The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1860-08-01
A Corruption Fund.

To aid in demorslizing the Democracy Of
this State, the Bolter's State Committee has
addressed . circular to q number Of Post
masters, demanding Of them an amount Of
money, in sums from S5 to $40, to be used
for campaign purposes. The sum assessed
10 said TO be $4,000. Below we give the
circular sent to H. Mickey, Esq, Postmss.
ter at Shelby, Ohio, IS also his reply there.
to:
COLUMBUS, Ohio, July %, 1860.
MY DEAR Sir:
A movement, os you are aware, has been
insugurated here in favor OF BreckinridRe
and Lane. That vital principles of our Na
tional Democratic Party are at stake in
the coming contest. You know that pol
itioal canvass cannot be successfully carried
ments must be circulated, and great Vari-
ETY. Of expenses incurred which will readi.
ly suggest themselves to the reasons of
all.
The Central Committee, under the direc-
tion Of the meeting which appointed 1t, have
had the duty imposed upon it of remind
ing you that all who are occupying official
positions are expected to contribute. to the
expenses Of the campaign. It is hoped,
therefore, that you will respond promptly TO
this notice. and that you will not regard the
sum OF Ten Dollars too much for you to ad-
vance.
Please direct your remittance to Thomas
Sparrow, Of this city, Treasurer.
JEO. DAWSON
Chairman Of State Executive Com mittee.
VIM. A. NEAL, Secretary.
To Mr.. H. Mickey.
SHELBY, July 24th, 1860.
SIRs:--In answer to your note of yester.
day demanding me to contribute Ten DOL
lars in consideration of my official pOs.
ition as Post Master, to cid in making a
political canvass in favor of Breckinridee
and Lane. will say that 1t can in no way
be acceded to by me.
Under the present circumstances, and the
manner in which you make the demand, I
deem i. an insult and on outrage upon every
principle Of honor, integrity and indepen.
dence, that ought to characterize the con.
duct and actions OF every American citizen.
be he high or low, rich or poor, and can
not do otherwise than treat it as such,
without total sacrifice of rights of con-
science, and cowardly submission of eyerv
principle of manly independence. I there
fore spUrn your demand as an differed bribs
for tho paltry place of q tew Official crums.
l wear no othcial halter around my neckS
learned the principles of Democracy
from my mothers knee; I have been .
democrat all my life and expect to die
one.
In 1869 to ths extent Of my humBls
ability | did what could in contributina
to the election OF franklin Pierce and sus:
tanning the compromise measures of lS50l
10 carry out the same principles and some
measures iu 1856, again did what | could
to aid in the election Of james Buchanan. to
maintain those principles and measures go
Just 10 all sections Of The country" And now
again In 1860, if God spares my life, when
still more dangerous and formidable attack
is made, upon those time honored PRINCIPLES
OF the democratic party, by Fanatical Disun.
ion Factionists, both north and south, and
an unholy attempt is made to break 10 and
crush out tho only national conservative
party, (Gnd to that end ] am invited to con-
Era6u'e aid l will do oil | am able in unv
honorable way to sustain and carry out
those principles and uphold the nationality
of the democratic party in the election OF
our noble STANDARD bearers, Stephen A,
DJuglns and H!rschel V. johnson. IfI
cannot DO this. and longer hold my official
station as +. NJ. OF the little village of
Shelby, without offending the powers that
BE- then ! no longer desire the position,
hey may cut off my Douglas head. "If
his be treason. let ii come, let il come. Nav
We profit by the example.
am Sirs,
Very respectfully yours,
H. MICKEY.
Messr!! Thom1s 81 parrow, John Dawson