Ohio History Journal

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DAVID TOD AND THE GUBERNATORIAL CAMPAIGN

DAVID TOD AND THE GUBERNATORIAL CAMPAIGN

OF 1844

 

by DELMER J. TRESTER

Historian, Wright Air Development Center

The sound of twenty-six cannon shots rolled across Columbus

on the morning of January 8, 1844, noisily signaling the beginning

of a lively day in the capital. "At 9 o'clock, the Columbus Guards

met the Dayton Artillery east of the Scioto river, just as the most

splendidly beautiful brass piece of the Dayton Artillery sent forth

several rounds. In half an hour the two German Artillery com-

panies of this city joined the other companies at the foot of Broad

street, and marched through the city. They made a magnificent

appearance."1 The occasion for this celebration, with its accompany-

ing pomp and circumstance, was the Democratic state convention.

Delegates had come from throughout the state to nominate a ticket

and draw up a platform for the coming contest.

Despite the outward appearance of a festive occasion, there must

have been misgiving and apprehension in the minds of many who

witnessed the preconvention parade. For a serious split had occurred

in the ranks of the Democrats.

The issue which separated a segment of the Democrats from

the majority was the banking question. Until 1842 there had been

no general banking legislation in Ohio. Those banks in operation

secured their charters from the legislature and were subject to its

direct control. However, in that year the legislature passed the

Latham act, sponsored by the more radical Democrats. Although

the act was a great improvement over previous legislation because

it fulfilled the need for uniformity of charters, the banking interests

and the Whigs denounced its strict provisions.2 The Democrats

also insisted on enforced resumption of specie payments by banks

and provided for that in the specie resumption act. This law stated

 

1 Ohio Statesman (Columbus), January 8, 1844.

2 Charles C. Huntington, "History of Banking and Currency in Ohio Before the

Civil War," Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Quarterly, XXIV (1915),

191-192.

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