Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1861-08-23

Unless champion can be found for that
distinguished gathering Of August 7th,
1861, it is condemned as 'most seuseless
and fit"
GOV. DENNIsoN TO Mr.. PAYNE.
STATE OF ONO, EXECUTIVE DEPT,
Columns, August ID.
SIR: Among the resolution reported by
you as chairman Of committee, and
adopted by the democratic Convention"
which met 10 this city on the 7th of August,
l find the following:
"ReSolVed, That the corruption, extrava-
gance, incompetency and favoritism shown
by the War Department 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
myself as the Executive, ought immediate
ly to resign their official trusts. If false,
those who have preferred and those who
give currency to them, must receive the
merited condemnation of an indignant peo-
pie. Your resolution embodies general ac-
cusations. call upon you for particulars,
and demand the evidence upon which you
base your assault. The medium through
which it shall be given, leave you to de-
termine.
That you may be prepared for the fullest
exhibits of facts, l invite you 30 thorough
examination of everything relating TO the
War Department of my Administrations
All contracts, correspondence, records oI
appointments, and all orders appertaining
to the Department you have attacked shal
be freely exposed, and you shall be furnish
ed with copies of whatever papers you des
ignate. extend to you also the liberty o.
interrogating, at your pleasure, every office
on my staff, and every assistant in my own
and in their offices.
If your resolutions are not the exponent
of purpose, as old as the war, and as NAL
evolent is it is insidious, to simulate pat
riotism and economy but instill distrust, by
which political ambition and party avarict
} may be subserved, public credit deprecated
and the National Government compelled
to disgraceful compromise with armed
treason, you will promptly seize the oppor
tunity give you, to show the people tha
those whom you represent are actuated by
motives of honest antagonism to rebellion
not less than by anxiety for the preservation
of political identity, and the supremacy o
} doctrines, which, by a popular vote, th,
loyal States have condemned.
Respectfully,
(Signed) WILLIAM DENNIsoN.
HENRY B. PAYNE, ESQ,
Chairman, d., Cleveland, o.
MR.. PAYNE's REPLY.
CLEVELAND, August II.
DEAR SIR: am in receipt of CON
municaton from you under date of the al
inst, but am at loss whether l should re
: ply to it as | was not the "Chairman of th
Committee on Resolutions at the 7th c
August Democratic Convention"
If you designed the letter for the officia
organ of that Committee it should hav
been addressed to the Hon. H. E. Smith
: of Stark county. l read the resolutions be
= fore thu Convention at its request, and thi
act probably led you in the error of sup
posing that was Chairman.
Unless, therefore, you specially desire
reply from me l will return the letter t
: you or forward it to Judge Smith, as yo
e may prefer. Respectfully, yours &c,
i H. B. PAYNE.
e Hon. w. DENNIsoN, Columbus Ohio.
+ GOV. DENNIsoN's ANSWER.
!. The STATE OF ONO, EXECUTIVE DEPT,
: COLUMBUS, Aug. 10.
Sir: In reply to your note of the lit
instant in which you inform me that yo
n were not the Chairman of the Committe
q on Resolutions at the 7th of August Den
/. ocratic Convention, as you were understoo
to have been, l have to say, that l intend
ed to address you only in your reporte
: official capacity as Chairman. With yo
4 personally have no controversy.
publish the correspondence for the pul
f pose of saying that desire it to be take
+ as addressed to any respectable gentlema
!. who will assume the responsibility Of ha,
!. ing been the Chairman of the Committe
! that reported the resolutions referred to, {
v to any other member of the Committee, c
to any member of the Convention VIII
: approves them. Respectfully,
a .rH. WILLIAM DEENIsoN
q HENRY B. PAYNE, Cleveland, Ohio.