Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1861-08-29
A Large Contract Awarded by the
Notwithstanding for the "Se-
cesh" Committee to Think About,
and q Little Something for them
tFrom the Ohio State Journal.l

to do.
tFrom the Ohio State Journal
1t will be remembered that the Commit
tee on Resolutions of the masked battery
convention made no bones in denouncinl
the State Administration las we'll as Ma
tionaD as guilty of divers and sundry little
peccadilloes which were characterized by
the gentle terms of corruption. extravag
ance, Incompetence, and favoritsm." Thi.
little averment Of theirs in relation to such
triling matters is, Of course, entirely capa.
bic of proof No difficulty in doing tha,
not the slightest! And Governor Denni
son, with most commendable zeal fer the
good of the State and the interests of the
public has politely requested them to do IL!
That's all. He, moreover, kindly proffers
to their use all the records, orders, acts, con-
tracts and correspondence of the Military
Department under his Administration. in
order that this little affair may be adjusted
in manner so speedy as not to withdraw
those gentlemen for any ylong time from their
country's service in aiding the scheme OF
Breckenridge. So, gentlemen, the contract
is open. We hope your modesty will not
prevent you from substantiating your state
mentq. The following will show how the bust.
ness stands:
GOV. DENNIsoN TO II. B. PAYNE.
The STATE OF Quo,
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
Columbus, Aug. IA, 1861.
SIR Among the resolutions reported by
you as Chairman of Committee, and
adopted by the Democratic Convention, -
which met in this city on the 7th inst l find
the following:
''Resolccd, That the corruption, extrav-
agance, Incompetence and favoritism shown
in the War Departments of the State and
Federal Governments, deserve and receive
our unqualified condemnation, and ought
to be Immediately corrected and reformed
These are grave charges. If well found
ed, the State authorities, and especially my
self, as the Executive, ought Immediately
to resign their official trusts. IT false, thos,
who have preferred and those who Civ,
currency to them, must receive the meritaC
condemnation Of an indignant people, =
Your resolution embodies general accusa
ton l. call upon you for particulars and de
mand the evidence upon which you bas,
your assault; the medium through which
it shall be given leave you to determine
That you may be prepared for the fulles
exhibit Of facts invite you to thorough
examination of everything relating to tn,
War Department of my Administration. -
All contracts, correspondence, records O
appointments, and orders appertaining tt
the Department you have attacked. shall bt
freely exposed, and you shall be furnis eC
with copies Of whatever papers you desig
nate. / extend you also the liberty of in
terrogating, at your pleasure, every Office
in my staff, and every assistant in my owl
and in their offices.
If your Resolutions are not the exponen
of purpose, as old a. the War and as ma
levolent as it is invidous, to simulate patri
otsm and economy, but instill distrust. b,
which political ambition and party avaric
may be subserved, public credit deprecated
and the national Government compelled t,
disgracelul compromise with armed trea
son, you will promptly sieze the opportuni
ty give you to show the people that thos,
whom you represent are actuated by ymotiye
of honest antagonism to rebellion, not les
than by anxiety for the preservation of po
litical identity and the supremacy Of doc
trines, which Unpopular vote the loyal State
have condemned. Respectfully,
WM. DENNIsoN.
Fl: B. PAYNE, Esq, Chairman Com. o,
Resolutions, 7th Aug. Dem. Con-, Cleve