Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1864-01-21
Properly Answered.

% The Copperheads Of the Ohio Legislature
caused resolution to be adopted, calling
upon Gov. Tod for the grounds upon which
he charged, in his annual message, the At
torney General aud School Commissioner,
with neglect Of duty. These fools have
been answered according to their folly. III
i. to be supposed they intended to help the
cause Of the delinquent officials, yet, sen
sible people would naturally conclude that,
hard as was the blunt announcement made
by Gov. Tod, this call Of their friends for
che facts was still more severe. IL caused
I to be spread before the public, with damag-
ling particularly, that which had been ex-
bibited in very small lump by the Gov
ernor And now that the evidence is in,
there is nothing to be said in behalf of the
pair of officials who are shown to have uni
formly neglected their duties. Cathcart,
) the School Commissioner, whose beastly
habits rendered him incapable of filing the
Office to which he was elected, was notori
: ously disgrace to the State. Nevertheless
he was leniently treated BY the people, ant
his fsilings were seldom mentioned in The
papers, But in addition to this crime o
drunkenness he added the more heinous of
fense Of disloyalty. And SO deep was hi
+ sympathy with the rebels that he resignet
y his Office for the purpose, as was alleged, o
) Iemigrating to the dominions of JEFF. Davis
) with view to serving as Brigadier Genera
i in the rebel army. Next we hear of hin
being under arrest on the charge Of treason
/ He served as School Commissioner, min
&c months. In this time he wrote four letters
ID His additional services are thusenumerated
'''Some time in August, probably, he sen
ii out the blanks tor the annual school returns
e to County Auditors and Boards Of Educa
80 ton. These blanks were all prepared an
y printed, (so he told me, when he came int
= the office. He had new enumeration blank
p, printed, using the old form, and distribute
y to Township Clerks. All the blanks, l b'
lieve, were sent out unaccompanled by pr'
- per instructions respecting the proper mai
ner Of filling them. / should judge ths
l.. the labor in connection with sending out tn
blanks, might have required from live t
ten days. g '' ""f" -' -
''He told me In conversation, soon aftt
he entered the office, that he was preparin
himself to deliver two or three addresses
II. accordance with Invitations. He may ba'
" delivered an address or two during the fir
en-, two months he was in the Office, but hay
di! no knowledge that such was the fact.
Ky "The important duties required by Il
,pee 50th section of the school law, he neglect
to discharge. not even attending the annu
hi. meeting oft the State Teachers Association
my In regard to the. Attorney General
bert have the following official report of
hen services: .s..sa. ...4 b.. nun ..
rhs y, .rf COLUMBUS, o.. Jan. H., 1864.
and 10 has Esrcellency Dautd Tod,
'iel DEAR SIR: In answer to your note
mv ur this morning addressed to the Comm>sit
-" era of Board Of Military Claims, requesti
"a statement'i in writing OF our official &C
a nection"'. with the Attorney General in
u discharge of our duties, under the act ere
ing said Board, We beg leave to say, that
tn, 9th section of said act, OF April l3
"! 1853. "it is made the duty of the Attorn
,nds General to appear and represent the 81
t1il- before said Commissioners when said clai
d. are investigated, and then and there cont
the the validity of such claims, if in his opin
sFseS the same should not be allowed" +" s
man In accordance with this provision
ise.- Board, when organized, notified the !.
s ,'seG torney- General of its organization and pl
nved of meeting. and requested his attendance
,rt. behalf of the State At one of the 81
io,fs @ meetings of the Board, on the investigat
been Of the claim of Stevens for damages to
40 q, Cincinnati Trotting Park, the Attorr
Ss your General was present and gave some vel
Ihere. counsel, and atterward,. after much dc
RS OF - n. a., ,,,.;., =, =, onast of tho Roard
. and auu ut Ihe Wiie'on 'eq"e'' VI =
/ my gave written opinion on this case,
az arsi ia never again, met with the Board, nor
rough ,S any counsel on any Of the other cases
was amiped, amounting to more than eng
,.i@ = @o thousand dollars; and although treque
" an urged to attend, and sent for by the Boo
2 the he declined to attend at any other meeti
me me- -, Very respectfully, ...
7 one a. ,lr.a >, Your obedient servants,
week -, ,Gropar r WRIGFIT
= and ' - nen.nx,