Governor Rutherford B. Hayes to J. H. Pittenger, November 23, 1869

COLUMBUS, November 23, 1869.

MY DEAR SIR:—I am in receipt of your favor of the 20th as to a recommendation for an office in the revenue service. I am called upon to sign so many recommendations that I have acted upon a rule which practically destroys in a great measure the value of the testimonials I give, viz., to give only general recommendations, and to give those to all who desire it with this qualification, that I state what I know or believe to be true in each case. In this matter I have already given a general testimonial to a gentleman who applied to me before your letter came to hand. If a general letter of the sort indicated will be of service to you I will be glad to furnish it. Should you wish a letter, please send me a specimen of the testimonials you are furnished with.

My kind regards to Mrs. Pittenger.

R. B. HAYES.

MR. J. H. PITTENGER,
        Tiffin, Ohio.

SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 3, p. 72-3

Governor Rutherford B. Hayes to John J. Hooker, November 23, 1869

COLUMBUS, November 23, 1869.

DEAR H——:—I have been absent or busy moving these last days or I would have said a word in reply to yours of the 10th. I published the article* in the Journal. No reflection was of course intended on you in particular. The general practice you evidently regard just as I do, and I am sure there is no misunderstanding on your part of my motives. I regard you as a man whose soundness of judgment and integrity of purpose in such a case may be implicitly relied on; and the point was made clearer to my mind than it can be to the public.

Sincerely,

R. B. HAYES.

JOHN J. HOOKER, ESQ.,
        Cincinnati. 

Private.

_______________

* The article read:—"An illustration of the thoughtlessness with which good men sign important petitions occurred at the governor's office a few days ago. A petition for the pardon of a convict numerously signed was presented to Governor Hayes. Among the signers was a gentleman known to the governor to be a man of integrity and good sense. The gentleman was written to and asked what he knew or could learn as to the merits of the case. A few days afterwards the governor received a reply, marked 'private', in which the writer said: 'I signed the petition for his pardon presented to me by his wife. My tenderness of heart in the case overcame my judgment. As no good would be accomplished by his pardon, I fully investigated the case. I could obtain no redeeming quality in the convict from those familiar with him. He is represented by all as a very dangerous person to run at large, and from reports he is a natural thief and would, no doubt, continue his former career if pardoned.’"

SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 3, p. 73-4

Governor Rutherford B. Hayes to Governor Lucius Fairchild, November 23, 1869

COLUMBUS, November 23, 1869.

DEAR GOVERNOR:—I thank you for your efforts in the Leroy matter. I have no doubt he is deliberately trying to levy blackmail on me. The pretext is a deposit claimed to have been made by his son when a soldier in my command. I find abundant evidence that the claim is a fabrication of Leroy. At first I did not know but he was acting in good faith, and that the fraud was in the informants.

Sincerely,

R. B. HAYES.

GENERAL LUCIUS FAIRCHILD,
        Governor of Wisconsin.

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

Diary of Governor Rutherford B. Hayes, November 28, 1869

Columbus, Ohio.—On the 17th we began to move from our late residence, 51 East State Street, to Judge Swayne's residence on Seventh Street, facing west and opposite the centre of East State Street. We are to pay eight hundred dollars per year and to have the use of some articles of furniture. It is a fine, large house with ample grounds. The rent is cheap.

I was re-elected by 7501 majority over Mr. Pendleton, and shall remain in office two years from next January, if nothing occurs to prevent.

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

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

General William T. Sherman to Senator John Sherman, February 23, 1886

ST. LOUIS, Feb. 23, 1886.

Dear Brother: I owe you a personal explanation as to why I did not come to Washington during my last visit East. After positively refusing to attend the banquet to the Loyal Legion at Cincinnati (President Hayes the Commander), I was persuaded at the last minute that I ought to go. After I had packed my valise, I heard of General Hancock's death, made one or two despatches to General Whipple as Adjutant-General, my former Aide, asking him to communicate with me at the Burnet House.¹ On arrival, I was met by President Hayes and General Cox and others, who explained that [by] the death of General Hancock, the president of the Order of the Loyal Legion, they had been forced to modify their programme, and that I must respond to the memory of General Hancock. I was kept busy all that day by a stream of visitors, and when the company had assembled for the banquet, full four hundred in the room, without notes or memoranda, I spoke for about ten minutes. My words were taken down and sent off without a chance of revision, but I afterwards learned that Mrs. Hancock was especially pleased. At the Burnet House I got all the notices of the funeral, which compelled me to travel to New York. En route was delayed a couple of hours by the flood in Delaware. It was two o'clock at night before I could lie down, and I had to be up at six to go down to the Battery, where the funeral was to commence. We were kept busy till night, when Miles and I went to Elly's² for dinner, and it was midnight when we got to the Fifth Avenue Hotel....

Affectionately yours,

W. T. SHERMAN.

_______________

¹ Cincinnati.

² His daughter’s.

