls many hundred miles, over an almost pathless wilderness, it the midst of winter, to a new home, yet to be made; many hundred miles away. The first band crossed the Mississippi on the ice in February, 1846. The Nauvoo Times and Seasons said " To see such a large body of men, women and children compelled, by the inefficiency of the law, to leave a great city in the month of February, for the sake of the enjoyment of pure religion, fills the soul with astonishment and gives the world a sample of fidelity and faith brilliant as the sun, forcible as the tempest, and enduring as eternity." This journey occupied nearly three months. Colonel Thomas L. Kane, brother of Doctor Elisha Kane, who became so illustrious by his polar tour, witnessed this emigration, and writes of it in the most glowing terms for its strict order, the devotional exercises of the people, their quiet endurance, and he concludes: "Every day closed as every day began, with an invocation of the Divine favor, without which no Mormon seemed to dare to lay himself down to rest. With the first shining of the stars laughter and loud talking were hushed. The neighbor went his way.' You heard the last hymn sung, and then the thousand voice murmur of prayer was heard, like bubbling water falling down the hill." The war with Mexico brought Utah, with Salt Lake City, within the enlarged boundaries of the United States. Brigham Young was a man of undoubted ability and great sagacity, but with an exceedingly coarse and vulgar mind. Upon their arrival at Salt Lake, he issued a proclamation to all the world, from which the following is extracted: "The kingdom of God consists in correct principles, and it mattereth not what a man's religious faith is, whether he is a Presbyterian, a Methodist, a Baptist, a Latter Day Saint, a Mormon, a Campbellite, a Catholic, an Episcopalian, a Mohammedan, or even a Pagan, or anything else. If he will bow the knee, and with his tongue will confess that Jesus is the Christ, and will support good and wholesome laws for the regulation of society, we hail him as a brother, and will stand by him as he stands by us in these things, for every man's faith is a matter between his own soul and his God alone. But if he shall deny the Jesus, curse God, shall indulge in drunkenness, debauchery and crime, lie, swear, steal, etc., etc., he shall have no place in our midst, etc., etc." With the flood of emigration into Utah, the enforcement of the laws of the United States over the territory, what will become of Mormonism? SALUTATORY In the first issue of the Van Burenite, by Joshua Seney : "We shall advocate with a becoming zeal, and dignifiedly in manner, the great Democratic Republican principles, as established and taught by Thomas Jefferson. That ours is a government of specified and limited—not general—powers, and ought so to be strictly observed, to attain the ends for which it was established, all must admit. "The few and venerable patriots, who, when our government dated its 656 - HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY. existence, were upon the bright summit of glory, and have lived till this late day, are willing to exclaim that our system of government has eminently ex. ceeded the most sanguine expectations of those who achieved the glorious victory upon which it was established, and became an object, not only of admiration, but of envy and emulation by all the world. " It is therefore our duty, rendered imperious by the position we occupy as a nation, to preserve for its character as pure and untarnished as the bright and illustrious spirit of liberty, which dictated its existence among its framers, and still serves as a beacon light to the benighted, and a home for the oppressed of mankind, the object for which the blood of our forefathers and heroes—and labor of our ages have been bestowed to obtain. " In regard to the present federal administration, we unhesitatingly declare that we will wage against it and its measures an unyielding opposition. We would banish from us all prejudice—cast off all party predilection, and admonish the American people to view the awful and deplorable condition of our country, brought about by the short federal. predomination of one year, and ask themselves if this is the change to which they were invited. " The Democracy, who, in trying times, have been entreated to rally and rescue our government, must appreciate the present as a crisis equally important, and prepare to restore her from the dominion of an unprincipled and reckless political party, who are now plunging her into debt, disgrace and dishonor, regardless of consequences. We shall endeavor to maintain a courteous but decided position in regard to the principles we intend promulgating, and in discussion have a strict observance for the truth of what shall appear in our paper. * * * * * * " With these remarks we throw ourselves upon the support of our friends in the cause of Democracy, and by an honest, fearless and independent course, we hope to merit the support which they shall be pleased to bestow upon us." THE OLD STATE HOUSE. The reader will find no fault with the writer for preserving for him a short history of the old State House, and I am sure he will value the " Dirge on the State House Bell." Governor Chase's speech must not be lost. Columbus took great pride in this occasion of welcome, and the historic data referred to by Governor Chase are so important, and the " Dirge " so beautiful, that they are attached without further comment : On the evening of the 6th of January, 1857, there was a superb banquet given at the Capitol by the citizens of Columbus to the members of the legislature, heads of departments, judiciary, citizens and strangers—a mighty throng. Visitors were seen from all parts of the state, male and female, and some besides—a prodigious crowd. In fact almost everybody seemed to be there, and they were welcome. The." Cleveland Grays," a fide looking company, arrived at one o'clock, and were received by the " State Fencibles," of Columbus, whose guests they were. The two companies, when marching, made a splendid appearance. During the day, the State House was duly prepared for the great convocation. All chairs and furniture were removed from the halls. The rotunda had been arched, and was handsomely decorated with tri-colored muslin, APPENDIX - 657 evergreens, etc., the tables for the feasting being within it, and placed in a semi-curcular form. At night the whole edifice was brilliantly lighted, including the dome, which was finely illuminated, and showed to great advantage. " The crowd at one time inside the yard," says the Ohio State Journal, " must have numbered 4,000, while about 1,000 were outside at the door of the old offrce of the secretary of state, which was the only open place of entry to the inside of the square." About nine o'clock a. m., the exercises commenced in the hall of the house of representatives. Prayer was offered and addresses made. At the conclusion of Mr. Kelly's address, Governor Chase arose and said : EXTRACT FROM THE ADDRESS OF GOVERNOR CHASE. " It is made my very agreeable duty to respond, in behalf of the people of the state, to the cordial welcome which you, sir, in behalf of the citizens of Franklin county, have just extended to them. " It was very fit that the citizens of the county—within whose limits the seat of the state government is established—should 'distinguish the occasion upon