Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1863-11-19
Coruunus Ouo Oct. 81 1863

CoLUNBUs, ONO, Oct. 81, 1868.
To His Ercellency, David Tod, Governor
of Ohio
DEAR SIR Your favor of the 25th
inst, inviting me in company with all
the officers of the State, to be present ON
the 10Th prox., near Gettysburg, Penn
sylvania, to participate in the ceremony
of dedicating lot of ground which has
been selected as the final resting place of
the brave men who fell there in the battle
of July last, did not come to hand till
this afternoon, The fact of receiving a
note from you at all surprised
me almost as much as its contents. For
you know, Governor, you began the
political contest this fall in your speech
at Youngstown, Ohio, by falseboods and
misrepresentation OF me personally, and
which l am informed, both you and that
political weather cock, Treasurer of State,
kept up during the canvass. Hence, you
are the last person from whom | expect
ed friendly note.
But of its contents: Tho note is prin-
ted and has your signature at the bottom,
and Judge has been addressed to all tht
officers of the State as we'll as officers
elect. You propose to furnish all these
invited guests with Transportation at TIL
expense of tile State" That alone will
cost the State $4,000 or $I5, ,000.--
Will you permit me to inquire where yol
get the authority, to deal out the hard
| Of ha hat "
furnish all your friends with free ticket
to Gettysburg and back, at the expense
of the State Under what statue and
what particular clause of the statue dc
you find the power thus to squander the
peoples money? The State Constitution
provided :
ART 2 Sec, %. "No money shall be drawr
from the Treasury except in pursuance ofa spe
cifc appropriation made by law"
What Legislature made appropriation
for this excursion of State officials 3
Where is the act ? Or is it one of those
smuggled through by certain gentlemen
after the adjournment of the last Legisla
ture
Speak out, Governor. Your excellen
cy could issue proclamation and enlight
en- the people on the subject. By virtue
OF your office as Governor, you are Com
mander-in Chief of the military and ma
val force of the State. Is it "6y virtu'
of the ,0ar poaOer" that you unceremoni
ously thrust your arm into the Stat
Treasury I? Or without regard to an.
optional authority conferred npon you, i
it pressing "military necessity" tha
compels you to the act ? The war pow
er of the Oommander-in-C Chief, or mill
tary necessity either might satisfy some
l think you ought to take your position
at once. and declare your policy in thi
war upon the Treasury.
Or rather in this expenditure (not pal
ticularly) for the purpose of putin
down the rebellion and at the same tim
defending the State against invasion 2
Or is there, as malicious people migl
suppose, an understanding between yo
and the railroads of the country by whie
you are to pay them all the money yo
can out of the State Treasury 70
boast in your public speeches that ne
"a dollar of the public money ever stuc
to the palms of your hands, though nil
lions has passed through them. Tha
may be strictly true. Nevertheless SOM
have limited, as you may remember, (ma
liciously no doubt) that when you pur
chased 90 the Ohio and Pennsylvani
Canal last year, you not only got ii Of III
State for nothing, but that you pockete
several thousand dollars besides in the bar
gain. But what difference does it max
to the tax payers whether you steal tn
money out of the Treasury yourself, an
put it in your own pocket, or deal it ou
in princely sums to your friends 70
Transportation at the expense Of M
State" in railroad excursions, pleasur
trips, &c. q?
Will you allow me to inquire of you
Excellenoy, why it is, that this tranpol
tation, at the expense of the State, is ful
nished to men who are generally able t
pay their own expenses Would it nc
be prudent, as we'll as more patriotic, t
furnish it to the poor widows and oil
phans, and childless mothers who hav
been made such by the great battle in Jr
ly, that they might visit at the expens
of the State, the graves OF their husbands
fathers, and sons, and moisten the dr.
earth that covers the gallant dead, wit
the copious tears of affliction and affec
tion that are now falling in silence an
seclusion all over the land. Or, bette
still, use the money that you propose t
49, o,,t 60, Aha fransportati0n Of the off