Recalling the names of the more prominent of Ohio's representatives during the war, the speaker mentioned as the oldest in service on the Republican side John A. Bingham, who was an effective debater, well informed, ready and versatile. Next was Samuel Shellaberger, distinguished for the analytical and logical character of his mind. Valentine B. Norton was an authority on all questions of finance and business. To James M. Ashley belongs the credit of having made the first proposition in Congress to amend the Constitution so as to prohibit slavery throughout the United States. George H. Pendleton was the leader on the Democratic side. Samuel S. Cox was gifted and witty, and a valuable authority on foreign affairs. Thomas Corwin was distinguished for his towering intellect, John A. Gurley for his unflinching patriotism, and others who served well their State were Richard A. Harrison, Cary A. Trimble, Edgerton Blake, Riddle, Cutler and William Allen. "No Congress, save the first in the history of this government, ever met under such conditions of uncertainty, of trial, tribulation and danger as confronted the Thirty-eighth. Ohio had added among others two bright stars to her list of Congressmen, who have since become national names-Robert C. Schenck and James A. Garfield." Schenck was noted for keenness of perception, extraordinary rapidity of analysis, and remarkable power of expression "James A. Garfield, after the most perilous service and conspicuous gallantry in battle, after the famous ride at the battle of Chickamauga, was sent to Congress to represent the Nineteenth District. Eloquent, able and earnest, he at once took front rank in the important discussions in the House. In the debate on the proposition that three-fourths of the State had the right to amend the Constitution Garfield made a speech of historic interest." Speaking of the two war Senators, Mr. Galloway said: "One, crowned with years and honors, still serves Ohio in the Senate, John Sherman. Comment on his services is unnecessary. The other was bluff Ben Wade, foremost among all the brave hearts who surrounded and upheld the government, and never, in all the gloomiest hours, did he once despair of the Republic. "All honor to those men who, by their work and labors, their patriotism and fidelity in public trust, have honored Ohio." To Bishop B. W. Arnett was assigned the subject, "The Colored Man in Ohio." He said that when the invitation to speak upon this subject first reached him he had wondered why Mr. Randall should have thought him capable of speaking upon such a subject, but supposed he must have heard that when he (Bishop Arnett) was small he had played with colored boys and had lived with a colored family, and had judged from these facts that he would know something about them. He had then gone to the old colored man, and to the young man, to find what each wanted him to say on this occasion. The old colored man, he found, was grateful for freedom-that was the height of his ambition. The young colored man, on the other hand, wanted "everything in sight," everything the white man had. One represented the past and the other the future. The old colored man was doing the best he could under the circumstances of his early training and environment. The young colored men are doing just what the young white men are doing; wherever you find a white man you find a colored man close at hand. Some are going to church, some to school, and some are going to jail. Professor Moorehead was collecting jewels of the past, and General Brinkerhoff had, in the form of a statue, collected the jewels of the present age; but h gave notice that by the next hundred years they would have a black jewel for the other corner. They were going right to work and would have him ready and he hoped he would come from Greene County. He had not time in the space allotted him to tell all that the colored man of Ohio was doing. He is ambitious, loves office and never lets one escape him. For a number of years there has been a colored member in the Legislature. There were better chances for the colored man in Ohio than anywhere else; the school system is better and the rights of the race more fully recognized. (Applause). Professor Moorehead followed with a brief talk on "Archæology of Ohio." There are two schools in Ohio, he said, of archæology, the practical and the theoretical, or the new and the old. Nearly all archæologists of to-day belong to the practical school and there are scarcely a half dozen representatives of the old school. It is the office of this new school to explore, to preserve specimens properly recorded in fire-proof buildings, to compare the types of man's handicraft of one section of the country with those of another, to survey and photograph and study the enclosures, fortifications, village sites and tumuli of ancient man of both the Americas. Its work is covered by the term anthropology, the study of man. This Society confines its work largely to the pre-historic tribes of Ohio and the Ohio Indians, and has a field unequaled. by that of any other section of America. It should remember in projecting its important work among the ruins of past ages to exhibit the careful, analytical, scientific spirit and avoid anything which savors of charlatanism. It can do no better than follow the work of such men as Brinton, Putnam and Holmes. To understand the daily life of pre-Columbian man in Ohio one only requires extensive field work, large excavation and careful comparison to learn facts which are not apparent from the surface and could never be known by regarding these monuments externally. Having this important and interesting field, it should be explored and studied, preserving the relics of our predecessors. The subject of archæology is not dry and dull, and he urged its study upon the people of Ohio. Dr. W. E. Moore responded in regard to the "Value of Personal History," as follows: Our work is not confined to archæology, important as that is, and is becoming more and more important as time and vandalism is fast destroying the sources of our scientific knowledge in the works of the pre-historic races. We are also a historic society, and here our aim is not so much to collect the histories, especially of our own State and of the Northwest Territory, which are already written, as to collect and preserve the sources of such histories as are yet to be written. These sources are to be sought and found in the homes of our people in the shape of letters, diaries and journals of the early settlers and their descendants. They are to be gathered Vol. IV-29 |