The Marietta Register, May 20, 1864
"Old Marietta Papers" was a series of columns compiled and published in 1863 and 1864 by Rodney M. Stimson, editor of "The Marietta Register."
Our notes are now brought down to 1838, but as we have only a very few Marietta papers of that year, and of the first eight months in 1839, and yet hope to receive more, we go back a little for this article. J. C. McCoy has brought us nearly fifty numbers of Gov. Brough's "Western Republican" of the years 1831, 1832, and 1833, and let us see what we can find in them.
June 1, 1831, Abraham Payne was proprietor of the mail stage line between Marietta and Zanesville, and William Warren was carrying on coopering on Putnam Street "near the Wilcox House," that now for a quarter of a century owned and occupied by Col. Mills.
July 4, 1831, there was a "Jackson celebration" in Marietta. Isaac Humphreys, Esq., delivered the oration.
September 3, 1831, Mr. Brough published a half sheet only, giving as a reason, "the sickness of the only person in our employ, and the impossibility of procuring other assistance." From this it will be seen that "Jack Brough" was in the habit of doing his own work, in great part.
September 17, 1831, the "Marietta Museum" was in "full blast" at the house of Major Alexander Hill on Greene Street - under the auspices of Peter Rice, James Houston, and H. Ed. Sill. They had quite a collection of animals, fishes, birds, insects, minerals, coins, wax figures, paintings, etc.
October 15, 1831, a Dr. H. Balsan was practising medicine in Marietta.
Arius Nye was at this October (1831) a candidate for the State Senate - was elected by 192 majority over Isaac Humphreys, Esq., who was a Jackson man. There was some sharp-shooting in the papers. In the Gazette "Master Brough" was talked about, and the "audacity" of his sending a note to Mr. Nye, which was called a piece of "impertinence." Jack retorts: "Are we striding to aristocracy so fast as all this? Are we to be told that Lords and Peers are springing up among us in this land of liberty? What claims had Mr. Nye to superiority other than his own ideas of family greatness, that it should be considered 'audacious' and 'impertinent' to ask him a civil question?" And so they had it.
Mr. Brough's youth was not unfrequently mentioned by his political opponents - not yet twenty years of age, when he began the Western Republican. In allusion to this, he apologizes for "doubling" advertisements on account of "the indisposition of the little lad who not only edits and publishes, but assists in printing the Republican."
"Little lad!" Not very appropriate at this day, surely, when Gov. Brough weighs - how much? - how much less than 300?
July 7, 1832, James Lytle, son of George Lytle of Harmar, went into the river with some other boys and getting beyond his depth was drowned.
July 12, 1832, Dr. William H. Baldwin offered his professional services to the people of Harmar and vicinity.
David C. Skinner was in trade in Harmar at this date.
August 2, 1832, Francis Thierry, one of the early French settlers of Marietta, coming here in 1790 and long a resident, died in Gallia County, Ohio Township, to which place he had removed from Marietta.
Patriotic Language. Sept. 1, 1832, Mr. Brough copied an article from the New York Courier and Enquirer, which he endorsed, although from the opposite political party. We quote from "Master Brough's" editorial, as follows:
"The time has passed for us to inquire whether such opinions are orthodox, or in strict accordance with the known rules or laws of any party. A feeling more deep and pure and holy than inspires any party of this day, calls upon every patriot, every lover of his country, to lend his exertions to save this, the last Republic upon earth, from that final destruction to which she now seems fast hastening. We hope the day is at hand - nay, has already dawned - when the leading men and presses of this Union shall come forward to the promulgation and diffusion of these principles, these correctives of that selfish and maddening ambition which distinguishes the present age."
"We behold the demon of discord rising in our temples and pointing with a savage exultation to the ruins of former Republics, as trophies of his triumphs, while he essays to complete his labors by hurling the land of Washington from its proud eminence. We behold this happy Union brought to the very verge of dissolution, and the cloud-storm of anarchy and confusion gathering over her great and glorious destinies. At such a moment we hail the dawn of an era that would restore harmony and good feeling - redeem the freedom of speech and of the Press from their present thraldom - and establish parties upon their proper footing, in lieu of that fawning sycophancy, man-worshipping, intrigue and management which actuates not only the village politicians, but the distinguished statesmen of our age."