which the state capitol is first. opened for occupancy, by an invitation to their fellow citizens of other counties, to join with them in their festival of congratulation. The multitudes who. now throng these halls, attest the cordial promptitude with which the invitation has been accepted. Only the words of welcome which you have uttered were needed to complete their satisfaction,. " In their name, sir, I thank you. In their name I thank the citizens, whose organ you are; in their name I thank the committee, under whose care this pleasant festival has been provided. I only wish that all the people of the state could be here to participate in it, “We dismiss, to-night, all memory of party divisions. We forget the things wherein we differ ; we remember only the things wherein we agree. " Over the gates of a city in Scotland once appeared, and perhaps appears now, this inscription, "Let Glasgow Flourish !" In the heart of every son, and daughter of Ohio, native or adopted, in this city or in the country, at home or abroad, lives and shall live, ever fresh- and ever fervent, the warm aspiration, " LET OHIO FLOURISH." " A century ago, Ohio was a French dominion. French forts—at Sandusky ; on the Maumee, then the lrliamis ; at Erie, then Presqu' Isle ; at Pittsburg, then Duquesne—commanded its whole extent, and connected it with the great line of French possessions, extending through the interior, from the mouth of the St. Lawrence to the mouth of the Mississippi. The apparent destiny of Ohio was to French civilization . and despotic government. " But though England, careless of interest or possessions, actually offered to yield to France all the territory west of New York and the Alleghenies, there were Americans who better understood its immediate value and future importance. Conspicuious among these were Washington and Franklin. The former, in 1754, led a military expedition to the banks of the Mononga- - 42 - 658 - HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.. hela ; the latter, indefatigable in his endeavors to rouse attention to the importance of extending English colonization beyond the Alleghanies, confidently predicted that the country between the Lakes and the Ohio would become, perhaps, in less than another century, a populous and powerful dominion.' " The efforts of Franklin were partially successful. Nine years later the French dominion had passed away forever. By the treaty of Paris, of 1763, France ceded to Great Britain all her North American possessions east of the Mississippi. " But the substitute for French civilization proposed by Great Britain was barbarism. Already jealous of the increasing strength of her American colonies, or believing that they would be, commercially, more profitable, if confrned to the Atlantic slope, she attempted to restrict their westward extension. by a Royal Proclamation prohibiting settlements west of the Alleghanies. " Under the effect of this proclamation Ohio remained a wilderness for twenty years, until, in 1783, another treaty of Paris annihilated British dominion within its limits, and transferred its possession to the American Republic, then first acknowledged as an Independent member of the, Community of Nations. " A new era was now to begin its course: Anglo-Saxon civilization and Republican institutions were now to take the place of savage barbarism. Plans of emigration and settlement 'Were promptly devised and adopted. At the mouth of the Muskingum, between the Miamis, and on the borders of Erie, the noble old pioneers of the west, many of them distinguished offrcers and soldiers of the revolution, commenced the work of subduing the wilderness. Regular institutions of government were organized under the ordinance of 1787, and that grand career of development and progress, which has so far outstripped anticipation, was fully inaugurated. " Another twenty years passed away, and Ohio was a state of the American Union. Her first public act recognized the inviolability of personal rights ; the sacredness of private obligations ; the absolute freedom of conscience, and the indispensable necessity to good government, of religion, morality and knowledge. Upon these stable foundations she has built wisely and prosperously. I need not recite her recent history ; you know it well. Nor need I remind you of her great works of improvement, of her liberal provision and ̊lionization of education, or of her noble charities. It is enough to say that ' a century ' has passed and the prophetic anticipation of Franklin is more than fulfilled. " Permit me now to turn from this brief retrospect of our general history to that which forms the special interest of this occasion." “ Forty-five years ago the spot on which we now stand was covered by the primeval forest. The general assembly of 1811-12, ordained the establishment upon it of the seat of government for the state. " The foundations of the old State House were laid the net year. Three years later it was ready for occupancy, and was actually occupied by the legislature which assembled in December, 1816. " In that. edifice for thirty-five years, the general assembly, invested not only with the whole power of legislation but with the whole power of appoint- APPENDIX - 659 ment also, directed the government of the state. The new constitution was adopted in the fall of 1851, and six months later, the old State House, as if unwilling to survive the old constitution, perished by fire. " Of the stone tablets which were inserted in the wall over each door of entrance, two have been preserved. The inscriptions upon them curiously illustrate the honest manliness and straightforward principles of the pioneers. " The inscription over the western entrance was this : " General good the object of Legislation, perfected by a knowledge of man's wants, and Nature's abounding means applied by establishing principles opposed to Monopoly.'"--LUDLOW " Over the southern and principal entrance, were inscribed several lines by the poet of the Columbiad, perhaps, copied from that very patriotic but most unreadable epic, the sentiments of which will be admitted to be excellent, whatever may be said of the poetry : " ' Equality of Right is Nature's plan, And following Nature is the march of man. Based on its rock of right your empire lies, On walls of wisdom let the fabric rise ; Preserve your principles ; their force unfold ; Let nations prove them, and let Kings behold. EQUALITY, your first firm grounded stand ; Then FREE ELECTION ; then your FEDERAL BAND This holy triad should forever shine, The great Compendium of all Rights Divine. Creed of all schools, whence youths by millions draw Their themes of Right, their decalogues of law ; Till men shall wonder (in these codes inured) How wars were made, how tyrants were endured.'"—BARLOW. " It seems that our sturdy fathers thought that the word ' Federal' was liable to misconception ; for they caused it to be erased by painting over it the word Union.' In process of time, however, the paint washed off—what a warning this to politicians !