Ohio History Journal

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JOHN JAY JANNEY AND HIS

"RECOLLECTIONS OF

THOMAS CORWIN"

edited by JAMES H. HITCHMAN

It is a fortunate occurrence when the unpublished recollections of an

able recorder like John Janney are preserved. His comments on Thomas

Corwin afford an exceptional contemporary view of Ohio courts, lawyers,

and politics in the 1830's and 40's and vivid personal reminiscences about

the former governor's ability to influence people.1 Corwin's political career

spanned the years from 1818 to 1865, the era of sectional conflict. He was

in turn a National Republican, Whig, and Republican, who served his state

successively as state legislator, congressman, governor, and United States

Senator. Corwin also was secretary of the treasury in the Fillmore cabinet

and minister to Mexico during Lincoln's first administration. A moderate,

he opposed the Mexican War and he tried to reach a compromise with

the seceding states on the eve of the Civil War.

Corwin possessed a remarkably expressive face, a musical, far-reaching

voice, and a rare sense of humor. He thought that his habit of finding the

humor in any situation hampered his career, but it seems likely that his

buoyancy endeared him to his constituents. As a lawyer he was considered

NOTES ARE ON PAGE 131