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