The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1861-04-17
For the aSpirit. -
9--ea71ls1 7esa1 For the "Splrlt. -
To Several Citizens of Salem
Township and Others.


Township and Oilers.
Fellow. CITIzENs:-In the Spirit Of
Democracy of March 27th, you ask sew.
eral questions concerning the late Treas
ary defalcation. With the exception of
The unkind spirit in which these questions
are asked, they are perhaps proper enough,
and deserve to be answered. And so far
as they concern ourselves as Commission
ers, we shall attempt to answer them in a
straight forward, honest, kind manner.
In regard to your insinuation that
there is something rotten in Denmark"
if by Denmark" you mean the County
TreasarJ, you are certainly right, but if
you mean the connection of the County
Commissioners with the Treasury defal-
cation, you are wrong.
We have always to the best of our
abilities performed the duties devolvilg
upon US; we have made all the examina
tions of the business of the Treasury
which the law required Us to make; have
made our regular settlements with the
Treasurer from time to time; aud counted
the money in the vault according to law.
And at such times we have always found
the money all there. ia--e.
The last ofsthese examinations during
Mr. Myers term of office, was, made in
September, 1860. Al that time the
money that should have been there aoas as
the vauk
We dc not know that Mr.. Myers was
iu the habit of borrowing money to have
on hand at the day of settlement; neither
do we know the contrary. We never had
any intimation of such proceeding, either
directly or indirectly, to the best OF our
knowledge, until since the public discove-
ry of the defalcation.
In regard to the appointment of Mr.
Noll, we would only say that the Gem
missioners having the responsibility OF
the appointment TO bear, should have
their choice We exercised the best OF
our judgment in the appointment, and
are willing to abide by it. @t - e
In conclusion we wish to notice two
articles published in the last number oi
the Spirit, by Barnett Man. Esq, and
William Read and others. 1t may seem
q little remarkable that these two articles
should appear simultaneously; bat per
haps not quite so remarkable when W.
) reflect upon the near relationship existing
between the two authors, and some othe
circumstances.
We have no intention of shrinking from
the responsibility of any official act don
by the Board Of commissioners. w
have eDdeavored honestly and faithful
to discharge our duties to the best in
terest of the county, and are willing t.
stand sqnare up to what we have done.
A word in regard to the. appointmen
. of Mr.. Myers successor. Before an
, applications were made Mr.. Mann wa
the first who named Mr.. -Noll for th
place; and it was not until it was ascor
, tanned that Mr.. Read. "a relative of Mr
Mann and the reputed author Of one G
articles referred to, was desirous of. oh
taining the appointmept, that we hear
any opposition by Mr.. Mann to the ep
pointment Of Mr.. Noll. 81 .,......-
When Mr. Mann ascertained that "
would not consent to the appointment c
Mr. Read. he wished to hare Mr. No
. pledge himself not to be a candidate for til
office at the fall election! We deemed
going far beyond our Legitimate duties t
require any such pledge, and we decline
to do so.
From these facts the public may fort
their own opinions as to whether thes
articles are purely disinterested, and sole!
for the public good, or whether there ma
not be, at the bottom of them, feeliu
of disappointment and resentment.
9 ~ JOHN w WHEELER,
l FRED. MOHLEMAN.