M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1861-08-29


l AM no moro of a military character
then you were when this war broke
out, and my incompetency would be
rendered as conspicuous as yours
Moreover any report that lshould
make would gain little credence with
your Republican friends. They would
suspect me OF attempting to white.
wash your Administration.
Will you pardon my presumption
in suggesting a better method ofac.
complishIng your wishes 2 Most peo.
pie will ask: "Why does not Cover
nor Dennison, if lie believes he has
been uniustly asSailed, demand u re.
nomination at the hands ofhis partyp
This accordS with precedent-yOur
predecessor was indorsed by a renom.
ination, and if you should boldly de-
mandthe same measure OF justice
from the Convention which is to as
semble in Columbus on the 9Th OF
September, it could not be refused,
except upon the gronud that they re.
pud ate and condemn your war ad.
ministratlon. II the party will make
you its nominee, | will engage that
tae Democracy will suffer you to de-
fend the merits Of your official con-
duct before the people, without reply
from your opponents, and will gladly
accept their verdict as tinality
If, however, your repugnance to q
second term is, under the circumstan.
ces, invincible, the next alternative
for you is to demand Of that ConVen-
ton an expression of opinion in re-
gard to your war administration
Let it be direct and uneq1iyocal,
either an approval or condemnation.
Your experience may suggest a better
form; if not, got some friend to
offer the following:
"Resolved, That corruption, ex.
travagance, incompetency and favor
itism lace MOI been ShoaOn in the ad-
ministration of the War Department
OF Ohio"
When your own friends shall adopt
this the iSsue will he fairly joined
with the Democratic Convention, and
you may then, with some show Of
proprie y, call on us for particulars"
and the "evidence." But if you shall
fail 10 demand this Endorsement from
your own political friends; ifyour
political friends shall fail to respond
to your demand, | confess your case
appears to be hopeless Ifthat Con-
vention, in place OF the Crittenden
Resolutions, adopt some "glittering
generality" about sustaining the
Government in promoting the war"
(which oblige' them to carry along
the weight OF Simon CamerOn--and
they refuse like ohi"e of Christian
charity to yon, it would be an act Of
unparalleled ingralitWde and cruelty.
You have long served your party
with Singular fidelity and devotion:
your political friends mo best acGuain
ted with the character and virtue OF
your labors; they ought to be leient,
and generous, and just; bat saould
they, in your present extremity, re.
fuse you a simple Endorsement ofyour
competency, it would go iar to Justify
your political opponents in the conclu-
sion that in the judgement OF your
best lriendSNyour war administration
is indeieusibe.
| do not see what more can do
FOR you. The proposed examination,
without power to 60 behind the files
of the Office, ito send for persons and
papers, and to examine witnesses un-
der oath, is a farce in which | most
respectfully decline to engage; nor do
share your apprehension that in
consequence thereof the National
Government will be compelled to
dsgraceful compromise with armed
treason"
Very respectfully yours,
fl p pa NNF