Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1859-02-10
For the RaDuh1ica,

Mr.. EDIroR.-I have before me a COPY of the
"Republican" of the Goth of January, containing
the Report of a Committee appointed to inves-
tigate the Financial doipgs of our County Com
missioners. 1t is certainly right to scrutanize
closely the acts of our public servants. No one
object to this in these times of official extrav-
agance, but we have right to complain of the
Report of Committee that can shut their eyes
to one species of extravaganza, whilst on others
they light down vrlture like. How they came
to single out the amounts paid me, is a mystery,
knowing as do the Committee to be my very
particular friends, and well wishers. I suppose
they are trying to get the $ll1 90 from the item
paid me for arresting Bevington and Feasel, to
hand over for the 800 lost in bringing BarcLs
back. ] hope they will succeed, at least SO far
as to refund the $50 cash ] am minus of. will
in my blundering way, investigate this item
of the Committee. find in the Report of the
Commissioners that $79,67 paid D. French for
not bringing back H. Bevington. do not fault
French but mention the fact to show the con-
sistency of my friends. French travelled from
Millersburg to La Grange via indianapolis, Ia,
shout 400 miles, make no account of return
trips,) for which he received 20 cents per mile.
l started from home, went to Millersburg. (the
home of this Committee, my friends,) thence to
the North of Michigan, via Columbus, O.; then
left Millersburg on another trip, to Columbus,
thence to Richmond Va. via. Washington city.
From Richmond to Woodsco. Va, from which
place paid Geo. Feasels travelling expenses to
Millersburg, and also paid R. Bevington's from
Clinton county Michigan to Millersburg. and
also those of E. W. Robinson from Loudonville
to Clinton co. Mich, Il make no account of my
return trips in this statement) and see if you
can make the figures in miles less than 1900.-
This at 20 cts. per mile would make $380.0O0.
Add to this the $40 paid officers in Va, and
what I paid Robinson, and where is the Com
mittee about to leave me. Is it because 1 was
successful, that my services are less valuable than
others? I asked only what was right at the
hands ofthe Commissioners, and what they paid
me was not a farthing too much. I could not
be hired to do the same labor under the same
circumstances for the same amount There is
in the Commissioners Report an allowance of
$6l So paid the Sheriff for guard hire about the
Jail, in consequence of some one threatening to
rescue Feasel and Bevington. 1 do not mention
this matter in a spirit of complaining. but
to illustrate that my own charges were not too
high. Whilst l was at Parkersburg, Va, avail
ting boat, threats of an attempt to rescue Feas-
el we're made. Among strangers resolved my
self Committee of the whole to stand guard,
and did stand guard for two days and two nights
whilst sick as death at that. Won't the Com
mittee allow me guard service, also? think
am entitled to about $40. Now Mr., Editor
and Fellow Citizens, my object in stating the
foregoing facts is to clear myself of any censure
in the matters set forth by the Committee rela-
tive to the amount received for my services as
above stated. That it has not been money
making business with me, every intelligent. hon.
est man will agree to. 1t was not the compen-
sation, not the pleasure which 1 anticipated
from the trips made. but the belief that it is
every man duty to aid in the arrest of the per-
sons guilty Of crime, that induced me to pursue
the course did. j. L. DRAKE.