The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1866-09-13
IMPORTANT QUESTIONS AND ADMIR-
ABLE ANSWERS.

The Coppcrheads arranged what
they considered, no doubt, a bomb
shell for the Hon. R, W. Clarke, Rep
resentatve in Congress of the Cler-
mont District, and candidate for re-
election, They proposed eleven ques-
tions, and induced nine soldiers to
sign their names to the document. Mr.
Clarke had an appointment to speak.
The gentlemen who signed the paper
presented it in person, and received
their answers on the spot. We print
below the Democratic catechism, with
the replies of Mr.. Clarke. There is
not a Democratic paper in the coun-
try that will give these answers
Some of them are publishing the qhes-
tions, but they take good care to sup
press the replies, This shows that the
party was not honest in making the
inquiries; that they are anxious not to
givethe people light, but to keep them
in the dark.
From tho Clermont Courier.
e. Mr.. Clarke had his appointment for
a meeting in Edenton notified in the
Courier and by posters for two weeks,
and the Copperheads, with full notice
of the same, and with view to break
down said meeting, got out posters for
one of their own at the same time and
place. The time arrived for the meet
ing; the Union people assembled in the
Methodist Episcopal Church, and just
as Mr.. Clarke was about to commence
his speech, he was handed a paper
containing eleven questions put in as
offensive language as could be chosen,
to which answers were demanded
This, was very uncivil first try to run
his meeting down by holding an op.
position one, and, falling in II a., walk
into his meeting and demand that he
neglect his own audience and pay inn
mediate attention to his opponents, by
consuming his time upon their imper.
tinent questions. But Mr. Clarke was
self.possessed, and saw at q glance that
ho had the nine wise gentlemen who
were put forward in this enterprise,
and that he could skin them alive;
and he did it to the entire satisfaction
of all parties, and to the everlastin g
remembrance of tho nine wise men
who were inveigled into the trap.
Wo submit below the questions, and
answers following, that the readers
can SEQ how beautifully this shallow
device of some low flung political wire
puller up in Wayne, Cor mayhap o.
Batavia, was turned back upon its in
ventors with crushing effect:
Question l. Do you indorse tht
law that exempts the bondholderl
from paying taxes on said bonds
while we boys have TO pay the taxes
at least our portion, after serving thret
years to put down tho rebellion, while
You bondhodcrs remained at home
and enjoyed ease and comfort?
Mr.. Clarke's answer You soldiers
enlisted under IL promise from thu
Government that you should have +,
certain stipulated sum per month
would you not have thought your Gov
ernment very unjust if, after it hac
got your three years service, it hac
Informed you that it did not intend tt
stand up 10 its contract, but that i
would make you take less sum fol
yo IL services than it bad pledged it
faith you should have when you wen
into tho army? | know you would
and have good cause 80 TO do. Now
the Government told those who tool
it's bonds and furnished money to car
ry on the war, that those bonds shoult
be FREQ from State taxation. Don
YOU thiEk the faith of the Govern
nent just as solemn and binding il
the ono case as in the other? Blu
you insinuate that the bond holder
are rich. Suppose it is so; where d
YOU find authority for violating con
tracts with men because they are rich
Would you steal u horse from a ma
because he is rich, and feel you ha
done sometAing to bo proud Off |
my Judgment, the man, who woul
steal from rich man would steal irol
u poor man, if the opportunity pre-
sentod itself No. gentlemen soldier
l propose to have the Governmer
stand faithful to its contracts with a
men. If bad contracts are made, tax
care when new ones arc to be mad
that you euro the errors Of the frs
am in favor of equal taxation; ia
the rich in proportion to his richie
aud tax the poor in like manner; bl
/ ap rot willing to ruin the credit
the nation by repudiating its contrao
in order to draw money from The pocl
cts of any of its citizens, rich
poor s-
@. 2. Arc you in favor of the n
groes exercising the right of sutPral
with us? If not, why did you vo
for such a law in the District of Colul
biaP - 3 ~ Iss
A. am not now, and never ha'
been, in favor of negro suffrage
Ohio. Here we have laws that give
the black man his civil rights; he
recognized as human being, and
such protected as any other citizen;
can sue and be sued; hold propert
sell and convey it; can make contrac
and enforce them by law; can testi
nIcourts. But in the District of Q
lumbia the negro has no rights 4
white man is bound to respect. Ey'