Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-08-23
CHE Ohio 9tatesnratr
T Z r Ms.
Mr.. Payne TO Gov. Dennison.
~. cLEvELASD. August 90, 1861.
10 His EEesllsney, W. Dennison, Governor Of

~, 'Ny " De"f"sVHt UOUeTHoT "
DEAR SIR-As q member of the committee
VINO reported, and delegate in the Convention
Wn'cn unanimously approved the resolution In
question, may Lot decline the challenge 10
your note OF yesterday to teply to your exraor-
dinary communication of the l4th inst.
In that document you express the opinion that
this resolution embraces some "graye charges''
against the estate authorities, d including your.
sell as the "Executive;" and you ask for a bill
OF particulars" and demand the "eyidenoe''
upon which the assault Is based. You cour.
teously invite me to look over the files Of the
War Department, and pIoffer me the distiu.
guished privilege Of "interrogatiDg the officers
ol your stan and you more than intimate
that a declination OF the service 10 to be con.
stfued into proof positive of the "amulated
PATRIOTISM" "political ambition, "'party ava
rlce," and sundry other unsmiable things of the
Democratic party. ... ssl0
My reply may not equal your expectations,
but IL shall leave you no cause to complain OF
the want Of candor or frapkness; and IL un
pleasant truths are related, 1 beg you to remem.
ber that the writer, Thoughts political opponent,
Ia more friend than an enemy. 3f'
And frss let me correct one or two errors into
which you have fallen in regard to the purport
and scope Of the resolution. You seem to con-
slider its accusations aimed principally, if not
exclusively at the "Governor Of Ohio" and the
other Estate authorities" But the language
expressly condemns the corruption, extravs.
gsnce, incompetency and favoritism shown 10
the War Departments of the State and Federal
Governments" A fair proportion of this cen
sure was intended for, and should be assigned
TO, the War Department at Washington; and
that 1t was Just and merited requires no further
proof than the declaration of Mr.. Van Wyck,
the Republican chairman of the select commit
tee raised at the recent special session of Con-
gress, to investigate the transactions of that
Department.: "That within two short months
there has been system Of plunder, which, for
audacity and wickedness, has never been sur
passed" Thatcorruption and favoritism, when
exposed, should be severely condemned, every
body will assent To-; but whether it is good pol.
icy to expose and correct them during the pen
dency OF the war. Ia a question on which men
may, and 1t would seem do, differ. infer youl
opinion to be that such exposure and condemna
tion OF abuses, tends to "deprecate the public
credit, and compel the "Nationsl Government
TO disgraceful compromise with armed trea
SOM" while others, with equal sincerity believ,
that this war will never be brought to success
iul termination, until men of admitted compe
tency and unquestioned integrity are entrusted
with its administration; and IN ray opinion tn,
Prenident, By no one act of his, would 30 effec
tually strengthen the public credit and marsha
aud nerve the national forces for the promp
suppression OF this rebellion, as BY the simpl,
displacement of Mr.. Cameron ard the appoint
ment of Judge Holt In his place.
Another error into which you have fallen !!
in extending the censure of this resolution tc
parties for whom most palpably, II was neyel
intended. il these charges are "well founded
yon say "the State AuthoTitiss," sought imme
diately to resign their official trusts" Th,
Auditor, Treasurer, Secretary, Comptroller AM
Attorney General, as well as the Executive, ar,
usually claseed es State authorities. am no
aware that any charges have been preferre,
against the incumhents of those offices. An,
should the validity of these charges agains
your war administration be established ] see n
reason why they should resign unless 1t be fror
Q profound commiseration for the Executive.
Neither was II intended by those who voted 70
the resolution to impeach the capacity or integ
rity OF the distinguished gentlemen who hay
more recently been called to the principal posi-
tions on your staff. will 90 one step farthe
aud say for myself. that in approving the reso
luton had no intention of imputing "corrup
ton" to yourself personally. .-.-
What was intended by the Convention anG
what fair construction Of its language i'm ports
is, that In the administration of the war de
partm ent, which from necessity employs numer
Gus subordinales and agents, through the iucom
potency or connivance of those actlng In behal
Of the State, improvident contracts have bee
made, extravagant prices paid for inferior arti
cles OF clothing and supplies, frauds have bee
perpetrated and personal and partizan fsvorite
have prohted at the expense Of the public Treas
ury. Or it may be paraphrased In these words
"The Governor, who Is really q very ceve
gentleman, and who with his staff was abund
antly competent to dischsrge the duties- @
Commander in Chief of the Ohio militia, Will
restricted to the peace establishment, was i
fact not qualified by q military education or
previous experience, for the multiplied Difficult
and arduous responsibilities OF war emerge
cy, and committing the fatal mistake of nc
promptly summonipg to his guidance boar
OF experienced counsellors. be long continue
bis feeble and inefficient Administration, unit
through the want Of judgment and incomps
tency OF himself and some portion of his subol
dinates, extravagsnce, fraud aud favoritisI
were practiced, whereby the public service wa
seriously preIadiced and the public Treasury a,
pleted." ~ li1sAt' T-t lHllts'
AS thus defined, the accusation Is sufficientl
| grave, admit; and the Democratic Conyentio
should not have given currency to 1t. exec
from an honest conviction Of Its truth Wheth,
they had probable cause for the condemnatio
they administered, the public must decid
Judging from the tone Of your letter, strang,
would infer that you bad not heard the wlsdo
ana integrity OF your war management called
question until you read the proceedings of II
Democratic Convention! Whereas. in trutl
these charges Of imbecility and malfeassn,
were originally preferred, and have heen mo
stoutly maintained, by the men and The press
your political friends. Indeed, your presel
Imove savors Of an adroit purpose TO raise
smoke under the cry OF "party mslignity," or
I''sympathy for rebels" In order that you mi
Withdraw from danger the frail bark In whit
Is freighted whatever of official reputatie
has survived the broadsidss OF Republican bs
teries. fai2A9 afi 'lI f+fs 1at q
i The Democratic papers have treated you vii
II singular forbearance and tenderness. But Il
Republican press Of the State, as far back as Il
months OF May and June, abounded in charg
II of Encouragement, favoritism and fraud again
your Administration. They specified the acts
named the parties--gave the figures, and d
nounced the delinquencies In terms of seyerit
In comparison with which our resolution !
moderation itself! Lest IL may have escsp,
your notice, suffer me to give you one or "
examples The Ashtab1ls Sentinel, of Ju,
l0th, said:
"We have denounced the management Of h
War Department. Of Ohio, because it was bad
intolersbly bad. The Governor, as the head
the Department., 10 responsible, and as he b
not shown that others were at fault, It is pro
or to hold him to account Our, neighbors