—and the word ' Federal reappeared, as originally engraved. " With the OLD STATE HOUSE, and the Old Constitution, terminated an epoch in the history of our state, to which her children will ever look back with patriotic pride. Even now there seem to pass before me the forms of the noble men who made it illustrious. There moves Putnam, honored with the confidence of Washington ; there Harrison, magnanimous in thought and heroic in deeds ; there Worthington, the friend of Jefferson ; there Burnet, wise in legislation and upright in magistracy ; there the honest and unselfish Morrow ; there Vance, faithful to every trust ; there the generous and eloquent Lytle, too early lost ; there the accomplished Hamer, spared by the sword, but felled by disease in a foreign land ; there Morris, the fearless tribune of the people ; there Sherman, exchanging, before life's noon, the 660 - HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY ermine for the shroud ; there Hitchcock, clear in judgment and inflexible in integrity ; and there--but I must break off the enumeration. Time would fail me were I to attempt to name, even half of those whose elevation \of character, purity of purpose, sagacity in council and vigor in action distinguished that period. Happy shall we be if we prove ourselves worthy successors of such men." Those who re member the clear and oft admired tones of the old capitol bell, will not regret the insertion of the following appropriate dirge, taken from one of the Columbus papers, as an appendix to this book : For the Elevator.[ DIRGE OF THE STATE HOUSE BELL. BY J. M. D. Columbus, farewell ! no more shall you hear, My voice so familiar for many a year— Those musical sounds which you recognized well, As the clear-sounding tones of your State House Bell. Ere the red man had gone, I was mounted on high, When the wide-spreading forest which greeted mine eye, Gave forth from its thickets the panther's wild yell, As he heard the strange sounds of your State House Bell. Unaccompanied, unanswered, I sounded alone, And mingled my chime with its echo's deep tone ; Till spire after spire, rising round me, did swell Their response, to the sound of your State House Bell. I called you together to make yourselves laws, And daily my voice was for every good cause ; When aught of importance or strange was to tell, You were summoned full soon by your State House Bell. As a sentinel, placed on the watch-tower's height, Columbus, I've watched thee by day and by night— Though slumb'ring unconscious, when danger befell, You were roused by the clang of your State House Bell. But while I watched o'er you, the Fire King came, And enveloped my tower in his mantle of flame ; Yet, true to my calling, my funeral knell Was tolled, on that night, by your State House Bell. Your sons of the Engine and Hose, ever brave, And prompt at my call, quickly hastened to save ; But alas ! their best efforts were fruitless to quell The flames that rose over your State House Bell. APPENDIX - 661 When my Cupola trembled, I strove but to sound One peal of farewell to your thousands around ; But you lost, as 'midst timbers and cinders I fell, The last smothered. tone of your State House Bell. COLUMBUS, February 10, 1852. APPENDIX. NO. 2. THE TIFFIN PAPERS—JOURNAL OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION—FIRST MESSAGE OF THE FIRST GOVERN OR TO THE FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF OHIO—MESSAGE OF x8o3—MESSAGE CONCERNING THE ARREST OF THE BURR —BLANNERHASSET EXPEDITION—TIFFIN IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE—ELECTION OF SPEAKER OF HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF OHIO. THE TIFFIN PAPERS. THE following records, papers and documents pertaining to the life and public services of Governor Tiffin, were collected with great care. They are so full of historic data and record so many interesting events, that, while the careless reader may treat them lightly, the author feels sure that the thinker and lover of history will value them highly, and for his especial benefit has called them the " Tiffin Papers." THE FIRST CONSTITUTION OF OHIO. In July, 1787, the congress of the United States, acting under the provisions of the " Articles of Confederation," enacted the widely known " Ordinance of 1787," for the government of the territory of the United States lying to the northwest of the Ohio ; and this may be said to have been the first movement towards the establishment of civil government within that vast region. For the purpose of carrying that ordinance into effect and of organizing a territorial government, on the 5th of October, 1787, congress appointed General Arthur St. Clair governor and Winthrop Sargent secretary of the territory ; and a few days thereafter, Samuel Holden Parsons, John Armstrong Ind James Mitchell Varnum were appointed its judges. During the summer of 1788, without respecting the opinions prevailing at tat time, when the states, as such, were supposed to possess more dignity and more political rights than belonged or could possibly belong to an unorganized community, even when acting under supposed Federal authority, the governor and two of the judges of the territory assembled at Marietta, and commenced what they conceived to be their duty of legislating for the residents of the territory, but their enactments were disallowed by congress. )ecause they had been framed without warrant in law by those who possessed no power to enact a law. APPENDIX - 663 The organization of a new administration under President Washington was followed soon after by a re-organization of the government of the northwestern territory, General St. Clair and Messrs. Sargent and Parsons having been re-appointed, and Messrs. Symmes and Turner called to the bench as judges. In July, 1790; the secretary, then acting as governor, with Judges Symmes and Turner, met at Vincennes, and repeated the folly of the previous government by enacting other laws for the government of the inhabitants of the territory, none of which, however, were approved by the congress, because they had been enacted as original laws, and had not been adopted from the existing codes of states under the provision of the " Ordinance of 1787," which was the' organic law of the territory. In the summer, of 1795 a code of laws was adopted unanimously from the codes of the several states, and in 1799, under the provision of the ordinance, and the territory, having five thousand white male inhabitants, the first general assembly of the territory was convened at Cincinnati. In 1800 the territory was divided, and soon after, measures were taken to organize a state in the eastern portion of it, not, however, without so strong an opposition, both in the general assembly and in various parts of the territory, that the overthrow of the scheme would have been complete and emphatic, had those who promoted it, for their own purposes, submitted the proposition either to the territorial assembly or to the body of the inhabitants. An act was crowded through the congress, however, notwithstanding the general opposition which was known to exist both in the assembly and amongst the people, " to enable the people of the eastern division of the territory, northwest of the river Ohio, to form a constitution and state government, and for the admission of such state into the Union, on an equal footing with the original states, and for other purposes ;" and on the 1st of November of that year, the convention which that .act assumed to authorize met at Chillicothe and framed and enacted the first constitution, all of which was done in defiance of the known will of those it was designed to govern, and was thrust upon them by force, without their consent, in order that those who plotted it might be spared from the shame, which its inevitable and contemptuous rejection by " the people " would have brought upon them. Edward Tiffin was the member from Ross and the speaker of that assembly. The "Journal " of that convention has been considered one of the rarest, as it is one of the most interesting tracts connected with the history of the west ; and there is but one copy of it, and that is in the state library at Columbus, Ohio. It is a thin octavo of forty-eight pages, shabbily printed, and bears the following title : " Journal of the convention of the territory of the United States, north. west of, the Ohio, begun and held, at Chillicothe, on Monday, the first day of November, A. D. 1802, and of the independence of the United States the twenty-seventh. Published ,by authority, Columbus : George Nall, state printer, 1827." " In order that it may become better known, and as the first of a series of papers illustrative *of the constitutional history of the several states, we re- 664 - HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY. produce this very important western document, complete, and we assure ourselves that our readers will be glad to see it."