The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1863-11-11
COLUMBUS ONO. Oct. 31st, 1868.

To HIS EnceHency Davia 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, Pennsylvania, to partic
pate in the ceremony of dedicating a lot oi
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
haad till this afternoon. The fact of res
ceivlng note at all from you surprised me
almost as much as its contents. For you
know, Governor, you began the political con
test this fall in your speech at Youngstown,
Ohio by falsehoods and Misrepresentation oil
me personally, which am informed, both
you and that political weathercock, Treas
urer Of State, kept up during the canvass
Hence, you are the last person from whom |
expected friendly note.
| But Of It's contents: The note is printed
and has your written signature at the bottom
and Judge has been addressed to all the
officers elect You propose to furnish oil
these invited guests with Transportation at
tie expense of the State" That alone will
cost the State from $4,000 to 1900
| Will you permit me to inquire where you
get the authority, to deal out so generously
the hard earned taxes OF the people, that you
can furnish all your friends with tree ticket
to Gettysburg and back, at the expense oi
the State? Under what statute and what
particular clause OF the statute, do you find
the power thus to squander the peoples
money? The State Constitution pro
yides:
Art. 2. Sec. %. "No money shall be
drawn from the Treasury except in pur.
suance ofa specific appropriation made by
law"
What Legislature made appropriation lor
this excursion Of State officials? Where is
the act? Or is it one of those smugged
through by certain gentlemen after the ad :.
journment of the lasl Legislature?
Speak out, Governor. Your Excellency
would issue approximation and enlighten the
people on the subject. By virtue of your
office as Governor, you are Commander in
Chief of the military ynd naval forces Of the
State. Is 1T 'by virtue Of the poaoer" that
you thus unceremoniously thrust your arm
into the State Treasury? Or without re
gard to any particular authority conferred
upon you, it it q pressing military necessity''
that compels you to the act? The war pow
er Of the Commanders in Chief, or military
necessity either, might satisfy some.
think you ought to take your position at
once and declare your policy in this war up.
on the Treasury.
Or rather is this expenditure generally
(not particularly for the purpose OF putting
down the rebellion, and at the same time
defending the State against invasion?'--
Or is there, as some malicious people might
suppose, an understanding between you and
the railroads Of the country by which you
are to pay them all the money you can out
OF the State Treasury? You boast in your
public speeches that rot dollar Of the pub>
lie money ever stuck to the palms of your
hands, though millions had passed through
them. That may be strictly true. Never
theless some have binted, as you may 10.
member, lmsliciously no doubt) that when
you purchased ~ the Ohio ard Pennsylva-
MIA Canal last year, you not only got IL of The
State for nothing, but that gou pncteted seuer.
al thousand dollars besides in the bargain.---
But what difference does it mako to the tax
payers whether you steal their money out ol
the Treasury yourself and put 1t into your
own pocket, or deal it out in princelv sums
to your friends for transportation at tho ca
pense Of the Statc," in railroad excursions,
pleasure trips, ste?
+ Will you allow me to inquire Of your Ex.
cellency why it is, that this transportation,
J at the expense Of the State, 10 furnished 10