Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1856-09-25
Governor Shannon.

Elicn d. we uidy oisapPiosS u uis Seueioi
course in Kansas, and much as We differ
with him in politics, we deem it our duty to
notice one branch of the charges against
him. We refer to his intemperance. 1t is
charged that he is habitually drunk, and
some papers go SO far as to say that ne has
not drawn spber breath since he went to
Kansas, or for years before.
Now So far as our own personal know
ledge Of Gov. SHANNON goes, we pronounce
these charges unfounded and false. we
have known him from our earliest childhood,
and have been raised in the same town
whore he has resided for upwards of twenty
wears, except when absent on official busi-
r.ss and once for short time when he re-
sided in Cincinnati, and in all that time We
loow he has not been "an habitual drunk
srd.n nor a "drunkard" at all, not even
drinking man, in the common accePtation
ofsthe term. He is not, we suppose, what
would be called ieatotaller but !or jail we
know, personally. TO the contrary he IS
During his residence here he has hiIed 'he
.ffices of Governor Of the S.ste, Minister so
Mexico, Congressman, and Governor o'
Kansas, which have taken him away IRON
home, probably about ten years, but we re-
peat, during his actual residence here he has
been temperate man.
We make these remarks1st this time be-
cause We notice that some uf those persons
who should be lis friends, are charging in
Temperance upon him, AID papers lat should
have known better have reiterated the
charge. We regard it as due to Gov. SHAM
sos,s family, for whom We have the great
est respect, that this explanation, and refu'
tation should be made. Our social inter-
course has always been Of The pleasantest
kind, and any false charges that can in the
remotest degree give them pain,shall not GO
uncontr addicted, if We can conscientiousy
yiye them ouietvs. We are satisfied that
numbers Of persons who disapprove OF the
Kansas policy of the administration, as they
believe it to have been carried out by Gov.
SHANNON, yet look upon the charge we re-
c-l. II fko,, taii lar
as their personal know g extends.
Let the honest press over the country
drop this charge, forthwith: and If Demo
cratic presses and stumpers see fit TO keep 1t
up, let them, but class it among the thousand
landers with which their speeches and
papers teem.
Since the above was in type we have re-
ceived from Gov. SHANNON the following ar
ticle which speaks for itself. 1t was the
speech of Hon. DAVID ToD, at Pittsburg
TO which we referred in our article. We
gladly give place to the Governors article
TO THE HON. DAVID TOD:
SIR On my arrival at home last evening
after an absence of some eight months, Mrs.
Shannon placed in my hands the Wee!ty
Union, of the 18th instant. u paper publis h.
ed in the city of Pittsburgh, contaipirg a
speech. purportlng to have been made by
yourself at Democratic Mass Convention
held in that city, in which you are represent
ed as say ing smong other things, in speak.
ing of the affairs of Kansas, tsat "If Presi-
3" dent Pierce had been fortunate in his first
d" selection Of Territorial Governor-if h"
"had chosen an honest man-one who
" would have faithfully carried out the pin
&" ciples of the Nebraska Act, then, there
" would have been no trouble. Reeder was
nut honest. and his speculatiors in lands
" ,eG to his dismissal. The President was
d" equally unfortunate in the choice of Shan
il" non, of Ohio. He was drunkard -
When / read this portion of your speech
must con fess | was utterly astonished. As
tonished ai the bold and reckless impudence
of tie calumny you uttered on an old per-
sonal and political friend-the low dema-
gogueism by which you were evidently gov
erned in what you said, and the base ngra,-
ilmde and heart!ess disregard of private char
acter you displayed. This speech was pub
lished the same or The next day after deIiv-
cred, and the infamous calumny il contains
against myself has not only went forth to
the citizens of Pittsburgh, but 10 those oi
and, indeed, Inc whole Umnn
1t was uttered in the presence o. ii large
and highly respectable audience, as well as
in the hearing of distinguished members ..
the Democratic party from distant parts OF
the Union. 1t eminated from a son of Ohio.
who allor nearly all present would presume
was well informed as to my habits, and con-
sequently the charge would be credited -
Up to this time you have acqu;esced ia its
accuracy, it is therefore fair to presume you
have been correctly reported. Had this
speech been made by Que of those strollng
lecturers on Kansas affairs, it would moi
have called forth from me the slightest no
lice. | am not in the habit Of noticing the
various calumnies both on my private ami
public character, that unprincipled and ull-
'cruPulous political opponents are in the
habit of putting forth for mere political pur-
'oses. The public generally, in due time,
will set these matters down to the right ac-
count. Indeed, situated as have been, iIi1
| distant Territory, fifteen hundred miles
rom the scenes where these charges have
'een used for political effect, and not seeing
hem until they had become stale and SER
'ed their purpose, and being constantly
occupied with the duties of the most ur-
IuUus position in the Government, IL would
ave been impossible, even if had been in
lined to do SO, for me TO notice the nu-
nerous false charges made against me while
olding the Office of Governor o. Kansas
,hnr, k.,- ,f, L.