Wells A. Hutchins
Encyclopedia
Wells Andrews Hutchins was a U.S. Representative
from Ohio
during the American Civil War
.
, Hutchins was a first cousin to future congressman John Hutchins
. He attended the public schools and then taught school. He later studied law and was admitted to the bar
in 1841. He commenced practice in Warren, Ohio
.
In 1842, Hutchins moved to Portsmouth, Ohio
, where served as member of the State house of representatives in 1852 and 1853. He was the city solicitor from 1857-61. He was an unsuccessful candidate in 1860 to the Thirty-seventh
Congress. During the early part of the Civil War
, he was the United States provost marshal
for the state of Ohio in 1862.
Hutchins was elected as a Democrat
to the Thirty-eighth
Congress (March 4, 1863-March 3, 1865). A War Democrat
, he supported Abraham Lincoln
's agenda at critical moments. Hutchins called the proclamation Lincoln issued on September 15, 1863 under the authority of the Habeas Corpus Suspension Act of 1863
"necessary" in order to defeat the rebellion. He was one of only 16 Democrats in the House of Representatives
who joined with the Republicans
and voted to ratify the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution
on January 31, 1865. That amendment abolished slavery
in the United States. By doing so, he became one of a group who had ""defied their party discipline, and had deliberately and with unfaltering faith marched to their political death", according to abolitionist Congressman James Mitchell Ashley
.
He was an unsuccessful candidate in 1864 for reelection to the Thirty-ninth
Congress and again in 1880 to the Forty-seventh
Congress.
Hutchins resumed the practice of law in Portsmouth and died there January 25, 1895. He was interred in Greenlawn Cemetery.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Biography
Born in Hartford, OhioHartford, Ohio
Hartford is a village in Licking County, Ohio, United States. The population at the 2000 census was 405.-Geography:Hartford is located at ....
, Hutchins was a first cousin to future congressman John Hutchins
John Hutchins
John Hutchins was a U.S. Representative from Ohio.Hutchins was born in Vienna, Ohio. He was a first cousin of future congressman Wells Andrews Hutchins. He attended the district schools and Western Reserve College in Cleveland, Ohio...
. He attended the public schools and then taught school. He later studied law and was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
in 1841. He commenced practice in Warren, Ohio
Warren, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 46,832 people, 19,288 households and 12,035 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,912.4 people per square mile . There were 21,279 housing units at an average density of 1,322.9 per square mile...
.
In 1842, Hutchins moved to Portsmouth, Ohio
Portsmouth, Ohio
Portsmouth is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Scioto County. The municipality is located on the northern banks of the Ohio River and east of the Scioto River in Southern Ohio. The population was 20,226 at the 2010 census.-Foundation:...
, where served as member of the State house of representatives in 1852 and 1853. He was the city solicitor from 1857-61. He was an unsuccessful candidate in 1860 to the Thirty-seventh
37th United States Congress
The Thirty-seventh United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1861 to March 4, 1863, during the first two...
Congress. During the early part of the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, he was the United States provost marshal
Provost Marshal
The Provost Marshal is the officer in the armed forces who is in charge of the military police .There may be a Provost Marshal serving at many levels of the hierarchy and he may also be the public safety officer of a military installation, responsible for the provision of fire, gate security, and...
for the state of Ohio in 1862.
Hutchins was elected as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
to the Thirty-eighth
38th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:Before this Congress, the 1860 United States Census and resulting reapportionment changed the size of the House to 241 members...
Congress (March 4, 1863-March 3, 1865). A War Democrat
War Democrats
War Democrats in American politics of the 1860s were adherents of the Democratic Party who rejected the Copperheads/Peace Democrats who controlled the party...
, he supported Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
's agenda at critical moments. Hutchins called the proclamation Lincoln issued on September 15, 1863 under the authority of the Habeas Corpus Suspension Act of 1863
Habeas Corpus Suspension Act 1863
The Habeas Corpus Suspension Act, , entitled An Act relating to Habeas Corpus, and regulating Judicial Proceedings in Certain Cases, was an Act of Congress that authorized the president of the United States to suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in response to the United States...
"necessary" in order to defeat the rebellion. He was one of only 16 Democrats in the House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
who joined with the Republicans
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
and voted to ratify the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution
Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution
The Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution officially abolished and continues to prohibit slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime. It was passed by the Senate on April 8, 1864, passed by the House on January 31, 1865, and adopted on December 6, 1865. On...
on January 31, 1865. That amendment abolished slavery
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
in the United States. By doing so, he became one of a group who had ""defied their party discipline, and had deliberately and with unfaltering faith marched to their political death", according to abolitionist Congressman James Mitchell Ashley
James Mitchell Ashley
James Mitchell Ashley was a U.S. congressman, territorial governor and railroad president.-Early life:...
.
He was an unsuccessful candidate in 1864 for reelection to the Thirty-ninth
39th United States Congress
The Thirty-ninth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1865 to March 4, 1867, during the first month of...
Congress and again in 1880 to the Forty-seventh
47th United States Congress
The Forty-seventh United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1881 to March 4, 1883, during the administration...
Congress.
Hutchins resumed the practice of law in Portsmouth and died there January 25, 1895. He was interred in Greenlawn Cemetery.