SOURCE: Rachel Sherman Thorndike, Editor, The Sherman Letters: Correspondence Between General and Senator Sherman from 1837 to 1891, p. 369-70

Governor Rutherford B. Hayes, November 4, 1869

COLUMBUS, November 4, 1869.

Honorable Richard M. Corwine, of Cincinnati, Ohio, is a lawyer of large experience, whose practice in the higher courts of the State and of the United States for many years has given him wide reputation. He has devoted himself to his profession almost without interruption more than twenty-five years. Whatever qualifications for the discharge of important judicial duties can be acquired by a gentleman of intellect, of excellent temper and manners, and of great industry, may be justly claimed for Mr. Corwine.

R. B. HAYES.

SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 3, p. 67

Governor Rutherford B. Hayes to Richard M. Corwine, November 8, 1869

COLUMBUS, OHIO, November 8, 1869.

DEAR CORWINE: You have the joke on me if I have not on you. The word to my eye is plainly judicial not political. Either my writing or your reading is greatly at fault.

I can say nothing further as yet. Indeed, I feel some embarrassment may arise in doing so much as I have. I trust my letter will not be used or mentioned, if it does not seem necessary to do it. It is strictly within my rule and perfectly proper, but others might not so see it.

Sincerely,

R. B. HAYES.

RICHARD M. CORWINE.

SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 3, p. 67-8

Governor Rutherford B. Hayes to Manning F. Force, November 6, 1869

COLUMBUS, OHIO, November 6, 1869.

DEAR GENERAL: My wife and I both wish to say thank you for the beautiful pictures [reproductions of paintings in European galleries]. They are so fine that I want to be able to talk about them—how they are done; where are the originals; whose? etc., etc. I am told that a negative is obtained from the painting by the ordinary process, that the negative is retouched, and these pictures printed from the improved negative.

The next time I meet you I propose to hear you on your trip. So try not [to] forget it altogether.

Sincerely,

R. B. HAYES.

M. F. FORCE.

SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 3, p. 68

Governor Rutherford B. Hayes to Webb C. Hayes, November 7, 1869

COLUMBUS, OHIO, November 7, 1869.

MY DEAR WEBB: Yesterday one of the teachers in the public schools tried an interesting experiment in the rotunda of the State House. He suspended an iron ball weighing twenty pounds by a fine wire from the top of the dome and by letting it swing as a pendulum demonstrated very satisfactorily that the earth moves from the west to the east. The wire had to be one hundred and twenty feet long to reach from the dome to the floor. A line was drawn on the floor due north and south and the ball set to swinging directly over the line. In an hour the line of the ball's motion was nine degrees variant from the north and south line, showing that in forty hours the variation would go clear around the circle. It was a curious demonstration, but while everybody saw the result, only a few seemed to fully comprehend it.

I have a large number of the coats of arms of the States cut from the letters I get. If you want them I'll send them to you. You must always write with ink. You forgot to give the year in dating your last letter. Your letter as a whole was very well written. - Ruddy and your mother send love to you and Birch.

Affectionately, your father,

R. B. HAYES.

WEBB C. HAYES,
        Fremont.

SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 3, p. 68-9

Governor Rutherford B. Hayes to Donn Piatt, November 7, 1869

COLUMBUS, OHIO, November 7, 1869.

DEAR COLONEL:—Thanks for your call and pencil note at Cincinnati. I was sorry not to see you. I wanted to hear your talk—not more than I always do,—and as I am not likely to meet you often, I now want to know where you are to settle, if you do settle, that I can have the next best thing to your talk—your writings.

Judging by our last conversation, for pecuniary and other reasons you prefer a position to being merely a disturbing element; but as I see it, the latter is your vocation a vocation in which you can do great things in the present political, religious, social, etc., etc.

Sincerely,

R. B. HAYES.

COLONEL DONN PIATT.

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

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

Governor Rutherford B. Hayes to General H. K. McConnell, November 9, 1869

COLUMBUS, OHIO, November 9, 1869.

DEAR SIR: I am in receipt of your favor of the 6th inst. in relation to the appointment of State Librarian, and in reply I must frankly say that, as at present advised, the incumbent will at the end of his term be reappointed. If I had an opportunity to talk with you face to face I would go into the reasons for this course. I recognize the validity of your claims and under other circumstances would be glad to give them a favorable hearing.

Supposing your letters may be of value to you, I respectfully return them.

Sincerely,

R. B. HAYES.

GENERAL H. K. MCCONNELL,
        Yellow Springs, Ohio.

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

Governor Rutherford B. Hayes to Charles Nordhoff, November 10, 1869

COLUMBUS, OHIO, November 10, 1869.

DEAR NORDHOFF: You are not the only "wretch" (I have adopted that good word from you) who harrows up the feelings of my wife by sending the Harper's picture of me. It has driven me into the photograph business and I am now jawing back in this way.

I want to send Walter "The President's Words" the book of Lincoln's wisdom, I named to you. How—by express or mail, and direction?

I have not seen Aunty Davis since your article on the Bible question. I fear she will think you have gone back on her hopes of you. I take the Bible side, largely because this war on the Good Book is in disguise a war on all free schools.