—[Editor Historical Magazine : JOURNAL OF THE CONVENTION. Begun and held at the town of Chillicothe, in the county of Ross and territory aforesaid, on the first Monday in November (being the first day thereof) in the year of our Lord, one thousand, eight hundred and two, and of the independence of the United States of America, the twenty-seventh. On which day, being the time and place appointed for the meeting of the convention for the purpose of forming a constitution and state government, by the act of congress entitled : "An act to enable the people of the eastern division of the territory, northwest of the river Ohio, to form a constitution and state government and for the admission of such state into the Union on an equal footing with the original states, and for other purposes," the following members appeared, who produced certificates of their having been duly chosen to serve in the convention, and having severally taken the oath of fidelity to the United States and also an oath faithfully to discharge the duties of their office, took their seats, to wit : (See the names of the members as signed to the constitution). On motion, the convention proceeded to the choice of a president pro tem, when William Goforth, Esq., was chosen and took the chair. On motion, the convention proceeded to the choice of a secretary pro tem , whereupon Mr. William McFarland was chosen and proceeded to the duties of his office. On motion, Resolved, That a standing committee of privileges and elections, to consist of five members, be chosen by ballot, whose duty'it shall .be to examine and report upon the credentials of the members returned to serve in the convention, and to take into consideration all such matters as shall or may be referred to them, touching returns and elections, and to report their proceedings, with their opinions thereon, to the convention. And a committee was appointed of Messrs. Worthington, Darlinton, Smith Milligan and Huntington.     On motion, the convention proceeded by ballot to the choice of a doorkeeper, to serve during the pleasure of the convention, and upon examining the ballots, a majority of the votes was found in favor of Adam Betz. On motion, ordered that a committee of three be appointed to prepare and report rules for the regulation and government of the convention, and that Messrs. Reily, Milligan and Worthington be the said committee. And then the convention adjourned until to-morrow morning at 10 o'clock. Tuesday, November 2d, 1802. Several other members appeared, who severally produced certificates of their having been chosen as members of the convention, and having taken the oath of fidelity to the United States and also an oath faithfully to discharge the duties of their office, took their seats. Mr. Worthington, from the committee of privileges and elections, to whom was referred the several returns of elections of members to serve in the convention, made a report, which he delivered in at the secretary's table, where the same was read in the words following, to Fit : APPENDIX - 665 " The committee of privileges and elections, to whom was referred the certificates of the election of the following members : (named in the " Journal ") having carefully examined the same, find them regular and agreeably to a law of the territory, entitled : An act to ascertain the number of free male inhabitants, of the age of twenty-one, in the territory of the United States, northwest of the river Ohio, and to regulate the elections of the representatives for the same, and that the members aforesaid, from the certificates to us referred, appear duly elected. The said report was again read and on the question thereupon, agreed by the convention. On motion, Resolved, That the convention proceed by ballot to the choice of a president. The convention accordingly proceeded to choose their president, and upon examination of the ballots, it was found that Edward Tiffin, Esq., was duly chosen, who accordingly took the seat in the chair and delivered the following address : " GENTLEMEN : I beg you to be assured that I duly appreciate the honor you have conferred in selecting me to preside over your deliberations on this important occasion. The duties of the chair will, I presume, be pleasing and easy, for, from the known characters of the gentlemen who compose the convention, there can be no doubt but that the utmost propriety and decorum will be observed, without the aid of interference from the chair. Whatever rules you may adopt for the government of the convention shall be strictly observed, and in every decision which may be required from the chair, the utmost impartiality shall be evinced." On motion, Resolved, That the convention proceed by ballot to the choice of a secretary, and upon examining the ballots, it was found that Thomas Scott, Esq.. was duly chosen, who thereupon took the oath of fidelity to the United States and also an oath faithfully to discharge the duties of his offrce. On motion, Resolved, That the convention proceed by ballot to the choice of an assistant secretary, and upon examining the ballots a majority of the votes of the whole number was found in favor of Mr. William McFarland, who thereupon took the oath of fidelity to the United States and also an oath faithfully to discharge the duties of his office. Convention adjourned until to-morrow. Wednesday, November 3d, 1802. Another member, to wit : from the county of Hamilton, John Mitchell. who appeared, produced certificate of his having been duly chosen as a member in the convention, and having taken the oath of fidelity to the United States and also an oath faithfully to discharge the duties of his Office, took his seat. Mr. Reily, from the committee appointed to prepare and report rules for the regulation and government of the convention, made a report, which was received and read, whereupon, Resolved, That the same be established as the standing rules and orders of the convention. Then follow the standing rules. 