Excerpts from the Buckeye Eagle show the impact of world and national issues on Marion County.  Samuel F. B. Morse's first inter-city telegraph line was constructed in 1844.  On August 18, 1847, the Eagle reported the following:

The Lightning Line.

The Magnetic Telegraph being now in full operation to Columbus, it is a possible thing to receive intelligence at this place from New York city in twelve hours! or only the time required to convey it from Columbus hither by the ordinary modes.  Had we a daily mail from Columbus to this place, we, here in Marion, would always be in possession of the important events of the day before yesterday, and many of those of yesterday, in the principal Atlantic cities.  It is difficult to realize that such is the fact, yet it is no less wonderful than true.  This is indeed an age of wonders.

On August 7, 1851, the Eagle reported a wedding:

Married,

In the city of Indianapolis, on the 20th of July, J. W. Bain of this place to Miss Julia Hall of the former place.  Well done for John.  Who'd a thought it?

Strange indeed that a Buckeye boy / Could find no land to give him joy / Without wandering to the Hoosier vale, /  As if Buckeye lasses had grown stale!

In 1854, the U. S. Congress passed the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which provided that a vote of the residents of these territories would determine whether they would be admitted to the Union as slave or free states.  Some believe that the Civil War began in Kansas, when both pro- and anti-slavery settlers poured into the territory and violence erupted.  The turmoil in Kansas was noted in Marion, as evidenced by this report in the Marion Eagle (notice the newspaper's name change) dated September 19, 1856:

Our Convention!  23,000 Live People in Marion!

Our village saw the greatest day of her life last Saturday.--The oldest inhabitant and the new comer, friend and foe, were alike taken by surprise, in the immense multitude which poured in upon us.--About half past nine, the delegations commenced gathering upon the hill to the South of town, and an hour later began their entrance into the place and until noon, one uninterrupted, closely packed stream of wagons, carriages, and horsemen, every means of conveyance being filled to its utmost capacity with men women and children, rolled in upon us, at which time the town was literally full.

It would take far more space than we can spare to describe the numerous novelties and attractions of the magnificent procession.--Foremost came a first rate representation of a woolly horse, with a flag on his head, bearing the motto, "The woolly horse ahead."  [Note: The woolly horse was one of P. T. Barnum's "humbugs."  It was a real horse with curly hair, but was billed as being found by John C. Fremont during his trek across the Rockies.  Barnum claimed that the woolly horse's head was where its tail should be, but the animal was simply reversed in its stall.]  Next rode thirty-two young ladies on horseback, all uniformed in appropriate garments of light complexion, except one representing unhappy Kansas, who was dressed in deep mourning.  Then came troops of horsemen, young ladies representing the States in large wagons, of which we believe we counted seven, glee clubs, bands of music, an ox roasted whole, artillery representations of the mechanical branches on large platforms, the Pacific Rail Road in process of building [a transcontinental railroad was only a dream at this time; construction began in 1863], Border Ruffians giving vivid representations of Kansas doings, great teams of horses, one as a team of sixteen yoke, hauling a wagon containing over one hundred persons, and the whole interspersed with any quantity of common vehicles full of people, and bearing flags of every variety and device, there being over a thousand banners in the procession, the whole thing being closed up by a laughable burlesque on General Pierce's administration, performed by some boys with plenty of blacking on their faces, who drove an old team of horses to an old shackelly wagon, to which was attached an old sled behind, upon which a solitary melancholy looking individual was seated upon a whiskey barrel over which was the inscription, "The last of the Administration."

At twelve o'clock the mass moved down to the County Fair grounds, where after the thousands had partaken of an abundant free dinner, the speaking began.  Five stands were prepared, and occupied with speaking throughout the afternoon.

One of the most interesting spectacles of the occasion to us, was to witness the large and very attentive audience which surrounded the German stand.  We were not able to understand the language, but those who did told us the addresses were of the very highest order.

On the whole we are satisfied that ours has been the largest and best Convention of the kind held in Ohio this season.  Marion has exhibited to the world that although small in body she has a great soul.