Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1861-08-29

tHht u YOUR numlHfbliatlOn mas Deen
maligned it is the work of your own po-
litical friends. They aided in electing
you to office, they zealously supported
you until after the commencement Of the
war, and with reluctance they testify to
your incompetcncy and denounce the cor
ruption, extrsvagance and iavoritism
which have been shown in the conduct ol
the war It's certain that the people Of
the State, including the Democratic party,
have credited these witnesses. For more
than two months they have remained nm
contradicted and unchalenged. For
reasons best known to myself, the Gov
ernor has called no one Of these accusers
to an account. If Democrats have erred
at all, it has been in believing that Re-
pub. leans tell the truth about each other.
You are the only person in the State un
advised Of the particulars" of these
charges. They commenced with that
celebrated contract said to have been
signed by the Governor in person by
which two of his political and personal
friends were to be paid so cents per day
for subGisting all the troops then in Co
lumbus or who should be Jrought here dur
ing Tie War. They embraced those fam
ons contracts for clothing by which exor-
bitant prices were paid for inferi' arti-
cles, as is best sh own by the rate allowed
the contractors. and the sum finally cbarg
ed the volunteers on the award Of the regi.
mental board Of referees. They have re-
gard also to the unnecessary expenses in
CURED in transporting troops by the way
OF Columbus when a shorter and cheaper
route was open. In one instance am
told the Cleveland Il Pittsburgh Railroad
Co. proposed to carry them free Of charge,
and you personally insisted on the long
/ route at cost to the State of S2700.
could go on and fill column with
items sustained by these witnesses and
the concurrent testim ony of the returned
soldiers, and gentlemen who have had
occasion to transact business with your
War Department, such as the Tent
Pole" Tin Cup" Gun powder con-
tracts" &C., &c. 1t is possible these
matters may admit of explanation, not
withstanding the distlust created by your
long silence in regard to them. But one
thing is certain: these exposures had ut
terly demolished your official reputation
for competency, long before the Demo
cratic Convention assembled. With
your own party you were already polite
ally dead. So dead that not man or q
newspaper of that party has proposed
your denomination for Governor. In
deed, so far as | have observed, no one
except yoursef-has taken exceptions to
this very Resolution which we are con-
sidering. Many Republicans distinctly
approved it.. The Cincinnati Commercial
of the 9th inst. while criticising the other
Resolutions, says:
"7he fourth resolution is one that should
be adopted by every Convention of every
party that assemblies in the STATE"
Thus you see that others must be dealt
with besides the Democratic Convention.
if you would retrieve your public reputa-
tion you must commence your labors in
the household of yonr political associates
and friends. Convince these assailants
of their error-let them withdraw their
charges, and confess that they have wick
edly and falsely accused you, and you
need have no fear about the Democracy
doing you ample justice.
AS to an investigation, | agree, you
have a right to demand it; You ought not
to rest under this general condemnation
witout an opportunity of defending your
conduct before the people OF the State
But an investigation will be of no avail
unless it shall be thorough and complete
Were l to accept your invitation to make
it myself, no doubt You would graciously
introduce me to the files of your Office,
and unquestionably, the gentlemen of
your STAFF would courteously answer my
interrogatores, (and l think with more
directness than their chief replied to the
questions of of the Committee last spring
yet my dear sir, am no more of mill
tary character than you were when this
war broke out, and my incompetency
would be rendered as conspicuous as yours
Moreover any report. that | shoulc
m axe would gain little credence with you
Republican friends. They would suspec
me of attempting to whitewash your Ad
ministration!
Will you pardon my presumption in
suggesting better method OF accomplish
ing your wishes? Most people will ask
"Uhy does not Governor Dennison, il he
belives he has been unjustly assailed, de-
naand a re nomination at the hands Of HI,
party?" This accords with precedent
Your predecessor was endorsed by a re-
nomination, and if You should boldly de
mand the same measure of justice from
the Convention which is to assemble at
, Columbus on the 5th of September, il
could not be refused, except upon the
ground that they repuliate and condemn
, your war administration. If the party
will make you its nominee. l will engage
,, that the Democracy will suffer you to de
fend the merits of your official conduct
before the people without reply, from
your opponent, and will gladly accept
their verdict, as fnalty.
If, however, your repungence to sec
cond term is under the circumstance tn0ia
ci6ie-the next alternative for you is tC
damand of that Convention an expression
Of opinion in regard 10 your war 0dnl'n'S
iration. Let it be,direct and unequivoca
either an approval or condem natton'-
f Your experience may suggest better
form, if not get some friend to offer thu
, following
"Resogred, That corruption, extravaganza
incompetency and favoritism haze not bee'
sho,on, in the administration of the War De
partment of Ohio"
, When your own friends shall adop