Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-06-05
Rc~-eIectton Of Conrressman.

u - aNASS - - ~
some reasons which are conclusive why he
should not be returned. 1t is true MI.
Spalding has generally voted right, and l
have but little fault TO find with his politi-
cal acts at Washington. But as l am Ut
terly opposed to the manner in which he
has used his Congressional power at home
l wish to give my reasons for it.
And first, 1 am opposed to the manner
in which he has used his patronage IN this
District. So far as l know, it has been
used simply TO build up the important and
power of his own family, and a certain
CLIQUE in Cleveland. One Of his first ap-
pointments was that Of his own nephew to
a life office in the U. S. Navy, at a salary
of 81, 500 per year. Another was his own
son as special agent of the Treasury De-
partment at the South, at Sc day and ex'
renses. Another was 10 tur out Mr..
Theme. one of the most radical Ger
man editors in Ohio, from the Office ol
Pension Agent, and to appoint his bro
ther-in-law, Mr.. Swift, in his place, worth
$4,000 per year. And still another, L an
told, was to turn a worthy soldier out OF
the Postofice at Berea, while he was alb
sent fighting for his country-his wife
meanwhile, discharging the duties of the
Office to the entire satifaction Of the
patriotic people of that yillage-and put a
relation of his own in his place
And within a few weeks, Mr.. Spaldlng
nephew, Judge Potter, of New Lisbon
has been appointed Collector Of lnternal
Revenue, through the influence of Mr.
S. This may be using his official patron.
age in a manner to please the people and
in accordance with public propriety, but
it does not look SO to me. Iii is quite suti-
Gent that the people give to n man the
dignity and power of a member o. Con
gress, without his using the place to ag-
grandize his family by the aid of its pub
lie offices.
Ny next objection to Mr.. Spalding, is
the fact that he has never done anything
for the soldiers. With the exception OF
the Light House Keeper at this port, on
& trifing salary, no soldier has been cared
for. His extraordinary neglect of this
most deserving class of people, has been
the subject of almost wonder, and not long
since l saw a memorial to Congress, signed
by hundreds Of soldiers, stating theil
grievances against Mr.. Spalding, and ask
ing some relief. | know that among al
the numerous offices in this District, mum
bering nearly one hundred different per.
sons as principals and subordinates, nc
soldier has yet received any attention.
sava in the case Of the petty Light House
Keeper before referred to.
In Akron l was told by a leading citi'
zen that an almost unanimous petition
was presented to Judge Spalding in favor
of a wounded soldier, every way com.
petent, for the position of POsSester Of
that city, but that he said Mr.. wilkins
who had already held it four years
should have it, if a regiment of soldiers
asked for it. 1t IS true Mr.. Elkins edit;
the Beacon, and can assist Mr.. Spalding
to a reelection, but this is a poor excuse
TO give TO the soldiers.
Butmy gravest objection to Mr.. Spald'
ing consists in his connection with Capt
Nash, late Provost Marshal name long
to be remembered by the people of THU
District. 1 believe Mr.. Spalding origin
ally appointed Capt. Nash, thinking hin
a fit man but 1 charge upon him tha
long after he kHeW Mr.. Nash was using
the power of his Office TO Cypress and dis
tress our people, he stood by and sustained
him, Eand skept him in power-thougl
| demonstrated with in every manner By
multitudes of his constituents, who's
| rights had been sacrificed, and whose feel
ings had been outraged, by this man
Fer nearly a year Mr.. Spalding was urge
by his warmest and best friends 10 hay
Capt. Nash removed. His gross and in
sulting treatment of our people-his ute
disregard of all the decencies of officia
station, were urged upon Judge Spalding
and the gravest charges OF corruption i
office were made against Capt. Nash, bu
they were all of no avail. Mr.. Spaldin
demanded proof of fraud, or he woul
not remove hin; and although a Who'll
community were complaining and groaI
ing at his eEactions and irrepressible pre-
ceedings, few, if any, could point to Iego
proof to make good their charges.
1t is one of the sad pages of this wa
this history of Capt. Nash. The hig
price of substitutes forced to almost VI
natural and exorbitant demands by th
peculiar position of affairs here, put
nearly out of the power of the poor ma
to furnish a substitute, without, as was th
case in many instances, IN absolute sacri
fee of all worldly property. Many
little home was sold; many another NOR
gagged and many men quietly submitte
to the iron CONSUMPTION rather than tax
all their property to pay a Substitute
knowing that the substitute Jared about 8
badly as his principal, both being used fc
the benefit, not of the country, but tn
bounty broker and his friends. Had Cap
Nash exercised with sleepless vigilanc
the influence of his place and power t
keep the price of substitutes down, an
driven away the horde of bounty broker
that fastened upon the Threats of the
victims at and within the very doors {
the Provost Marshal's office-who cannC
appreciate the wonderous change this
would have been wrought here. An
how many grateful hearts would now fo'
low him in his retirement and bless hin
for his many labors. Many a black Dor
net would have been dispensed with an
many a sorrowful and widowed heal
would now be rejoiced. Public indig
nation at last so emphatically demande
the removal of Captain Nash, that eve
Mr.. Spalding reluctantly advised him h
had better resign. A Grand Jury of tn
U. S. District Court investigated crimins
charges made against the Provost Mar
shall and certain subordinates, found sew
eral bills OF Indictment against Capital
Nash, and also indicted two or three {
his deputies, as well as some of the bount
brokers who had VIGOROUSLY made tn
Marshals office their head quarters 70
feecing drafted men and substitutes. Tn
Court Martial ordered in his case foun
Capt. Nash guilty of the different charge
made against him, and sentenced him t
dismissal from the service, Imprisonment
for one year: and to pay a fine of $4,000
Justice seemed at last to have secured il
victim. Suddenly we were startled b
the Intelligence that the fine and impris
onmert was RENTED by Gen. Hooker
but the ~disgraceful dismissal was zap
proved And now 10 crown this event
full history the last act. Within
the last four months, with the full knowl
edge and consent of Judge Spalding, Capt
Nash has been allowed to resign his pIdci
on the records OF the Var Department
and the record of the Court Martial, anC
the disgraceful dismissal" are thus Off
cially blotted oLt of existence!
To-day, so far as the War Department
is concerned, the record of Mr.. Nash i
as pure as that of the soldier who died il
cattle.
This is the very mockery of Justice, anC
the people of this District win not meek,
ly submit to such action, or sustain Mr.
Spalding in it.
Ihave only time to make one objection
-----A. n II IL