666 - HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY. On motion, leave was grven to lay before the convention a resolution on the subject of forming a constitution and state government, which resolution was received and read the first time. On motion, the said resolution was read the second time, whereupon, Resolved, That the convention will immediately resolve itself into a committee of the whole on said resolution. The convention accordingly resolved itself into the said committee, Mr. Goforth in the chair, and after some time spent therein, Mr. President resumed the chair, and 111r. Goforth reported that the committee had, according to order, had the said resolution under consideration, and made no amendments thereto. The said resolution was then amended at the secretary's table, and read the third time, and on the question that the convention do agree to the same, in the words following, to-wit : WHEREAS, congress did by the law, entitled " an act to enable the people of the eastern division of the territory northwest of the river Ohio, to form a constitution and state government, and for the admission of said state into the Union, on an equal footing with the original states, and for other purposes, (provided that the members of the convention thus duly elected, agreeably to the act aforesaid, when met, shall first determine by a majority of the whole number elected, whether it be or be not expedient, at this time, to form a constitution and state government for the people within the said territory ;) therefore, Resolved, That it is the opinion of this convention that it is expedient at this time to farm a constitution and state government. It was resolved in the affirmative—yeas, 32; nays, 1. The yeas and nays being demanded, the vote in the negative was Mr. Cutter. " Sec. 7.—No negro or mulatto shall ever be eligible to any office, civil or military, or give their oath in any court of justice against a white person, be subject to do military duty or pay a poll tax in this state; provided always, and it is fully understood and declared, that all negroes and mulattos now in, or who may hereafter reside in this state, shall be entitled to all the privileges of citizens of this state, not excepted by the constitution." And on the question thereupon it was resolved in the affirmative—yeas, 19 ; nays, 16. Ayes—Messrs. Abrams, Baldwin, Blair, Byrd, Caldwell, Carpenter, Donalson, Grubb, Humphrey, Kirker, McIntire, Massie, Milligan, Smith, Morrow, Tiffrn, Woods and Worthington. Nays—Messrs. Abbot, Brown, Cutter, Dunlavy, Gatch, Gilman, Goforth, Huntington, Kitchel, Paul, Putnam, Reily, Sargent, Updegraph, Wills and Wilson. On motion the fourth article of the constitution designating the qualification of electors, was taken up and read the third time, in order for its final passage. A motion was made to amend the said article by striking out after the word " elector " in the seventh line of the first section the words following : " Provided, that all male negroes and mulattos, now residing in this territory, shall, at the age of twenty-one years, be entitled to the right of suffrage, APPENDIX - 667 if they shall within one year make a record of their citizenship with the clerk of the county in which they may reside ; and, provided also, that they have paid or are charged with a state or county tax." Resolved in the affirmative—yeas, 17 ; nays, 17. The convention being equally divided, and Mr. President declaring himself with the yeas. Sec. 19.—The legislature of this state shall not allow the following officers of government greater annual salaries than as follows, until the year 1808, to wit : The governor not more than one thousand dollars ; the judges of the supreme court not more than one thousand dollars each ; the secretary not more than five hundred dollars ; the auditor of public accounts not more than seven hundred and fifty dollars ; the treasurer not more than four hundred and fifty dollars ; no member of the legislature shall receive more than two dollars per day during his attendance on the legislature, nor more for every twenty-five miles' travel in going to and returning from the general assembly. It was resolved in the affrrmative—yeas, 21 ; nays, 13. November 27, 1802. Mr. Goforth, from the committee appointed to prepare an address to the president of the United States, and both branches of the federal legislature, expressive of the high sense the convention entertain of the cheerful and philanthropic manner in which they made provision for the admission of this state into the Union ; and expressive of the approbation of the present administration of the general government, made a report, which was received and read the first time. On motion the said report was read the second time, and agreed to by the convention in the words following : To the President and both Houses of Congress of the United States : The convention of the state of Ohio, duly appreciating the importance of a free and independent state government, and impressed with sentiments of gratitude to the congress of the United States for the prompt and decisive measures taken at their last session to enable the people of the northwestern territory to emerge from their colonial government and to assume a rank among the sister states, beg leave to take the earliest opportunity of announcing to you the important event ; on this occasion the convention cannot help expressing their unequivocal approbation of the measures pursued by the present administration of the general government and both houses of congress, in diminishing the public burdens, cultivating peace with all nations, and promoting the happiness and prosperity of our country. Resolved, That the president of the convention do enclose to the president of the United States, to the president of the senate and to the speaker of the house of representatives of the United States the foregoing address. On motion resolved, that the constitution be ratified by the convention, and thereby the following members ratified and subscribed their names to the constitution, to wit : EDWARD TIFFIN, President and representative from the county of Ross. From Adams county—Joseph Darlinton, Israel Donalson and Thomas Kirker. From Belmont county—James Caldwell, Elijah Woods. 668 -HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY. From Clermont county—Philip Gatch, James Sargent. From Fairfield county—Henry Abrams, Emanuel Carpenter. From Hamilton county—John W. Browne, Charles William Byrd, Francis. Dunlavy, William Goforth, John Kitchel, Jeremiah Morrow, John Paul, John Reiley, John Smith, John Wilson. From Jefferson county—Rudolph Bair, George Humphrey, John Milligan, Nathan Updegraph, Bazabel Wills. From Ross county—Michael Baldwin, James Grubb, Nathaniel Massie, Thomas Worthington. From Trumbull county—David Abbot, Samuel Huntington. From Washington county—Ephraim Cutter, Benjamin Ives Gilman, John, McIntire, Rufus Putnam. William Creighton, Jr., secretary of state ; salary, $500. THE FIRST MESSAGE OF THE FIRST GOVERNOR OF OHIO TO THE FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF OHIO. To the General Assembly of the State of Ohio : GENTLEMEN OF THE SENATE AND OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES : We now exhibit another sovereign, free and independent state, organized northwest of the Ohio, which is. about to be added to the confederate government, emphatically styled " the world's best hope;" many of our citizens have looked forward to that period, and not without reason, when they should become a free people, and I sincerely congratulate you and them, that they have now an entire legislature of their own choice, assembled under a constitution sacred to liberty ; a constitution which rests upon equal rights and displays