Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-05-17
Frnrrc,s Onicers.

The Mac-a- cheek Press, which is intensely
Republican in its politics, in giving to the
pIblic WILLIAM BURNET's letter, which we
recently published, charging certain Off
GERS with exchanging munitions OF War,
&C., with the COnfederates for cotton, uses
this language by way of introduction:
The people, especially at the West, have
cheerfully borne the grievOus burthen of
Indebtedness imposed by the late war, and
bear now, without murmur, the loss of
the nearest and best, under belief that
they were necessary sacrifices for our COun-
try. But let it be suspected even, that
portion of this heavy expenditure went to
fill the pockets of heartless scOundrels,
and this patient forbearance will be very
brief. ..
William Burnet charges Generals Bray
man and Dana with crimes that, if proven,
will cOnsign those officers to the penitent-
ary, or perhaps the gallows. 1t will not do
for the War Department to ignore these
charges. William Burnet is not q man to
be treated with contempt or indifference.
His high-tOned integrity and social position
precludes any such disposal of what he so
boldly utters. His own services were free
ly rendered the Repulic in her darkest hour,
and his two sons, as privateS, went out to
win, as they did win, fame, commissions
and death, Against such a prosecuting
witness, these officers can not escape under
Ithe silence of the Department, or the blus-
ter they so freely Indulge in. ....I.
/ This, however, is not all. We learned
last winter, from the Hon; a. w. Coan,
member of the House from Clerment coun-
ty, that one half had not been told of the
frauds and oppression practiced by these
officers in the Department under the COM
maud of Generals Brayman and Dana. He
is ready at any time to come forward and
give in proofs, and these epauleted gentle
men late of Vicksburg, will find that the
day has gone by ywhen they could ride over
such man with indifference. ..'..,;
When these charges reached the Legsla-
ture of Ohio, the members, most of them
well knowing the standing and character of
the gentleman making them, were struck
with astonishment; and had it been known
that no action would be taken on the part
of the Government until now, resolution
would haye been offered and passed unani-
mously, calling upon our Senators and
Representatives to use their influence to
have, Brayman and Dana arrested tried,
and if convicted, punished to the filrthest
power of the law. And we warn the Adj
ministratiOn in advance, that such resolu-
tion will make part of the proceedings of
both Democratic and Union State Conven-
tiOns that meet in June next in Columbus.
We know that millions on millions of
hard-earned dollars, were sunk, through
frauds in the Provost Marshal's office We
know the Commissaries and Qqarternasters
went out poor and came home, rich. We
know that thieves thropged our, ,lobbies,
followed our armies, and under fraudulent
cOntracts-or open plumber, filled theirpock-
cts to repletion. But we did not know that,
officers high III command were selling arms
and ammunition to the rebels, and not only
prolonging the war, but putting in the
possession of the foe the very means by
which our sons, brothers, and fathers, were
cruelty butchered. .,.a, s..,,.'
These are some of the charges preferred
against Generals Danaand Bray win
they be inyestigatedF Fg.adsJ 80 3uygc