George E. Pugh

"George Pugh" redirects here. For the Australian rugby union player, see George Pugh (rugby).
George Ellis Pugh
United States Senator
from Ohio
In office
March 4, 1855 – March 4, 1861
Preceded by Salmon P. Chase
Succeeded by Salmon P. Chase
3rd Ohio Attorney General
In office
January 12, 1852 – January 9, 1854
Preceded by Joseph McCormick
Succeeded by George Wythe McCook
Member of the Ohio House of Representatives
from the Hamilton County district
In office
December 4, 1848 – December 1, 1850
Serving with Alexander Long and five others
Preceded by four others
Succeeded by five others
Personal details
Born (1822-11-28)November 28, 1822
Cincinnati, Ohio
Died July 19, 1876(1876-07-19) (aged 53)
Cincinnati, Ohio
Resting place Spring Grove Cemetery
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Theresa Chalfant
Children three
Alma mater Miami University
Religion Roman Catholic
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George Ellis Pugh (November 28, 1822 – July 19, 1876) was a Democratic politician from Ohio. He served in the U.S. Senate.

Life

Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Pugh attended Miami University. He began practicing law in 1843, later serving as a captain in the 4th Ohio Regiment in the Mexican-American War. After serving in the Ohio House of Representatives from 1848 to 1850, he served as State Attorney General from 1852 to 1854. Pugh served a single term in the United States Senate from 1855 to 1861, losing a re-election bid to Salmon P. Chase, whom he had replaced.

In the Senate, he became a champion of the Western Democracy, that is, Midwestern Democrats, first against the Republicans,[1] and later against Stephen A. Douglas' opponents inside the Democratic Party.[2] He spoke in favor of the Lecompton Constitution on March 16, 1858, but followed the instructions of the Ohio legislature in voting against that constitution.[3]

On February 23, 1859, during the lame-duck session, Albert Gallatin Brown attacked Douglas over popular sovereignty. Douglas defended his position, and was joined by Charles E. Stuart of Michigan, David C. Broderick of California, and Pugh. Pugh said, "In the whole Dred Scott case, there was no act of a Territorial legislature before them [the justices] in any shape or form." Pugh explained, "This is the first time I ever heard, in a case where nine judges pronounce their opinions seriatim, that because one of them {Roger B. Taney} in illustration collaterally makes a reference, that becomes the decision of the court." Pugh answered the demand for a federal slave code, to be imposed on all territories, in this way: "Never; while I live, never! I consider it a monstrous demand."[4]

Pugh later had an exchange with Jefferson Davis about the difference, if any, between Douglas' Freeport Doctrine on popular sovereignty and the doctrine Davis had set forth in a speech at Portland, Maine.[5]

Pugh ran for the lieutenant governorship in 1863 and the United States House of Representatives in 1864, losing both times.

George Ellis Pugh descended from Ellis Pugh, Sr. (1656–1718), an early Welsh immigrant to Pennsylvania. Ellis was a Quaker minister who, with his wife Sinah, emigrated to Pennsylvania to escape religious persecution in 1686. George's branch of this line migrated from Philadelphia to Prince George, Virginia, Bush River, South Carolina and Cincinnati, Ohio. George was the son of Lot and Rachel (Anthony) Pugh, who were married in Hamilton County, Ohio, on July 7, 1814. George had three brothers and a sister.

Pugh married Theresa Chalfant in 1840 and had three children, Robert Chalfont, Nina Theresa and Thomas. He became a Roman Catholic in 1855.[6]

References

  1. ↑ Don E. Fehrenbacher (1978), The Dred Scott Case, 2001 reprint, New York: Oxford, Part 2, "A Decade of Litigation", Ch. 12, "Before the Supreme Court", p. Co, ISBN 978-0-19-514588-5 .
  2. ↑ Don E. Fehrenbacher (1978), The Dred Scott Case, 2001 reprint, New York: Oxford, Part 3, "Consequences and Echoes", Ch. 20, "The Freeport Doctrine", p. 508, ISBN 978-0-19-514588-5 .
  3. ↑ Don E. Fehrenbacher (1978), The Dred Scott Case, 2001 reprint, New York: Oxford, Part 3, "Consequences and Echoes", Ch. 20, "The Freeport Doctrine", p. 510, ISBN 978-0-19-514588-5 .
  4. ↑ Don E. Fehrenbacher (1978), The Dred Scott Case, 2001 reprint, New York: Oxford, Part 3, "Consequences and Echoes", Ch. 20, p. 508, ISBN 978-0-19-514588-5 .
  5. ↑ Don E. Fehrenbacher (1978), The Dred Scott Case, 2001 reprint, New York: Oxford, "Notes", p. 707, n. 39, ISBN 978-0-19-514588-5 .
  6. ↑  Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "George Ellis Pugh". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.

Further reading

Legal offices
Preceded by
Joseph McCormick		 Attorney General of Ohio
1852–54 		Succeeded by
George Wythe McCook
United States Senate
Preceded by
Salmon P. Chase		 U.S. Senator (Class 3) from Ohio
1855–61
Served alongside: Benjamin F. Wade		 Succeeded by
Salmon P. Chase
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