Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1866-06-27

For the Chronicle.
MR. EDIToR lit Is amusing to see the manner
in which those papers in the interest of Gen. Gar
held are conducting the canvass in this District
In the first place they do not open their columns
~favorite. Your paper is the only one in which
| both sides may be heard, and whatever may be
the result of the nominating Convention 10 be
held next month, your course will be applauded
by all fair minded men, whether in favor of the
return of Gen. Garfield. or some one else.
/ have had my attentian called to n long and
labored editorial which recently appeared in the
Portage County Democrat, and which l trust you
will copy. This is a fair sample of all that is al
Gen. Garfield. and a reply TO it, will be a reply to
all that his ,~partizans may say. That editorial
starts of with an assertion that no one will dis
pute, viz: The election of a Co ngressman is a
matter of the first Importance, and we need the
services of experienced men in Congress. There
is not one single reason in favor of this, but what
applied with equal force four years ago. and still
this same editor was then in favor of displacing a
man of experience and judgment, faithful at all
times to his high trust, in order that room might
be made for a young man of no Congressional eX-
perienee Whatever. He was then in favor OF re;
in Congress did not need any. explanation to make
it, acceptable to a loyal constituency, and
in the history of our late war. when all soldiers
were demanded in the field, this editor was IN IA
vor of Withdrawing from, active military ME-
where, as has been claimed by his partial. friends,
Gen. Garfield was so eminently useful, IN order
that he might be sent to Congress, over the head Of
Mr.. Hutchins whose experience and talents made
him a most valuable member. Mr.. Hutchins had
acquired by his faithfulness and industry. as
much influence in Congress, as Gen. Garfield has
and without question showed as much Ststesman-
ship as the votes of Gen. Garfield. The idea Of
keeping faithful men in Congress it seems had
not occurred to the wise editor of the Portage Co.
Democrat. As anxious as were then the friends of
Gen. Garfield, they could not hnd an act or a vote
of Mr.. Hutchins that they could carp at. The
record of Gen. Garfield is so damaging that this
editor is compelled to say, We do not claim that
admits that his vote against continuing bounties
to volunteers was a mistake; that his advocacy Of
the bill to regulate trade with British America"
was a mistake; that his advocacy of tn e Loan
Bill comforting dangerous power on Secretary
: y istaGe. , he fa;in-e n snsyoin hiS snmhs
lican associates in the Brooks contested election
case, was a mistake; that his defense of the Indi-
ana couspirators, was a mistake; and his receiving,
according to his own admission, for each session of
the 3Sth Congress milage for 2740 miles, when he
should nave BE- reGelye9 t fS1 9niy T5 ~ miles I was e
of by the editor of tie Democrat in the following
rhapsodical sentences: When the bloody rebel
lion was inaugurated by false and t~raitrous men,
and the tocsin of war was sounded and the country
called her sons to arms, Gen. Garfield left the re-
treat of the scholar on Hiram Hill, and threw
A plain sentence will let the wind out Of this
rhapsody. Gen. Garfield did his duty, but no bet
ter than thousands OF others who entered the ser
did he. If this entities him to special oonsidera-
ton, one would naturally suppose that some of
those who had done as he did, and who were
aaimed in the service after he left it, were en-
eitled to some of the offices within his gift in this
Congressional District. The editor of the Dem
ocrat, as does the writer in last weeks Chronicle
over the signature of"M." tries to cover up the
real charges against Gen. Garfield, and in this at
tempt, seek to throw more dust in the eyes of the
people than Gen. Garfield hurled gunpowder at
the rebels" They state that he is charged with
~fayoring the draft, when that is not the point of
obi ection. No one has complained that he adv0-
Gated the draft. The charge is that he Icds opposed
to paying bOUnties to ~poluRteers, and was for drag
ging men into the army by CONSUMPTION, without
witnesses or trial and without bounty. Most for
tuna tely and humanely, Congress and the people.
did not agree with Gen. Garfield, and bounties were
paid, and the people feeling that it was Just, in
creased the amount authorized by Congress. If
those editors really believe that Gen. Garfield is
the peoples man Notwithstanding his mistakes,
why do they so carefully exclude from their col
umns all criticisms of his course. Has it come to
pass that the people may not question the propri-
ETY. of the course of their representative, without
their motives being called in question: Must
they rely upon the partisan statements of interes-
ted editors for their opinions? May a repr esent-
alive of the 18th Congressional District, for re-
ward or notoriety appear against the Government,
as the advocate of perjured conspirators, and the
people not complain? Let any friend of Gen,
Garfield read the faithful statement of Governor
Morton in his recent speech at Indianapolis as to
the purpose and interest of those conspirators,
and excuse his fayorite if he can. All the people
ask is fair discussion, which they intend to have.
So