a pure representative system , a constitution whereby the rulers are derivable from, and amenable to the people ; a constitution calculated to excite in all our citizens a patriotic zeal, by giving each individual an opportunity, by merit, of being called upon to participate in the government, that all may strive habitually to feel and distinctly understand its first principles. The period wherein we commence our national existence is peculiarly auspicious ; the government of the United States respected abroad, strong in the confidence of its citizens, at home, and by a wise and prudent policy in lopping off all extraneous excressences from the body politic, requires less fiscal exactions to preserve it in its pristine health and constitutional vigor ; the good effects resulting therefrom to us, in our first essay towards self-government are evident; and it is a pleasing reflection that the sons of Ohio, conscious of the tender solicitude and lively interest manifested for the happiness and welfare of every portion of the American people as well, are fast progressing with their fellow citizens in the other states towards a union of sentiment and affection. DEMAND FOR A FREE PASSAGE TO THE SEA. The recent embarrassments to our infant commerce, occasioned by the irregularities at New Orleans, we have every reason to believe, will soon be removed by the prompt and efficacious measures taken by the president of the United States, and which has been aided by the minister of his Catholic Majesty, and from the embassy, Which has been wisely adopted, we may further hope APPENDIX - 669 that our situation. will be bettered, by placing our commerce on a footing not liable to similar interruptions in future. If, however, the just and natural expectations of government should be frustrated, we are consoled by the lively sensibility excited in the general government, and in every part of the Union, for the situation of their western brethren, and although every friend to humanity may have to regret the Bernier resort, yet it is as much impossible to prevent the Mississippi from discharging its vast contents, swelled with the numerous navigable rivers with which it is nourished, into the bosom of the ocean; as to prevent, at the call of government, of.whose magnanimity I have no doubt, those brave and intrepid citizens who are everywhere settled on their banks and fertile plains from asserting their natural, and acquired rights, and forcing with the stream the fruits of their industry to every part of the world. In giving to the general assembly information of the state of the government and recommending to their consideration such measures as may be deemed expedient, a wide field of action must necessarily be opened, and discover the important duties devolving on the first legislature; the foundation of the government is laid ; to you, gentlemen, it is committed to raise the superstructure, and carry in a great measure into effect the national will. It will, no doubt, afford you much consolation, on receiving from the proper officers, a statement of our finances, in discovering that the present revenue, if wholly reserved for state purposes, is adequate to all the necessary exigencies of government, and that by a true economy, devoid of parsimony, the public faith and credit may be Maintained without any additional augmentation in consequence of that change which has taken place. The constitution having assigned to the legislature the appointment of all the principal officers in the government, that instrument will consequently pass in review, and in due time occupy the serious attention of both houses. Under the constitution of the United States, you will also have to select two of our citizens to represent the state in the senate of the United States for Six years, and to provide by law for the election of one member of time house of representatives. The laws levying a tax on land, the principal source from whence the revenue has proceeded, expiring of themselves, you will discover the necessity of taking that subject under consideration ; and as experience has pointed out the defects which have heretofore existed, you will be hereby aided in devising a system of taxation which shall operate equally on all, and be incapable of misconstruction in favor of any, who either from design or neglect, may fail to comply with the just and necessary requisition of government. It may also be proper to add, that under existing laws, great neglect has been manifested by those who have alienated their lands in making the proper transfers on the books of taxation ; that considerable locations have been made by individuals in the United States military, tract, in the Virginia military tract, and at some of the United States offices, and which having never been entered for taxation, to provide for bringing all lands under the law, which are subject thereto, and to prevent embarrassments in the collections in the future, are amongst the several objects which will naturally present themselves to your minds when deliberating upon this subject. The return of the special agent sent la the convention to Congress, instructed 670 - HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY. with certain propositions, is daily expected, and which, if acceded to by them, will affect this subject. As soon as offrcial information is received it shall be immediately communicated. The constitution having made an entire change in the judiciary system necessary, it will be proper to direct your particular attention to the third article of that instrument upon this subject. To erect and establish courts with common law and chancery powers, with civil and criminal jurisdiction, at whose bar, life, reputation, property and everything dear to freemen may be at stake, as well as to fill the benches with proper characters to pronounce the law, and to provide for an impartial selection of juries, are of such vast importance in every well regulated government as to require the utmost deliberation and caution. Under the same article it will be necessary to provide by law for the election of a competent number of justices of the peace in each township, in the several counties ; and it may be an object worthy your enquiry, whether it would not be economical and judicious to establish each county into a court to manage its internal concerns and regulate its general police. Within one year after the meeting of the first legislature it is required that an enumeration of all the white male inhabitants above twenty-one years of age shall be made ; it will therefore be necessary to provide by law for the accomplishment of that object, in order that a due apportionment of senators and representatives may be assigned to each county or district. A well regulated and disciplined malitia, being justly considered in every republic as its safeguard for protection and defense, I cannot but recommend to your consideration a review of the existing laws relative thereto. The first, passed in the year 1799, is a good system, but as it was adapted to the state of the district, when the Indiana and northwestern territory was one, and much injured by a subsequent act, passed in the year 1801, which repealed that part relative to the appointment of general officers, and which the constitution now recognizes, it is suggestive whether it would not be best to revive the former law, with such alterations as will make