The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1863-07-01
The Great Democratic State Con
ventiOn in Illinois.

w e nave only room THIS week 10 nOClco THIS
great demonstration of the 18th inst. by cal
ling attention. to the following report Of the
speech Of Gen. Mo KINsTRY It developes a
state Of things in and about the W hite h ouse'
at Wshin gton, that should startlc the nation,
if there is any portion of it not already star
tied, at the wide spread corruption and the
still more fragrant attempt to stifc all investi-
cation by raising upon the ruins around us,
q Military Despotism. All our readers are
familiar with the abominable corruptions at
st. Louis, which resulted in the dismissal
of FREMoNT, and the arrest and trial Of Nc
KINsTRY. 1t now appears that President
the bottom Of it, and the conDicfion of Gen.
MoKINsTRY was necessary to hide the real
off .nders who held higher positions To this
-toacouvict one man-and for such purposes
three million of the public money was thrown
away in addition to the millions stallen1onath
er contracts than those spoken of by Gen. Nc
KINsTRY.tsW What next will turn up?
aGeneral M Kinstry, in his speech, stated
that when the war broke out he was Quarter
master and Provost Marshal at ST. Louis, and
belonged to the Regular Army, (having been
educated by his country, to which he owed his
services,0 aud while thus engaged, he received
a letter from Lincoln asking him to give a
large contract, for supplying the Western ar
N.Y. With pIOViSlOHS, To Jas. L. lJdmD, OF
Springfield, and a lady, whose name he would
not mention, but who was a relative of the
Presidents family. This demand was SO con-
trnry to all srmy regulations that he wrote to
Mr.. Lincoln, saying that he could not give
the contract out, except in accordance with
army regulations viz to advertise for propo-
sails The contract involved the expenditure
of millions of dollars, and was such a one as
he good Democrat, could not give, as asked
to do, andH accordingly positively refused
Subsequently, when in the discharge of his
duty, at the head Of the command, marching
into Arkansas, he was arrested without know
ing what for, taken to ST. Louis and there
imprisoned, and SO remained in prison for
several m n hs, without any knowledge of the
charges against him, and an Abolition Gcner-
al Hunter Ggroans for Hunter] placed in COM
mand in his place. Atlast he was allowed a
trial before military court-martia,,y and he
could say, with regard to this trial, that he
was perhaps the only officer in the service who
had to fight three million of green backs, in
timating that so much money was used to
procure his conviction of the charges prefer
red against him.. He was convicted Of several
of the charges and specifications, among which
was one for having bought horses at an exor-
bitantly high, figure, viz: one hundred and
nineteen dollars for each horse, when it so
happens that since that time the Government
has paid one hundred and fifty dollars for that
class of horses ever since:ss He was convicted
of having paid thirty seven cents per bushel
for corn, aad= the lGoYerHment ever since has
not been paying less than sixty cents. He
was also convicted of having paid forty cents
a bushel for oats and it is fact that the Gov
ernment has been paying from sixty to sixty
five cent? per bashel ever since. These are
the charges upon which he was convicted by
this Administration. He had no confidence
in those now in power in this country. They
are set of dishonest politicians, who would
sacrifice the country and every thing that pat
riots should hold dear to free the negro
'[Groans fer Lincoln ea ss4s1f9
Gle has head, the resolutions read which
the Convention have this day adopted. He
approved Of them in letter and in spirit, and
the people should maintain them at all has
ards, with their swords aud bayonets, if nec-
i essary Ard should it ever become necessary
| for the freemen of Illinois to appeal to arms
in defense of their rights, as declared in these
RESOLUTIONS, he would be the first to rush tt
/ their aid, and assist with bis life to maintain
them. EGreat applause, the audience risin:
to their feot and giving three cheers for Nj
Kinstry."] 5aa