The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1861-08-30
from the Cleveland Leader.
"a. ID. Payne's Letter 90 GOV.
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which the SOC tllcd Democratic Convon-
ton charged the Executive Administra-
ton of Ohio with corruption" &c. II
will be rceollCcted that the resolution Of
the Democratic Convention which open
cd this controversy condemned 'tho cor
ruption, extravaganza, incompetoney,
aud favoritism shown Ia the War De
parment ofthe State and Federal Gov
ernmeh,s." The greet cry among these
partisan Democrats has been 'oorrup-
tioh." Their least scrupulous press have
dwclt upon il IN almost every Issue from
The commencement Of fthe war down 70
the present time. Under these circum-
stances, il is quite refreshing TO see how
gFsoiously Mr. Psyno, whom compelled
to attempt defence Of his "corruption"
resolution, steps aside and lets the charge
fall to the ground. We quote from his
letter:
~And first let me correct one or two
errors into which you have fallen In re-.
gard 60 the purport and scope Of tho roso-
luton. You seem 90 consider its aecu.
satiuns aimed principally, not exclusive
", az tho Governor Of Ohio and the 9TH
or State Authorities But the Ian
guuge expressly condemns thc'corruption, !,
extravaganza, ineompetentcy and favor
tism shown In the War Departments Of
the State and Federal Goyernments.'---
A fair proportion Of this oonsure was In
t'ndcd Tor, aud should be assigned to the
War Department at Washington"
"AnUthcr error into which you have
fallen Is IN extending tho ceusure Of this
resolution TO parties for whom most pal
pNbly, Il was never intended. IL these
charges are well founded you cay the
State authorities ought Immediately 10 re-.
sign their official trusts The Auditor
Treasurer, Secretary, Comptroller and
Attorney General, ~ well as the Exeou-
tive, are usually cl1ssed an State authori-
ties. um not aware that any charges
have been preferred against the inoum-
bents Of those Offices. And should the
validity Of these charges against your war
Administration bo established, | see no
reason why they should resign, unless IL
be from profound commisscration for
the Executive Neither was Il intend
ed by those VINO voted for the resolution
TO impeuch the capacity or integrity Of
the distinguished gentlemen who have
more recently been called TO the princi-
pal positions on your staff. Twill 90 one
step Tthor and say for myself, that In
nnur,.,tfu., tla a.,lntt.v. k.a 80 f,tao-
ton Of fimputing corruption to yourself
personally"
Here, then, Mr.. Payne, dlselaims, for
himself and for the Convention, any ir-
tcnton to charge corruption upon tho
Governor or State authorities. After
such an admission, one would have sup.
posed that a respectable gentleman
who valued his honor would have laid
down the pen. Not so with Mr., Payne.
lie goes on to trump up newspaper para
graphs, written by disappointed office
seekers or those ignorant Of the eircum-
stances surrounding the transactions OF
iectcd to, many Of which statements have
Stree been retracted by their authors
Upon these, and cunningly-worded In.
situations, Mr., Payne relies TO blast the
Reputation Of an honest man, hoping
thereby to obtain the success Of his par
ty. The burden Of proof In such cases
rests upon III uecuser, and until this
slander shalt Ldduee some evidence, Il
certainly will not be incumbent upon the
Governor or tho members Of his Admir-.
istration 10 introduce robutting tcstimo-
ny. In conclusion, Mr.. Payne uses this
Insignificant language;
II do not see what more I can do for
you. The proposed examination, with.
out power to go behind the fi,ss Of the
ofticc--to send for persons aud papers
and 10 examine witnesses under oath, Is
a farce in which most respectfully dc.
cline to engage"
To show how much cause Mr,PNyue hes
for the complaint that he has not the pro
} per facilities ioE Thorough examination
we quote from the letter Of G overnor Den
niuon to Mr. Payne under dSto Of Al
gust i4thi I
"That you may be prepared for the 70.
lest exhibit Of facts, invite YOU TO
thorough examination Of everything re
latiag to the War Department OF my Ad
miniStration. All contracts, oorreapon
denoc, records Of appointments and or
ders appertninlng 60 tho Department yol
have attacked, shat be freely exposed
and you shall bo furnished with copies o
whatever papers you designate. exten,
you also the liberty Of inteFrogatinR, Al
your pleasure, every officer in my state
aud every assistant in my own and in the.l
offices"
twill he remembered that Mr. Payu,
declines to accept the means tendore,
him by the Governor tor "a thorough ez
animation" No further comment, there
fore, Is needed, and we close with IN,
: single remark that tho traduoeF who re
: fuses 10 substantiate his charges by evI
denoe, must DO held as totally unworth
the notice Of honorable men,
; A eOrrcspOu dent ofthe Cincinnati G
Eotte. who has returned from tour Of ol
: servat ton and inquiry Ia the Southern Sta