The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1855-04-04

Charge third
Conspiring with w. C. Troumbcur
and others against this order,
~ D.. CARROLL, Secretary.
To THE PREs1DENr AND MEMBERS OF
DAYToN Council, No. AZ
Gentleman Yours of the 22d inst.
secured by a green wafer, citing me to
appear before your distinguished body
and answer certain charges preferred
against me, was received. Business, and
other engagements of more consequence,
render it impossible for me to appear at
this time; and as principles founded
upon the immutable laws of right and
justice, may prevent me from appearing
before you at any time in future, l have
thought proper, in justice to myself as
well as you, to lay before you a written
communication, ~embddying a reply to
the charges, as well as my position in re-
gard to the Order and there test the
matter for your action.
You charge lst, That " erased the
name of S. G. Finley and inserted that
of Jonathan Kenney, a01th a vae,0 to de-
ceiUe the OTder.n That l made the
alteration is true, but that l did it to de-
ceive, is false.
You charge I'd, That ]" persuaded
a member of the order to vote for S. G.
Cain, who's not a member, saying it
would not be a violation of his obliga-
tom A number of Democrats, of the
order, expressed to me a desire to yote
for certain persons on the Democratic
ticket, provided they could do so with
out violating their obligation. 1 told
them, l believe invariably, that they
were bound by the oath or obligation no
further han it was supported by the
Constitution of the United States, aud
that of the State of Ohio and further,
that they could vote for any person out
of the order, if they believed his election
would subserve the American interest
more than hat of the candidate of the
order. For the correctness of this opin-
ION, I refer you to the obligation itself.
As regards the closing part of the I'd
charge, that 1 had said, that 1 consid-
cred the whole concern a Wing snake ~
I might have said so, bat 1 consider
such language entirely too mild to fully
express the indentity-o of the fact.
You charge Sd, That / chad con-
spired with W. @. Trumbour and 9TH
ers against the ORDER" which charge is
false. I conspired with n whatever
] have said for or against, has been said
openly. That have said but little for
the order, I most readily acknowledge
Ito have acted otherwise would have
been doing violence to my conscience
something | value much more highly
than secret political nziaaigAt conspira-
sics against conscience and liberty.
Gentlemen, when I first joined your
Order, I supposed the object of the As
sociatioR was intended merely as a tenn
porsry ~expedient, ocheck the dishonor-
able means frequently resorted to, on
the part of politicians, to obtain foreign
votes; but how sadly have I been de-
ceived This question of Knol0 Moth
ingis1s and its principles, as they are be-
ing developed from day to day, involves
more of the future welfare and liberty
of this country, than manyofyougener-
ally suppose. The trainers of our Gov
eminent were men who had bitterly ex-
perienced the great tyranny and injus-
tice Of other GoVernments-had studied
well those, fundamental principles of
right and equality so necessary to hapi-
ness, and were pre-eminently prepared
to institute a Government free from civil
and religious ietolerance-a Government
that should receive the applause of all
just men and become a burning light of
liberty to the world; aGovernment the
justice of whose principles should make
;eae very thrones of Europe tremb1e,
and become the fond of the oppressed
of every clime.n How have they sue
ceeded ? The annals of ancient and
modern history present no account of
any Government rising in power, nnm-
bers and influence ike this. Our insti-
tutlons giving greater freed I'M and Sc
curity to its people than that of any
other, attracted the attention. confidence
and sympathy of the democratic masses
ofother countries, who sought our shores
BY thousands, perilirg life and fortune,
that they might escape tyranny and OPP
preston, and enjoy civil aud religious
liberty. extended to them a hearty
Welcome, give them tie same privileges
We enjoyed, make them orr friends, and
tpey have proved true to our wisdom and
eeneIoSity, by defending our institutions,
snegldar to shoulder, with the Ameri-
cEn-petn citizen, upon every battlefield
tron we RESOLUTION to the present time,
anu never an Arnold was found amongst
Shan We now labor TO check this
m1gntylenife of liberty and prospect
y IN our eesntry, By prescribing men
IMPLY Ass2pot of the dccldent of birth