Sincerely,

R. B. HAYES.

CHARLES NORDHOFF.

SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 3, p. 70-1

Governor Rutherford B. Hayes to Julius Dexter, November 10, 1869

COLUMBUS, OHIO, November 10, 1869.

DEAR SIR: I am in receipt of your note of the 8th. I agree with you as to the importance of securing a fire-proof building for the library. It seems to me so important that I would not wait until the society can build or purchase such rooms. Can't a room that would answer the purpose be rented? I, however, ought not to make suggestions. My income does not permit me to do more than pay the ten dollars assessment in aid of the society's object. I would be glad to do more if I could.

Sincerely,

R. B. HAYES.

JULIUS DEXTER,
        RECORDING SECRETARY, HISTORICAL AND PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY.

SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 3, p. 71

Governor Rutherford B. Hayes to Oran Follett, November 11, 1869

COLUMBUS, OHIO, November 11, 1869.

MY DEAR SIR:—I am in receipt of your favor of the 9th in relation to the claims of Mr. Forster and Dr. Morton. I had some knowledge of the merits of Mr. Forster's application and have written two letters in his behalf. In reply to one I was told that consulates are all gobbled up long ago— that his only chance is the resignation or death of the present incumbents; and you know "few die and none resign.”

As to Dr. Morton, I know him well, but I suppose Mr. Harbough, who is a faithful good officer, ought not to be turned out. If more letters or good words in behalf of Mr. Forster are wanted, I am ready to furnish them. But as Mr. Lincoln said, when he was President: "I have very little influence with this Administration."

Sincerely,

R. B. HAYES.

HONORABLE O. FOLLETT,
        Sandusky, Ohio.

SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 3, p. 71

Governor Rutherford B. Hayes to Unidentified, November 13, 1869

COLUMBUS, OHIO, November 13, 1869.

DEAR SAGE: I am in receipt of yours of yesterday. I will send you reports of [the] Ohio Penitentiary and Reform Farm. No report of Girls' Reformatory yet made. But the rules adopted may answer your purpose and I will try to get them for you. They were approved by me as the law required and were in the handwriting of Judge M—— [Matthews (?)].

I have the Thanksgiving proclamations of twenty-seven States all recognizing religion, nearly all the religion of the Bible, and several the Divinity of Christ. More are coming, doubtless. Our Legislature for many years has passed a joint resolution annually authorizing a thanksgiving and frequently in terms which recognized the religion of the Bible. The last Legislature omitted to do so by a mere accident this year, but in [the] Sixty-fifth volume Ohio Laws, page 306, passed one last year. If you wish to borrow my bundle of Thanksgiving proclamations I will send them to you. All state institutions have religious exercises, some of them chaplains paid under state laws. The meetings of the two houses of the General Assembly are always opened with prayer in accordance, sometimes, with resolutions (passed unanimously usually), and sometimes by common consent. The inaugurations of governors are prefaced by religious exercises.

The general proposition on which you stand is undoubtedly sound. Whether your particular relief can be granted by a court is perhaps doubtful; and if you are beaten I am not sure but the question will go before the committee in a better form for a final and correct decision by the people without the intervention of the courts in opposition to the late action of the School Board than it will with such intervention. But if I can aid you, call on me.

Sincerely,

R. B. HAYES.

[Unidentified.]

SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 3, p. 72

Governor Rutherford B. Hayes to Congressman James A. Garfield, June 26, 1869

COLUMBUS, June 26, 1869.

DEAR GENERAL:—Looking over the letters opened and read hastily on the day of the convention,* I find the enclosed which is no doubt the lost letter to you.

Your capital speech the other day, the night of the 23rd, I have read with great satisfaction, and I hope you will make your arrangements to speak for the committee during the canvass and at a long list of meetings.

Sincerely,

R. B. HAYES.

J. A. GARFIELD.

_______________

*The State Republican Convention, June 23, at Columbus, which renominated Mr. Hayes by acclamation.

SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 3, p. 64

Governor Rutherford B. Hayes to William Henry Smith, July 13, 1869

COLUMBUS, July 13, 1869.

DEAR S——:—I am sorry not to be here to meet you.

I think of nothing in particular to say. There is a whispering which leads me to suspect that they [the Democratic leaders] are hoping, and perhaps trying, to get Rosecrans to decline. If he declines it will change the programme essentially. Until that matter is decided I suspect we had better show up their talk about him, and his talk about them as our principal topic, so far as merely personal issues go.

I am ready to begin [the canvass] whenever it is deemed best, and would advise going first and chiefly into doubtful or Union counties.

Sincerely,

R. B. HAYES

WILLIAM HENRY SMITH.

SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 3, p. 64

Governor Rutherford B. Hayes to Sardis Birchard, August 9, 1869

COLUMBUS, August 9, 1869.

DEAR UNCLE:— . . . I begin campaigning Wednesday. Rosecrans' declination does not affect it much. He would have been beaten. So I think will whoever they run.

Sincerely,

R. B. HAYES.

S. BIRCHARD.

SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 3, p. 65