The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1861-09-04

responsibility of having been the chair
man of the committee that reported the
Resolutions referred to, or to any other
member of the committee, or to any other
member ofs the Convention who approved
them.a s Unexpectedly, raisd asil
o; asiio rs gnb. VIM. DENNISON.
| H. B.sPAYNE, ESQ.,, Cleveland, O.
EMr. PAYNE Z to Gov q DENNIsoN.
e,aa CLEVELAND, August 90, 1851.
To His, Ereelesey Nm. Dennisoa,, Gouernor
Eff9 ono; Essa.lgi eds zyqa II -sassIa &
= DEAR SIR: AS member of the COM
mittee who reported, and delegate to
the Convention which unanimously ap.
proved the, resolution in question, I may
not decline the challenge in your note Of
yesterday in reply to your extraordinary
communication of the 14th inst. -sz.ue4
In that document you express the
opinion that this resolution embodies some
"graye charges against the Estate au-
thorities," !" including yourrelf as the "Ex-
ecutive." and you ask for bill of "par
tic1lars,'' and demand the ,"evidence''
upon which the assault is based. You
courteously invite me to look over the
files Of. the War Department, and proffer
me the distinguished privilege of "interro-
eating the officers of your stat !" and
you more than intimate that declination
Of the service is to be construed into proof
positive of the stimulated patriotism, -
q political ambition" "party avarice," F"
and sundry other, uuamiable sins of the
Democratic party. IL. !. t..
Ny reply may not equal your expec-
tations, but it shall leave you no cause
to complain Of the want, of candor or
frapkness. and if unpleasant truths are
related. I beg you to remember that the
writer, though political opponent, is
more o friend than an enemy. -s..t.
T And 6rst let me correct one or two e..
rors into which you have fallen ip regard
TO the purport and scope of the resolu
ttion. You seem to consider its accusa-
tion aimed principally. if not exclusively
at the "Governor of Ohio" and the other
Estate authorities." But the, Language
expressly condemns the corruption, ex.
ltravagance, ncompetency and fayoritisn
shown in the, War, Department Of tht
State and Federal Governments A fail
proportion of this censure was intended
Ifor, and should be assigned to, the Wa
Department at Washington; and that i
was just and merited, requires no furthe
khor .ne Tor
IWyck, the Republican chairman Of tn
select committee raised at the recent spe
lcial session Of Congress, to Investigate th
!. transactions Of that, Department.: "Tha
within two short months there has been
system of plumber, which, for audfcity ant
wickedness. has never been surpassed.
That corruption and favoritism, when ex
fposed, should be severely condemned, eve
frybody will assent to; but whether it !
i good policy to expose and correct ther
during the pendency sof the war, is . ques
tion on which men may, and it woul
seem do, differ. I infer your opinion t
be that such exposure and condemnatio
of abuses tend to "depreciate the publ
credit" and compel the "National Gov
ernment to q idisgraceeul compromise wit
armed treason;"7 while others, with equa
sincerity, believe that this war will neve
be brought to a successful termination
until men Of admitted competency an
unquestioned integrity are intrusted wit
its Administrations; and in my opinion th
, President, by no one set of his, would s
: effectually strengthen the public credit an
martial and nerve the national forces fc
the prompt suppression Of this rebellion
as by the simple displacement of Nj
: Cameron and the appointment of Judg
: Holt in, his place. xaA .zo'lsgigis 7T
{ b. Another error G into which yon hay
fallen is in extending the censure of th
resolution to parties for whom most prob
ably it was never intended. s If thes
: charges are ."well founded you say 'gh
9 States authorities ought immediately
| resign their official trusts. = The Aud
e tor, Treasurer, Secretary, Controller an
s AttorLey. General. as we'll as the Execg
c tive, are usually ,classed as State author
ties. a / am not aware that any charge
j have been. preferred against the iucuu
9 bents; Of those, Offices, And should Ii
!, validity of these charges against your we
s ADMINISTRATION, be established. i seen
reason why they should resign. unless
r be from a profound commiseration for Il
"Exeeutive1 q Neither was it intended b
a those who voted for tho resolution to in
o peach the capacity or integrity of tt
u distinguished gentlemen who have mo-