Governor Rutherford B. Hayes to Senator Oliver P. Morton, January 6, 1870

COLUMBUS, January 6, 1870.

MY DEAR SIR:—In reply to your favor of the 4th: I do not regard the organization of the [Ohio] House as an indication of any new difficulty. The House contains one hundred and twelve members as at present organized. One Republican member represents a county which Democrats claim is not entitled to representation. Mr. Blakeslee, of Williams County, feels confident that he can't be ousted. One Republican seat is contested, viz., Mr. Glover, of Scioto. I am confident he is also safe. The House therefore stands, and I think will stand to the end, Republicans, straight, 53; Democrats, straight, 49; Republican Reformers 5; Democratic Reformers 5. The Democratic Reformers will probably all vote against the Fifteenth Amendment making 54 negative votes.

We regard it as certain beyond contingency that three Republican Reformers will vote for the Amendment making 56 affirmative votes, or exactly one-half of the House. The other two Republican Reformers we think will vote for the Amendment, or at the worst will refuse to vote either way. In either event the Amendment is ratified. I say probably the Democratic Reformers will vote no. Many of our friends are confident that two of them will either vote aye or refuse to vote. They and others in the Democratic party want the Amendment ratified. But I do not reckon on their help.

In short, I regard the chances as good. If you can help us in any way, do not fail to do it. The Amendment will probably not be ratified in the Senate until a week from today, January 13. It then goes to the House, and the final struggle is there. I am quite confident of success.

Sincerely,

R. B. HAYES.

HONORABLE O. P. MORTON,
        Washington, D. C.

SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 3, pp. 81-2

Governor Rutherford B. Hayes to Senator Oliver P. Morton, January 13, 1870

Confidential.

COLUMBUS, OHIO, January 13, 1870.

MY DEAR SIR:—I think we can now give the result of the struggle on the Fifteenth Amendment. The subject is under debate in the Senate and ratification will carry when the vote is reached—probably tomorrow. In the House of one hundred and twelve members we reckon certain fifty-seven votes, fifty-three straight Republicans and the Speaker (Mr. Cunningham), Mr. Bates, Mr. Hill, and Mr. Kleinschmidt, Republican Reformers. These are all openly and decidedly now with us on the main question, and on all questions likely to affect our strength on the main question. Besides, we have the best chance for the vote of Mr. Hambleton, Republican Reformer, and some chance of getting two or three Democrats to dodge the vote.

Sincerely,

R. B. HAYES.

HONORABLE O. P. MORTON,
        Washington, D. C.

SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 3, p. 83

Governor Rutherford B. Hayes to Benjamin F. Potts, December 21, 1869

COLUMBUS, December 21, 1869.

DEAR GENERAL:—I have your letter of the 20th and am glad to know, what I believed before, that you would stand by the flag notwithstanding the attractions of Montana until the crisis of organization and the Fifteenth Amendment is passed. I am advised, I think authentically, that the Hamilton members have settled to give the pro tempore Speaker of the Senate to the Democrats, Clerk to the Republicans, and so alternate through the offices and committees. In the House, Speaker, Republican, Clerk, Democrat, etc., on down. [The prospect for the ratification of the] Fifteenth Amendment [is] hopeful. Russell's vacancy will be filled in time. There may be an effort to claim that no vacancy existed authorizing a special election, Russell not being a Senator until admitted and sworn. But West says it is all bosh. There was a vacancy, etc., etc. Congratulations and regards to Mrs. Governor Potts.

Sincerely,

R. B. HAYES.

GENERAL B. F. POTTS.

SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 3, pp. 78-9

Diary of Governor Rutherford B. Hayes, December 2, 1869

I now begin to collect materials and set down a few items for my annual message:

I. Fifteenth Amendment - a few words of emphatic recommendation and approval. 2. Soldiers' Orphans' Homes. 3. Reform, improvement, or progress in prison discipline. 4. The Reappraisement. 5. The Geological Survey. 6. Inebriate Asylum. 7. Incurable Insane. 8. Agricultural fund; college to be located, (See 1859, p. 51).— (Mem.:—In my brief inaugural why not suggest topics, improvements, or amendments of the Constitution?)

Take up the benevolent and reformatory institutions; give their condition, number of inmates, cost, etc., etc. (See Governor Chase's message 1860.)

To recommend clearly and briefly the things deemed best without argument or illustration.

SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 3, p. 74-5

Governor Rutherford B. Hayes to Benjamin F. Potts, November 8, 1869

COLUMBUS, OHIO, November 8, 1869.

DEAR GENERAL:—I congratulate you back again [—on your election to the state Senate]. Some enemy of yours reported that you would be badly beaten in any event. But I didn't believe it. I agree with you. Our lines didn't fall in the right years. The "off years," as Greeley calls them, are bad years to run for office.

The missionary story is out of whole cloth. I went to church like a good Christian on the Sunday I was reported to be ploughing with the Hamilton County Reform Members and didn't see one of them. Bishop Thompson preached a capital discourse on the text, "Be ye faithful to the end and I will give you a crown of life," or words to that effect. If you had heard it you wouldn't have thought of that infamous suspicion that I was imitating Sam Cary because I quoted scripture in my Thanksgiving proclamation. Hassaurek says the Reformers will be with us on the Fifteenth Amendment. I think so too. Lew Campbell, it is said, boasts that he will prevent the ratification in the Senate, but as both of the Reformers are perfectly sound I suppose it is safe.

Kind regards to Mrs. Potts.

Sincerely,

R. B. HAYES.

GENERAL B. F. POTTS,
        Carrollton, Ohio.

SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 3, p. 69-70