Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-08-30

licly express your great admiration for Mr..
Chase. He held the same doctrine express
ed by Mr. sRistine, and at later date than
Mr.. Ristine's letter. refer You to the
speech of Gen. Blair on that point. But
The Indiana polls Journal said the same
thing, only in stronger terms. So did The |
Cincinnati Co nn,ercial, The New York |
Tribune, and many other leading Republic
can organs. What Importance then can |
you attach to such an expression of opin-
ion?
But you found an old letter from my good |
old uncle In Virginia. Poor scandal-mon- |
ger as you are, I cannot even permit you
much enjoyment in that. j was In Harri- |
sonburg in June, 1860. Mr.. lincoln was not
elected. There was no talk of secession IN
Virginia. On the contrary, the feeling in
behalf of the Union was overwhelming.
But there was q deep irritation yet in the
popular mind in regard to the John Brown
raid which had but recently occurred. was
serenaded at my uncle's house, and made q
short speech. Abiding to the murderous
invasion of herso by John Brown, l stated
that such deeds were condemned in the
State where lived, and that if needs be, a
hundred thousand men from Indiana would
march to protect the citizens of Virginia
against any future Abolition raid. In Feb
ruary, 1861, when war became imminent,
suppose it looked to Mr.. Hardesty as If it
would be an Abolition war, and he simply
reminded me of what had said on his door
steps to the citizens of HarrisOnburg. do
you think the publication of this bit of sto-
len information will materially affect the
result Of the Presidential election! Little
minds catch at little things.
But you found letter from Senator wall,
of New Jersey, enclosing one to him from
gentleman by the name of Carr on the
subject of guns. This seems to be the des-
perate point. know nothing of Mr.. Carr.
] never answered this letter. l am not much
of a trader, and such matters as this rarely
find time to attend to. But on this point
do not mean to be misunderstood. l fully
indorse the constitutional right of the peo-
pie to bear arms for their seli-defense. The
value of this right is greatly enhanced when
one political party is armed by the Admin
istration, at the common expense, to over
awe the other. You, of course, will not
deny that the Republican party has been
armed with Government arms for nearly
two years. 1t is true that this organization
is known as the "Home Guard" but guns
are distributed by Government officials to
their political adherents who do notpretend
to belong to any military organization
whatever. And when companies have
been formed according to law, and
asked for arms, they have been
refused because they were Democrats.
Why is all this? From the conduct of many
| of these so-called ''Home Guards" and the
conduct of such officers as you-the Demo-
cratic party has been led to the firm belief
that these warlike preparations have more
reference to carrying elections and subdu-
ing the freedom of speech and OF opinion
in the North, than they have to the suppress
sion of armed rebellion in the South. They
have paraded in front of my own house, in
my absence, and with United States mus
kets in their hands, in large numbers in
suited and terrified my wife and children.
These were simply members of the Repub-
lican party, and the guns which they carried
had been given to them by Governor Nor
ton by your advice, presume, and consent.
; What has occurred to me has occurred to
thousands of others. Do you suppose that
YOU can arm our neighbors to outrage and
, insult us without any disastrous results?
Do you think we will lick the hand that
strikes us? Do you imagine that the DEM
: ocratic party will submit to be trampled
: and spit upon? We have borne much, very
much, and perhaps you think we will beaI
all, and everything? If you DO, allow me
for the sake of the peace and welfare O
: the State, to assure you of your error. We
will obey the laws of the land. We have
always done so, but we have made up oul
minds that others shall do the same. Tha
is fair proposition, and those who are un
! willing to embrace it can take the conse
quences. Democrats have all the rightl
: which Republicans have, and among thos,
which they share in common is the right t.
bear arms for their defense and protection.
: Now, General, but few words more anC
1 will leave you to the uninterrupted en-
joyment of the glory which you havt
achieved in this miserable affair. There !!
one letter of mine in your possession which
YOU did not steal, and which l am willing
you should publish. You will remember
an interview about a year ago between us
, at the Terre Haute House, in the presence
2 of Judge Key. You had opened your ears
to tale-bearers and slanderers, and you
came down from Indianapolis in great eX-
citement to quell the terrible outbreak
which you imagined was about to take
J place in this District. You wanted to go tc
Sullivan county, and, at your request,
gave you note in the shape. OF a pass
Stating that the bearer was Gen. Caring
ton, and asking for him respectful treatment
; You did not need any such protection from
: me, buty thought you did, and showed i
l to my friends for that purpose in the town
: of Sullivan. y--r- .r'.. .e-.
, You seem to be of late in a similar panic
: and under a similar delusion. There is
really, however, no danger of disturbance
1 among the people except such as your owl
folly and wickedness may create. You d(
7 not need a pass to travel through here un'
: less it might be that the people should teal
that you came to ransack their drawers OF
} something of that kind.
} In conclusion, permit me in all kindness Il
suggest, that if you could persuade yoursel
. to mind your own business, make a grea
deal less fuss about nothing, trust the homes
ty and intelligence of the people somewhat
g keepyour hands away from what is not you
t own, speak the truth, give mp the trade o
common informer and abandon all idea tina
. you can scare anybody, everything will g,
well and peace and good order will every
: where prevail. Ifyou cannotdo these things
] however, which suspect Is beyond you
2 power, then by all means seek some othe
field OF labor and leta gentleman, anda mai
, of honor take your place. 5a GHTc ri r
, 1t is perhaps proper for me to say by way
: of apology for this letter, that / have writ
: ten It more to meet the interests of the publ,
. than from any regard which haveforyou
. good or bad opinion concerning me or my
friends. Your conduct has placed you be
: yond thenotice of gentlemen. lam engaged
in no plots or conspiracies, and never hav'
been. What / have done has been int the opeI
day--what / shall do in the future viii b.
done in the same manner, BUTT Is Of small
moment to me what you think on that sub
ject. 1t is out ofTespect to very diiferen
class of men that / have thus taken MOTTO
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