M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1861-08-29
And again, lJune 26l in taking the

AND again, lJune 26) IN taking the
Gazette to talk for "glossing over
failure end defending official malfeas.
ance," it says "The Gazette knows
as well as we do that the history Of
the administration of military affairs
in this State has been eminently dis
graceful; that the promises of the
Governor were oHt of all proportion
TO his performances; that corrupt
and swinding contracts were given
ont repeatedly through the blindness
and conniyance of officials who ought
to know better; that our volunteers
were triAed with and made the VIC
Tins Of circumlOcution, delays the
frauds, which good business manage
ment wonld have avoided, that money
has been medically squandered and
precious time foolishly wasted and
that 30 great aud glaring has been the
misconduct Of affairs that the press of
the city has unanimously, until the
Gazette's tardy apology, condemned
the heads Of the State Administration
for inexcusable neglect Of duty. 1t is
therefore, too late in the day, even if
there has been great recent improve
ments, for the Gazette to seek to white
wash the dark chapters Of our militia
ry arrangements or to cover the nak-
edness OF our official maifeNsance by
expatiating upon the enthusiasm and
efficiency and accomplishments of our
brave soldiery."
But forebear to cite further auth.
critics from the newspaper press
You will see that if your Administra-
tion has been maligned, it is the work
your own political friends. They
aided it IN electing You to office, they
zealousIy supported you until after the
war, and with reluctance they testifi.
ed to your incompetency, ,and denounc.
ed the corruption, extravaganza and
favoritism which have been shown in
the conduct Of the war. 1t is certain
that the people ofthe State including
the Democratic party, have credited
these witnesses. For more than two
months they have remained uncon-
tradicted and unchallenged For rea-
sons best known to himself, the Gov
ernor has called no one of the accusers
to an account. II Democrats have
erred at ALL has beer believing that
Republicans tell the truth about each
other. You are the only person in
the State unadyised Of the "particu-
lars" Of these charges. They com.
mcnce with that celebrated contract
said to have been signed by the Gov.
in person by which two of his politi.
cal and personal friends were to be
paid fifty cents per day for subsisting
all the troops then in Columbus, or
who should be brought there during
tho war. They embraced these IA
nous contracts for clothing by which
exorbltant prices were paid for infer
ior articles, as is best shown by the
rate allowed the contractor and the
sum finally charged the volunteers on
the award Of the regimental board Of
referees. They have regard also to
the unnecessary expenses incurred in
transporting troops by way of Colum-
bus when a shorter and cheaper route
was open. In one instance am told
the Cleveland and Pitts0urg Railroad
Company proposed to carry them free
OF charge, and you personally insisted
on the long route, at cost to the
State of $1,000.
| | could 60 onand fill column with
items sustained by these witnesses aud
the concurrent testimony, OF the re-
turned soldiers, and gentlemen who
have had occasion to transact business
with your War Department, such as
the "Tent Pole," ''Tin Cup" Gun.
powder contracts" &C., sc. 1t is
possible these matters may admit of
explanation, Notwithstanding the dis,
trust created by your long silence in
regard to them, But one thing is cer-
tain: these exposures had utterly de-
molishcd your official reputation for
competency, long before the Demo
cratic Convention assembled. With
your own party you were already DO.
litically dead. So dead that not
man or newspaper Of that party has
proposed your denomination for Gov.
ernor. Indeed, so far as have OBJ.
served, no one except y6ursell-has
taken exceptions to this very iesolu.
tion which we are considering. Ma
ny Republicans distinctly approved
it. The Cincinnati COMMERCIAL, of
the 9th inst, while criticiSing the 9TH
er resolutions. says:
"1he fourth resolution is one that
should be adapted by every Conven.
ton of every party that assemblies in
The Stats"
Thus you see that others must be
dealt with beside the Democratic
Convention. II you would retrieve
your public reputation, you must
commence your labors in the house
hold of your political associates and