Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-08-18
The Ensr Llbertr DIsturbanee.
AKRoN, August l6, l862.


EDITOR LEADER Permit me to reply
briefly to communication appearing in
your daily issue of the 18th inst, touching
the late affair at East Liberty in this cOun-
ty, to which somebody has attached the
names of Daniel Wise and others. say
ATTACHED, because none of them is capa-
BILE of writing such a statement But it
abounds with so many, and such glaring
falsehoods that they ought not to go un-
noticed.
The facts in the case are briefly these:
On Tuesday evening Aug. 7th, inst, by
invitation of many citizens of Green town
ship, I went to East Liberty to make a
speech for the purpose of obtaining vOlun-
teers for the new German regiment-being
accompanied by recruiting officer. /
proceeded in my argument without much
interruption, until reached that portion
of it, where 1 assrted that volunteers must
be furnished, or drafting would certainly
be resorted to. At this point l was inter-
rupted by vociferous hurrahs for JEFF
Davis and Breckenridge and large stone
was thrown at my head. Iappealed to the
loyal citizens to know whether could be
permitted to make an argument in behalf
of the country without being mobbed,
when they responded that could l then
proceeded to finish my remarks, at the
close of which, denounced those eowardly
miscreants in terms more remarkable for
force than elegance. On examination, we
found that an attempt had been made to
cut our harness and portions of the car
riage. 1 have omitted details for lack of
space, but the above are the main facts.
A paper was found after the arrest of the
guilty parties, containing a list of Names
who had agreed, as one of the parties ad-
mitted, to resist enrolment, drafting, and
the government tax. 1t can also be proved
that one of the number asserted openly,
"if 1 had spoken in the school house, it
would have been my last speech" For
proof of my statements, l refer to every
loyal man tDho aVas present on the occasion,
and no hired nor OoIunteer lawyer can
make them otherwise, and the develop
ment of the facts on trial will corroberate
my assertions. So far as their arrest is
concerned, had no hand in it whatever;
that was managed entirely by the proper
authorities; but 1 certainly did not stand
6ettOeen the officers and UioLatsd lasV. If such
conduct secures apology and palliation
at the hands Of pretended Union men their
loyalty may not be above suspicion. The
assertions in said communication that 1
am a "Breckinridge Democrat that l
made speeches in our town, denouneing
Mr Tiuooln tur0nf ond fha
war as an abolition war, are unconditional
faLsehoods-there is not one word of truth
in these reconsideration beginning to end.
The first speech that [ made in behalf Of
the war policy of President Lincoln, was
made at Akron on the evening of April
lS, 1861, in which then declared that it
was the duty Of all loyal citizens to join
hands in supporting a President who had
been lawfully elected, and on that very day
had been removed from the Akron Post
Office, and L have never changed my views
since that time. Instead of denouncing
Mr.. Lincoln as "tyrant," have always
said that he was an honest and patriotic
President For proof of this refer to ev-
cry loyal citizen of Summit county. What
is meant by saying that 1 " furnished mon
ey to pay delegates to Vallandigham con-
ventions" the Lord only knows, for never
knew, until they came home that any one
had attended such a conventionl This ac-
cusation is so silly and mendacious on its
face, that it is scarcely worth eOntradic-
ton. 1t is further asserted for these indi-
viduals, that four of them enlisted; but
when2 After they are in Jail and accept
ed that as an alternative for something
else 1t is much to be regretted that the
LEADER has permitted such publication
to find place in its columns which does
me SO much gross injustice, without know
ing what the facts were. The truth is, the
production, which purports to have been
by these misguided men, is too manifestly
the offspring of low and rancerous spir
it You will excuse me for referring to
myself, but am acting in self defence.
have expended nearly my whole time for
the past three weeks in aiding the work Of
procuring volunteers to put down this un
righteous rebellion, and when this lying
statement appeared, of course I felt some
what "riled." AS publicity has been Civ
en- the communication referred to 1 will be
obliged if you find place for this, and
thereby oblige. Yours very truly,
r. o. HAMMOND.