Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-05-12
"CINcrNNArI, April p, 1866.

"DEAR SIR-Accept my sincere InankS
for your timely and favorable notice OF my
letters TO the Hon. Senator Davis, on the
corruption of military rule in the South
west. . I.... ...H.... ..tr ..r ta
THE personal insult on me, and on the
Treasury Department, of which | was the
representative, though of the most insult
ing and ferOcious nature, and aptly charac-
terized by General Davidson III the emphat-
ic language which prevails In military
cirtl IS, as the d-1st outrage Of the war;
takes its chief Importance from the fact
that it was part and parcel of one of the
most infamous aud wholesale schemes of
oppression and fraud on citizens, and OF
treachery and treason against the Govern
ment, which has ever disgraced the record
of any people OH earth. .-..
II have waited with astonishment and
apprehension to see whether there would
be found any, even one, voice to unite with
me in demanding the exposure and punish
nrent of the crimes which have only hint
ed at. Your remarks in the Press, for
copy of which am indebted to your kind
ness, gives me renewed confidence, Just as
was beginning to think the day had pass
ed when it could be possible TO punish the
successful villain. ........ ... .... .r.
"They were more assuring, because your
social, political and military position ena-
bles you to speak, not only with propriety,
but with authority as well. You can reach
and influence those whose right, whose duty
it is to vindicate the honor of the Govern
ment and the sanctity of law, and to mete
out Just retributiOn to those who have dis
graced the one and trampled on the other.
WWtbey do HP
ut is now nearly twelve weeks since the
resolution of Senator Davis was introduced,
lac laf hn
,Jesuitical reply of Brayman were read in
the Senate. My letter of the 10th inst,
reaf1irmng the charges, has been for two
weeks before the public, and the subject
still sleeps on the table, ......
"Why is this? Where shall we seek an
explanation ofthis extraordinary fact? Is
! it, as you suggest, because the proceeds of
the frauds and peCulatiOns have gone into
the pockets of brOthers-in-law or Sena-
tors?' May a General commanding
strutting under the bastard honOrs of his
accidental brass, crowds the jails and pris-
ons with better and more loyal men than
| himself, while he cOnfiScates their luXuri-
| ously-furnished mansions for the use of his
mistress, and supplies her table from the
cOmmissary store, because member of
| Congress, or Governor, indorsed his ap-
plication for commission? Shall the pri-
| scorching sun, or through the driving
rain by day, to sleep in the swamp
or under the snow-driit bv night, who
| fights the battles, and wins the victories, be
sent to the Notifications, or the Dry Tortu-
gas, with ball and chain because he sells
| his pistol for glass OF whisky, his cutlass
for plug OF tobacco, while the star'd pol
troon, who shuns the battle field as anXi-
ously as he does the pest-house, may plum
| der the citizen, and defraud the Government
of millions, may sell arms, equipments, and
munitions of war, for cotton bales and SUI
gar hogsheads, may traffic with the enemy
for the surrender of his post, or to betray
into ambuscade whole regiments otcavalry,
fully armed and equipped Generals Bray
man and Dana will understand what
mean, and yet be greeted in the halls of
| the White House. aud of Cabinet Ministers,
and sit among honored and distinguished
| guests, at public festivals and dinUers, be-
cause nc may chance to be brother-in-law
or w-partner, if you please, to Sena-
| tor? fs ..
"Shall we send to the Penitentiary for life
the contractor and Quartermaster'S clerk,
who cOnspire to sell the Government a
spawned horse. or bale of damaged hay,
and let the Major General, who sells to an
unseaworthy steamboat 1900 soldiers just
escaped from Southern prisons, and doomS
| 1900 of them to death by fire and flood, go
unquestioned because he may be a cousin to
an Assistant Secretary Of Wa r
swell may the Union men Of Ohio, as i'm
| deed the Union party of the whole cOun-
| try demand that these frauds should be eX-
posed aud punished. ........ p
"lf, as you truly say, the Administration
owes it TO itself, to hunt up, expose and
| NJ, oh at , Chnll
| War Department, from which commissions
were issued to these thieving miScreantS,
under the prOstituted authority of which
they reaped their harvest of lust and gold,
while in its pigeon holes the dust OF
years is gathering on charges filed against
them? ...
"You say if one-half charged by Barnet
is true My dear c., what have written
is but the dlphGbet the first page only of tht
dark catalogue of crimes these traitors have
per petrated. ....... .. .
Again, let me ask, why is this? 'Art
these fellows shielded by those higher in an
thorityY Is the corruption so widespread
so universal? Has iCso injected high places
as to defy investigation, and mock at pen
alties? HI. ".... 1913 '. W
'.Will the Union men of Ohio; will the
Union party of the whole country sit dOwr
patiently under their enormous load OF deb
and taxes, and render feasting and honor
to the traitors who have quadrupled il
weight, or will they with one voice demanC
that these criminals shall be punished, an(
their ill-gotten gains disgorged2 My con-
viction is that until they do so demand, i
will never be done. WtU they? HA..,
II anI rGjoiced that you have marked thiI
subject to be contiHued.' atal..i .i.t
"Very respectfully and truly yours,
l. -----L-- - CIVILIAN BuRNEr.N