Rufus P. Spalding facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rufus P. Spalding
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio's 18th district
In office March 4, 1863 – March 3, 1869
Preceded by	Sidney Edgerton
Succeeded by	William H. Upson
Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court
In office February 20, 1849 – February 9, 1852
Preceded by	Nathaniel C. Reed
Succeeded by	Thomas Welles Bartley
Member of the Ohio House of Representatives
In office 1839-1842
Personal details
Born	Rufus Paine Spalding May 3, 1798 West Tisbury, Massachusetts, USA
Died	August 29, 1886(1886-08-29) (aged 88) Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Resting place	Lake View Cemetery
Political party	Democratic Free Soil Republican
Spouse	Nancy Spalding
Profession	Politician, Lawyer, Judge

Rufus Paine Spalding (born May 3, 1798 – died August 29, 1886) was an important American politician, lawyer, and judge from Ohio in the 1800s. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives for three terms, from 1863 to 1869. Before that, he was a justice of the Ohio Supreme Court from 1849 to 1852. He also served in the Ohio House of Representatives from 1839 to 1842.

Early Life and Education

Rufus Paine Spalding was born in West Tisbury, Massachusetts. He went to Yale College and graduated in 1817. After college, Spalding started studying law. He learned from a famous lawyer and judge named Zephaniah Swift in Connecticut. Swift was also the father of Lucretia A. Swift, who would later become Rufus's wife.

In December 1819, Spalding moved to Little Rock, Arkansas. There, he started a law business with Samuel Dinsmoore. After about a year and a half, Spalding left Arkansas. In 1821, he moved to Warren, Ohio to continue his law practice. He later moved to Ravenna, Ohio in 1835 and kept working as a lawyer.

Serving in the Ohio House of Representatives

In 1839, Spalding was elected to the Ohio House of Representatives. He was a member of the Democratic Party at this time. During his first term, he helped create Summit County, Ohio. Lawmakers had tried to form this new county for six years, but they couldn't get enough support.

The plan was to use land from three other counties to make Summit County. Some politicians were against it for political reasons. But after the 1839 election, Spalding and other Democrats worked with another group, the Whigs. Together, they had enough votes to pass the bill. After Summit County was created, Spalding moved to Akron, Ohio.

Spalding was re-elected to the Ohio House in 1841. He became the Speaker of the House for one term. During this time, he helped stop a bill that would have canceled the state's debt. Ohio was facing financial problems, and some people wanted to avoid paying back money it had borrowed.

Spalding believed that if Ohio didn't pay its debts, it would be hard for the state to borrow money in the future. He strongly opposed the idea. With the help of the State Auditor, John Brough, the bill was defeated.

Judicial Career: Ohio Supreme Court

Rufus Spalding served as a judge on the Ohio Supreme Court from 1849 to 1852. This was a very important role, helping to make sure laws were followed fairly in the state.

Joining the Free Soil Party

While serving as a politician and judge, Spalding was a Democrat. However, his views on slavery began to differ from his party's. He believed that slavery should not spread into new territories, even if it already existed in some states.

In 1847, Spalding gave a speech in Akron. He said that if slavery had been kept only in the original thirteen states, it might have ended sooner. His strong opinions against the spread of slavery caught the attention of the Free Soil Party. This party was formed to oppose the expansion of slavery.

In 1849, Free Soil leaders invited Spalding to speak at their convention in Cleveland. He said he was still a Democrat, but he criticized Southern Democrats. He continued to argue that slavery should not expand into American territories. In 1850, Spalding left the Democratic Party and joined the Free Soil Party. He felt the Democrats supported the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, which he saw as a "pro-slavery" law.

In 1852, the Free Soil Party held its national meeting in Pittsburgh. Spalding was chosen as one of thirteen delegates to attend. He supported John P. Hale for president, even though his friend Salmon P. Chase was also a candidate. Spalding traveled around Northeast Ohio, giving speeches for Hale. However, Hale did not win any states in the election.

Spalding also used his law practice to fight against slavery. He helped gather other lawyers in Cleveland to oppose slave owners who came North to capture runaway slaves. In 1859, he defended Simon Bushnell, a supporter of the Underground Railroad. Bushnell was accused of helping a runaway slave named John. Spalding argued that the Fugitive Slave laws were unconstitutional. Even with his efforts, Bushnell was found guilty.

Two years later, in 1861, Spalding tried again to overturn the Fugitive Slave laws. He represented a runaway slave named Lucy, who was captured in Cleveland. He argued that the laws were both unconstitutional and wrong. He was not successful, and Lucy was sent back to her owner. However, Lucy was the last slave sent back to the South from Ohio under these laws, which was a small victory.

Helping to Form the Republican Party

Spalding played a big part in creating the Ohio Republican Party. After the Kansas–Nebraska Act was passed in 1854, politicians who were against slavery from different parties met in Columbus, Ohio. They formed what was called the Fusion Party.

At this meeting, Spalding led the Resolutions Committee. This committee wrote six important statements. One statement promised that the new party would work to stop the Kansas-Nebraska Act from allowing slavery in areas where it had been banned before. The Fusion Party later became the Ohio Republican Party.

In 1856, the first Republican presidential meeting was held in Philadelphia. Spalding was chosen as a delegate from Ohio. He also managed the campaign for John McLean, who wanted to be the presidential candidate. The night before the voting began, Spalding surprised everyone by announcing that McLean was no longer seeking the nomination.

Serving in the U.S. House of Representatives

In 1862, the Republican Party chose Spalding to represent Ohio's 18th congressional district. Spalding won the election and became a member of the 38th United States Congress. In his first term, he worked on committees dealing with naval affairs and pensions. He also led a special committee on bankruptcy law.

Spalding was a strong supporter of President Lincoln. Early in his time in Congress, he showed his support by introducing a law to cancel the fugitive slave laws from 1793 and 1850. After President Lincoln was assassinated, Spalding was one of twenty-two representatives chosen to meet Lincoln's funeral train in Springfield, Illinois.

Spalding was re-elected in 1864. In his second term, he joined the Appropriations Committee and continued to lead the Bankruptcy Committee. After the American Civil War ended, Spalding was a key voice in Congress about how to rebuild the Southern states, a process called Reconstruction. Many of his ideas were included in the Reconstruction Acts.

In 1868, Spalding introduced a resolution to investigate President Andrew Johnson for possible impeachment. Shortly after the committee recommended impeachment, the House of Representatives voted to impeach Johnson.

Personal Life and Family

Rufus Spalding married Lucretia A. Swift on October 1, 1822. They had at least three children: Charles G., Elizabeth B., and Col. Zephaniah Swift Spalding. Lucretia passed away sometime between 1850 and 1858. His second wife was Nancy Pierson, whom he married on January 11, 1859.

Death

Rufus Paine Spalding died in Cleveland, Ohio on August 29, 1886. He was buried in Lake View Cemetery in Cleveland.