it applicable to our present situation, aided with such other improvements as you may find it susceptible of, as well as to provide for the election of its officers. The season of the year in which you were necessarily convened to carry the government into operation, being inconvenient to many of you, will doubtless excite a wish to curtail the present session, and devote your immediate attention to such objects as are most pressing, and more especially as there is reason to believe you will be much importuned with business of a local nature, from different parts of the state ; otherwise it would have been advisable to have taken a review of all the present existing laws, many of which were adopted in the first and enacted under the second grade of the territorial governments, requires much revision ; one, however, adopted at an early period, " regulating marriages," whereby the governor is exclusively authorized to grant marriage licenses, and which has been justly complained of, will, I hope, now be expunged from our code, and one better adapted to the object of its institution, and more congenial to the spirit of the government, enacted in its stead. When we consider the present prosperous situation of the United States, and contemplate our own present and future prospects, situate as we are, in APPENDIX - 671 a country where nature has been lavish of her favors to every part; where our soil, climate, and navigable waters present to the mind of observation and contemplation the most pleasing view and prospects of the future greatness and importance of this part of the American empire, we have much reason to render the sincere homage of grateful hearts' to that Being who has so highly favored us, and every inducement for the exercise in improving these means now within our reach towards the happiness and prosperity of our country. " Religion, morality and knowledge are necessary to all good governments," says the excellent constitution under which you are convened, and to this great truth we must all subscribe. The liberal grants of land made by the United States for the purposes of erecting and endowing universities and other seminaries of learning, and for the support of religion, are advantages in these respects superior to those which, perhaps, any other new country can boast of ; to improve those means • with advantage towards the noble ends for which they were given ; to preserve the public faith unimpeached ; to practice economy in all public expenditures ; to impose n taxes upon our citizens for state or county purposes but what are really necessary for their honest wants ; to cultivate peace and harmony with our Indian neighbors, and to exemplify both in our public acts and private life. Every disposition towards discountenancing idleness and dissipation, and by encouraging industry, frugality, temperance and every moral virtue are objects of such importance to our rising republic, that they cannot fail, if attended to, of producing the best effects in forming for us a national character; hich may be the admiration. of all. On my part, gentlemen, you may rest assured it shall be no less my honest pride than it is made my constitutional duty, cordially to co-operate with you in every measure your united wisdom and experience may devise for the public good. EDWARD TIFFIN. CHILLICOTHE, March 5, 1803. GOVERNOR TIFFIN'S SECOND MESSAGE. To the General Assembly of the State of Ohio : GENTLEMEN OF THE SENATE AND OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES : We have met together to consider the situation of our political society, and under circumstances the most auspicious, both as it respects our exterior and interior relations, and sufficient to excite in all our hearts the most sincere effusion of gratitude to that Being in whose hands are the destinies of nations and of man. THE PURCHASE OF LOUISIANA. At the close of the last session of the general assembly, our fellow citizens were anxiously concerned at the prohibition of an invaluable acquired right which was unjustly withheld by the officers of the Spanish government at the port of New Orleans, and which threatened to annihilate the commerce and becloud the best prospects of this and the neighboring western states ; yet, anxiously concerned as they were, and conscious of the great injury they belabored under, they sustained it with a fortitude and prudence which has done them honor—wisely confiding in the general government, to whom alone it belonged to have the evil remedied, and to provide against similar 672 - HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY. events in future ; and herein we have an additional inducement for that confidence which the legislature expressed at their last. session in the executive of the United States, and in the measures which were pursuing to accomplish those objects, and which have succeeded beyond our most sanguine expectations. The right of depositing the produce of exportation of all that extensive, fertile. country, whose waters are tributary to the Mississippi, either at New Orleans or anywhere else on the banks of the river near its mouth, although a great object, yet,. would have been held at best, but a precarious tenure, while both sides were subject to a foreign government, but by a wise and magnanimous, policy, war, ever to be deprecated, with all its inconceivable attendant horrors, has been averted, and expense's to support that war, which might have been i ncalculable, and could not fail to have been heavily felt, are rendered unnecessary, whilst by. a friendly Negotiation, and in the most just and honorable way, the city and island of New Orleans, with the whole of Louisiana, are added to the American empire, an acquisition incalculable to the United States, whether considered as a territory, rich in natural resources, as a means of securing the uncontrolled and peaceable navigation of the Mississippi, by possessing its key, or as a great and increasing source of national revenue. In our own state we have this year been favored with abudant crops, less visited by affliction than heretofore, and strengthened with a greatly increased and still increasing population. We have exhibited the pleasing spectacle of a free people, assuming the right of self-government, purely elective in all its branches, and conducting those elections and organizing that government with a temper, moderation and caution becoming a people capable of enjoying those political and religious liberties, which are their inherent rights. The present state of the militia calls aloud for your particular attention. When the government was first organized a return to the militia was required of the then adjutant-general, who was directed by the 12th section of the " act establishing and regulating the militia," to make a return to the commander-in-chief annually. His answer to that request showed that the militia law had been neglected, and that not a single regiment in the state was either officered or organized, believing that our safety and freedom depends on this class of our fellow citizens, and finding that the only proper safeguard for protection and defence was in this lamentable situation, it was thought expedient, as the existing militia laws from the change of government which had taken place, were not applicable to our present situation, to issue general orders, requiring the senior officers who were in commission in such county, to