The article from which we have taken the extracts above was headed "Politics." We learn from the next issue that it provoked the ire and opposition of "a few leading individuals." Mr. Brough replied vigorously to their censures upon him. We extract the following, which probably the very large majority of our readers, today, will consider sound doctrine and singularly applicable to these times, although written by Mr. Brough now nearly thirty-two years ago:
"They censure us for publishing the article, and why? Because our Press is pledged to the support of the Administration, and the promulgation of such sentiments is not permitted by the party press! Excuse us readers, this comes home directly. Whatever may be our relations to the Administration, it is our pride to sustain a high and a noble one to our country. He is a dangerous politician who cannot rise above the bickerings of party spirit, when his country is heaving with intestine commotions, and ready to rend that glorious bond which has so long and so happily bound its parts in one great whole. We hope no member of the Jackson party is prepared by his opposition to these sentiments, to throw upon that party the odium of wishing to sacrifice the peace and happiness of this country to the advancement of their favorite. If so, he treads not the same path that we do. For ourselves we wear no collar. We support men only as they support our country. Neither is our Press under any surveillance. We have supported the Administration in its material points, and we have supported its friends when we could consistently do so - nor can the considerate, disinterested supporters of the President be brought to believe that in the present case we have evinced the least hostility to him. As to opposition from any other quarter, we ____ ____ "Smile at the drawn dagger, And defy its point."
Mr. Brough's independent course did not please the Jackson leaders; but he wouldn't be governed by them. They then began to proscribe him, and he soon acknowledged that they had "cut down" his subscription list, still he wrote as he pleased.
In September, 1832, the field officers of our regiment (1st Reg., 1st Brig., 3d Div.,) were Col. Ephraim Palmer, Lieut. Col. Hiram Gard, Maj. Simeon Deming.
Jan. 13, 1833, the house of Mr. Burroughs was destroyed by fire in Belpre, together with most of his furniture and $100 in money belonging to T. Miles.
Feb. 16, 1733, the steamboat Concordia was launched at Harmar.
Feb. 25, 1833, the saw and grist mills of Elisha Rose in Lawrence Township were entirely destroyed by fire.
Proscription. February 16, 1833, Mr. Brough announces: "The situation of our Press is at this moment very critical." He goes on:
"The hand of 'Proscription' has not been laid upon us in vain, and though the unprincipled changeling who sits 'in his pride of place,' the designing demagogue and aspirant who knows no law but his prejudice, no governing principle but his own sordid ambition, and the fawning sycophant and hypocrite whose only pride it is "To do his master's will," may exult in the result of their labors, their foul and loathsome slanders - their base hypocrisy and meanness - their assassin-like stabs under the assumed garb of friendship, let them mark the prophecy of one who, though his years be few, has learned this maxim that public justice though slow, is rue, that it shall not always be thus with them. If fortune now shed her brightest rays, the clouds are already visible upon the horizon, and their darkness will soon be welcomed that it may shield its victims from the indignant resentment of an insulted people. Let them mark the conviction which after life shall bring, that honesty of principle, independence of purpose, and a firm reliance upon the virtue and intelligence of the people are a much surer passport to public favor, than that which is purchased by a fawning sycophancy upon men in power; while their own experience will have taught them that while he who has fixed his principles, and dare declare and support them, is considered an honest adversary; he who has demeaned his nature to become the meanest minion and tool of a party is the object of derision and scorn with even his employers."
He appealed to the people to sustain him against "dictation," adding:
"Shall it be said that Old Washington has lost her virtue, and chose rather to exile a native citizen, than bid him go on his way in the support of principles and the promulgation of truth and knowledge?"
But his party leaders - not his leaders - were older, and had influence; and he chose to try his fortune elsewhere.
March 16, 1833, Mr. Brough announced that it was probable that the publication of the Republican would be suspended after two issues more. It was so suspended, and its industrious and indomitable editor, in April, 1833, removed his office to Parkersburg. He declared in leaving this county: "We leave the editorial desk here free form the spot or blemish of public falsehood or dishonesty, and without having promulgated a sentiment adverse to morality and truth."
He remained at Parkersburg only about six months, when he removed again to Lancaster, Ohio, becoming editor of the Eagle in that place. A few years after, when only 28 years of age, he became Auditor of State, where he won great distinction - beginning to realize his own language to his persecutors in Washington County, that: "Honesty of principle, independence of purpose, and a firm reliance upon the virtue and intelligence of the people, are a much surer passport to public favor, than that which is purchased by a fawning sycophancy," etc.
Higher! Mr. Brough, during these thirty years, after he went an "exile" from his native county, maintained always and everywhere the principles he so clearly and boldly set forth in the several extracts we have given from his Western Republican, edited by the "clever little lad - Master Jack," and he is now Governor of the great State of Ohio, by a majority such as never was before given to a citizen of any State for Governor, or any other State office - over 101,000!
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