Territorial governor, Civil War journalist. This native of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania moved to Ohio where in 1828 he started a newspaper which urged readers to support the candidacy and policies of Andrew Jackson. A lifelong Democrat he served in both the Ohio House of Representatives and state senate until 1838. After he left office he moved to Columbus where he began "The Ohio Statesman" a newspaper used to endorse Democratic candidates and policies. He soon became the Buckeye State's most powerful Democratic Party voice. A strong party loyalist he nominated James K. Polk as his party's presidential nominee in 1844 and did the same for Stephen Douglas in 1856. He was appointed by James Buchanan as the territorial governor of Minnesota and served in the position from 1857 to 1858. He held the same position in Kansas in 1859. The next year he resigned the governorship and returned to Columbus, Ohio to establish the "Crisis". This paper was very critical of the Civil War and President Lincoln's policies, which he believed destroyed the Union. A staunch Peace Democrat he consistently called for an immediate end to the war. His views were unpopular in the North and in 1863 a mob of soldiers from nearby Camp Chase burned down his printing office. Undeterred the "Old wheel-horse of Democracy" continued to espouse his views until his death the following year.
Territorial governor, Civil War journalist. This native of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania moved to Ohio where in 1828 he started a newspaper which urged readers to support the candidacy and policies of Andrew Jackson. A lifelong Democrat he served in both the Ohio House of Representatives and state senate until 1838. After he left office he moved to Columbus where he began "The Ohio Statesman" a newspaper used to endorse Democratic candidates and policies. He soon became the Buckeye State's most powerful Democratic Party voice. A strong party loyalist he nominated James K. Polk as his party's presidential nominee in 1844 and did the same for Stephen Douglas in 1856. He was appointed by James Buchanan as the territorial governor of Minnesota and served in the position from 1857 to 1858. He held the same position in Kansas in 1859. The next year he resigned the governorship and returned to Columbus, Ohio to establish the "Crisis". This paper was very critical of the Civil War and President Lincoln's policies, which he believed destroyed the Union. A staunch Peace Democrat he consistently called for an immediate end to the war. His views were unpopular in the North and in 1863 a mob of soldiers from nearby Camp Chase burned down his printing office. Undeterred the "Old wheel-horse of Democracy" continued to espouse his views until his death the following year.
Bio by: Bigwoo
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