Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1866-07-11
THE CONGRESSIONAL QUESTION.
Letters of Correspondents.
Congressional

Mr.. EDIroR:-As there seems to be a pretty full
discussion of the merits and dement's of our Con-
gressional candidates. through the medium of the
Chronicle. permit me to add a little to the much
that has already been said.
I notice one of your correspondents lauds Gen.
Garfield highly for the active part he took to have
crude petroleum released from taxation. 1 find
the people do not appreciate, as your correspond
ent does, the service of the Gen. in this particular.
They cannot imagine why an article should be
free from taxation that makes more milliOuaires,
perhaps. than any other one article of trade or
eommerce in the world. and that with a trihing
expense to start it. flows spontaneously, filling
casks and pockets with fabulous rapidity. making
the man who but yesterday. was only worth ten
dollars, to-day worth his hundred thousand.
1t is hard for vulgar eyes to see the justice of
permitting such a source of enormous wealth to go
untaxed. while the poor mechanic. who labOrs in
his shop, from morn till levy eve." to support
his family. must be taxed heaUly on all his pro-
ducts. No matter if his utmost e~xertions do not
produce enough for the comfortable maintenance
of his family, no friendly voice in Congress is
raised in his behalf. He is nothing bat a laBorer. let
him be tared. But the man whose only care is to
procure packages for oil, and purses for his money
his products must escape taxation through the ex-
ertions of the man who was elected by the labor
ing men of the 18th Congressional District of
Ohio, to represent them in Congress.
But, notwithstanding all the Generals efforts to
release the wealthy oil companies from their just
proportion of the support to the Government, that
is not his worst record. In comparison with this
mole-hiI of offence his defence of treason, in the
persons of the Indiana ConspiratOrs. looms up like
a mountain. look upon that defence as a direct
insult to every Union man in his District, an IN
suit to the State. to the Union, to the cause offree-
dom throughout the world. and an insult to the
age in which we live.
1t is a profound mystery. why Gen. Garfield. q
man who has obtained an enviable reputation as a
military commander in the war against the re-
belliOn. and who urged every young man TO risk,
and if necessary lay down his life in so glorious .
cause, and whose whole heart seem ed to be on the
side of his country. I say it is the greatest mystery
that such a man, as soon as the straps" are
of his shoulders, should be found using all his
eloquence. and the influence of his position in
favor of treason and traitors. and in condemna-
ton of the course of the government to put down
the rebellion. This, Gen. Garfield has done in ad-
v~ocating the liberation Of Milligan and his asso-
ciates frem the Penitentiary. These men were
proven guilty of as black a crime as ever dis
graeed hum anity, and so clearly proven. too, that
GNCA lnCA GAO41NAA oANNS6a "L-
press a doubt of their guilt. Every one is aston
ished. and the question asked. whenever the sub
ject is talked about, is. What in the world in
duced Gen. Garfield to do such a thing as that"
1t is argued on the principle that every man
has his price" that the Gen. was well paid for it.
which to some. might be a palliation. but his
friends, I learn, even knock that comforting prop
from under him, and assert that be received no pay
for his services, but rendered them gratHitoHslV!
Worse and worsell! He would fight the battles
of his country for pay. never. 1 presume refusing
the thousands that accrued by virtue of a Generals
commission; but lay Town his arms. and seize his
pen, and an influence not strictly his own, and
together with his eloquence, WELD them all against
his country, and that Ieithout fee or relrGrd!!!
Paid for his services for his country Serves his
country's enemies without reward! That is the
position. 1t has been said in defence, that there
were great legal questions involved in the case of
these traitors, and the best talent in the country
was required to present the laws in their true
light. If that was so, why was a man retained for
such a duty, who never hal a case in court in his
life, and who is not known as lawyer by one in a
hundred of his constituents. They know him as a
preacher and as a General. but know little else
about him. Indeed, he is as little known person
ally by his constituents, as any man I ever knew,
who occupied the prominent position he does
If legal talent was required, and anything Pc
euliar in the case. that required Ohio talent, why
were not Wade. or Sherman, or DelanO, or that
staunch soldier-lawyer Schenck. applied to? These
men are lawyers. 1 will venture to state the rea-
son, lat least, my opinion of it, it is simply this:
Traitors and their friends were afraid to insult
such men. by making such a proposition to either
of them. That distinction was reserved for the
18th District Of Ohio. A district that has done
more perhaps. to assist the Government. in fur
nishing men and means in the late war. than any
other territory of like proportion and wealth in
the State, and for aught 1 know. in the Union.
Do the surviving soldiers of the war. and the
Union men of this District, wish to be TINS repre-
sented? If so, return the General. D.. S.