Preble County Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1857-1859, 1857-09-10
NUMBER XXXVI.
ABNER L. BACKUS AND HIS
DEFAMERS

It has always been part of the tao
tics of the opposition when the Demo-
cracy puts in nomination for an impor-
tant Office, faithful champion of its
principles-a man true to its orSaniza-
ton, its men and its measures-one who
has served the public honestly and eff
ciently, without forgetting his obliga-
tions to the party that placed him in
power-to resort to slander and false
hood to create prejudice against him
in the public mind. This is especially
the case at this time with Mr.. Backus,
the Democratic nominee for Member Of
the Board of Public Works.
Mr.. B. is native of Ohio, was born in
Columbus, has lived in the State all his
life, been in the public service sixteen
years, and never, until nominated by q
Democratic Convention, has the foul
tongue of slander lisped aught against
him. He served as Assistant Engineer
during the entire construction of the
Miami and Erie canal-had charge Of
its repairs, as Resident Engineer, FIVE
years, earned for himself a high reputa.
ton for competency, efficiency and
sterling integrity. His political and
personal friends can proudly point to
his official record as being without a
stain. No man has stood higher in tho
public estimation for the past twenty
years, either as public officer, or as
citizen, than Abner j.. Backus His
great energy, eminent qualifications,
scrupulous integrity and unfinching
adherence to the Democratic cause have
made him a favorite with the sterling.
Democracy of the Northwest and, of
course, that is enough to call forth the
bitter malignant attacks made upon
him by the Black Republican press. An
unspotted life of a quarter of a century
is no security against the character hy-
ends who do the dirty work of the oppo-
sition to the Democratic party. Tho
vampires who control the press Of the op-
position, delight in assailing the private
character of every man purer than them
selves. They have no principles to de-
fend, and for the purpose of divertins
public attention from their own pecula-'
tions and frauds, to escape the indigna-
ton of the plundering tax payers of
Ohio, they raise the cry that the Demo
cratic candidates are great set of scamps
bigger rascals than their officers.
Mr.. Bachus is charged with swindling
the State. How is this established? ?
Why he made bid for some work at
public letting and then sold the bid for
one thousand dollars. It is true, they
say, this was no violation of law; but
was an act of moral terpitude. They
are a precious set of fellows to talk
about I" moral terpitude.' Such deli
cate and refined appreciation of moral
responsibility comes with peculiar grace
from the scamps who are banded to-
gether under the name Of Republicans,
for the sole purpose of public plunder.
Mr. Bachus, made bid for some work
which he had an undoubted right to do.
and sold the bid and no man can point
to letter of the law of Ohio, he violated
in doing so. He did not bid as an En-
gineer. He simply bid as A. L.
Backus, private citizen, and like every
bidder at that, and every letting of pub
lie work, desired contract if he could
get profitable one. Did he get any
money out of the State? This is not
pretended but it is alleged that he.
should have taken the contract, because
in refusing to do SO, he caused the State
an additional expense. But few men
could be found who would be willing to
take public work of any kind at less
than what it would cost to do it, merely
to save the State the money. Mr..
Bachus, although an Engineer, had the
same right to bid that any other citizen
of Ohio had. Having made bid he
had right to dispose of it. It was
clearly his right to decide for himself
whether he would take the contract on
decline it. He simply exercised this
right, and has never desired to conceal
the fact There is no law of Ohio pro-
Guiding an Engineer from bidding How
then. has Mr.. Backus wronged the
State Uercldnd Plain Dealer.
BgrThe New England Farmer i'm
n11irns .ENHhnt COWS Shnnld fnrmnrs