hold elections agreeably to the constitution, to fill the vacancies in their regiments and make report to the adjutant-general, that the militia might be placed on as respectable footing as existing circumstances would permit. These orders were attended to by some of the commandants with a zeal and activity highly honorable to them, and a few regiments have been completely offrcered and disciplined, with light companies annexed to them. A return of the effective force, a communication from the president of the United States on this subject, a requisition from the general government to assemble with the least possible delay, and hold in readiness five APPENDIX - 673 hundred of the militia, including officers, to compose a regiment, to march to take possession of the lately ceded country of Louisiana, should the officers of the Spanish government either refuse or delay to give it up, agreeably to treaty, with the measures taken to raise this force, and other documents relative thereto, is hereunto annexed. See exhibit No. 1, and from which you will discover the necessity of taking into early consideration an institution on which every free state should place its greatest reliance for repelling aggressions from without, for maintaining order and good government within its own borders, and which tends to keep alive that spirit which effected our independence and gave the United States a name amongst the nations of the earth. The laws laying a tax on lands will, I hope, this session undergo a revisal and the remedies which time and experience have pointed out, be applied particularly, it is suggested, whether it would not be advisable to have all the lands of resident proprietors listed anew, provision made from the several offrcers a list of all lands which have been located or acquired by individuals, and which are subject to, but have never been entered for, taxation. The public weal also requires that a more expeditious and certain way of .obliging delinquent collectors to account for and pay into the treasury their respective balances due the state, should be devised ; and it will further be a proper subject for your inquiry, whether it is not necessary that the revenue arising from this source should be wholly reserved for state purposes. The act regulating the public salt works, etc., etc., etc. EDWARD TIFFIN. CHILLICOTHE, December 5, 1803. MESSAGE ON THE BURR-BLENNERHASSET EXPEDITION. The speaker laid before the senate the following written message from his excellency the governor of this state, viz: To the General Assembly of the State of Ohio : I now communicate to the representatives of the people such operations as have taken place, under the act passed this session, to prevent certain acts hostile to the peace and tranquility of the United States, within the jurisdiction of this state, that they may be fully possessed of what has already occurred and is still in transit. Immediately upon receiving the law, after its passage, I dispatched an express to Marietta, with orders to arrest the flotilla on the Muskingum river and the agents engaged in its preparations, and to make due inquiry after such proof as would lead to their conviction, as also to prevent any armaments proceeding that might be descending the Ohio, if possible. The execution of the operation at Marietta was entrusted to Judge Meigs and Major-General Buell. I also dispatched orders to Cincinnati to plant. one or more pieces of artillery on the banks of the Ohio, to keep patroles up the river at proper distances, in order to give notice, in due time, of the approach of the boats, either singly or in numbers, and to call out a sufficient force to be able to meet 300 men, the number I expected might probably be with Blennerhasset's and Comfort Tyler's flotillas, if they should effect a junction ; and lest they might attempt to pass in detachments of one boat at - 43 - 674 - HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY a time, not to suffer a single boat to pass without an arrest and examination. The execution of these operations was entrusted to Generals Gano and Findley and Judge Nimms. I have also given authority to Jacob Wilson, Esq., of Steubenville, to act, if occasion offers for his interposition, in that quarter. and it gives me great pleasure to inform you that I last night received a communication from Judge Meigs, of Marietta, announcing the complete success of the operations intrusted to him and General Buell, and whose patriotic efforts entitle them both to my warmest thanks. It is suspected notice was conveyed to Blennerhasset's island of the passage of the law, and the preparations making here to carry it into immediate effect ; for it appears that on the night of the 9th instant, Comfort Tyler passed Marietta with a number (not yet ascertained) of fast rowing boats, with men armed indiscriminately with muskets, pistols and cutlasses, and anchored at the island, and immediately sent an express after Blennerhasset, who was hurrying on his flotilla ; that upon discovering the movements of our militia, they fled full speed to the island, which was guarded at night by sentinels and lighted lanterns at proper distances, and none suffered to pass except by countersign or watch-word. Spies were also placed at Marietta to give notice of the movements there. In the meantime, Gen--. oral Buell, by direction of Judge Meigs, with a detachment of militia, proceeded up the Muskingum river in the night, and arrested ten of the batteaux as they were descending the river to join Tyler's forces ; they were so hurried that four more of the batteaux were not got ready to embark and would also be seized, which is, I believe, the whole of the Muskingum flotil la. There were near 100 barrels of provisions seized on board, and which, I expect, he also seized with the same remaining batteaux ; these batteaux are each forty feet long ; wide and covered and calculated to carry one company of men. It is believed notice was immediately given to the island of this seizure, for in about three hours afterwards, on the same night, Blennerhasset and Tyler made their escape from the Wand, and have pushed, it is said, through Kentucky. Colonel Phelps, of Virginia, with a few mounted men, is in pursuit of them. I expect Tyler's boats will descend the Ohio, to meet him and Blennerhasset at some point low down on that river, and I have no doubt but that General Gano will render a good account of them as they attempt to pass Cincinnati. I also received last night a communication from the secretary of war of the United States, by direction of the government, requiring me, without delay, to raise 150 or 200 volunteer militia, to be formed in companies with one field officer, one captain, two subalterns and 70 men, commissioned officers, privates and musicians to each company, in the pay of the United States, and direct them to march to Marietta, with orders to seize the Muskingum flotilla, and prevent it from being removed until further orders from the president. But finding that this service was in part effected, I have ventured, from the necessity of the case, to vary in some degree from these instructions, and which, I hope, will meet the approval of the general government and also of yours. I sent on orders last night to Marietta to raise one company of volunteers, to be composed of one major, one captain, two subalterns and sixty men, commissioned officers, privates and musicians,