Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1873-05-10
Gen. GarfeId's Drfense-H How Il is Re


Gen. GardeId's Drfense-How IL IL Re
ceived.
The recent action of Gen. Garfield has
been subject of much adverse criticism
and Is one of so much importance, as
well to the people Of the Nineteenth
District as to himself personally, that
we doubt not that the comments Of the
press of the District upon the defense he
has just published will be read with in
terest by all
In regard to Gen. Garfcld's refusal Of
the back pay, the Geneva T,mes says:
When the matter in controversy fr-j came
before the public. we SAID To many tn Grnetll
Garfield wou'd not touch one ccnto the 'sala-
ry grab That he would not even recognize
it as belonging to him in any way, shape oT
manner, further Than TO put 1t back into the
Treasury Of the people This he has done, and
lul II beyond The reach even oi his heirs aud
assigns. lie has uecn careful not 10 SEE m 10
eXercisc any ownership in ii by first appr"pri-
Iting aud len handing The SUN over ior thar
i aDlc or other purposes, rs others have dnr,
out ..as leiI it in the public Treasury, beyond
the reach even ui his pOstcrliy. There are
some men, prchnps, that we may never know
to a rtainty either in pubic or private lie
Bat we do know General Garfield well enc igh
10 speak for him on any point where honor is
The same paper, i'll publishing Gen.
Gartied's defense Of his action, remarks
as follows:
\ yer have we given space more chc'rtu ly
for any purpose, Tor in this instance the cause
of justice is city served by il. From the
OverwrOught condition of the public mind has
-one IA condemnation alike Tor lne gully ana
i noe nj, without discrimination, without rra.
So, without charity, aud, we had almost SAID,
without common sense. II should be bor1e IN
mind all tue time while dealing with this sal
hry side issue, that there are knots of men IN
his District that have watched the splendid
career of General CART Id in Congress Tor
some vulncrable point OF assault, aud his was
their first opportunity. The growing strength
OF General Garfield has been Il trouble To them
ais honorable career has been reoukY to
their scltshnrss. These are tue men that nave
raised all this turmoil Of excitement aud have
1een so anxious to cover our Representative
With obloquy The Republicans of this DIS
rict, 10 a man, condemn the retroactive feature
{ the salary bill, and great majority condemn
the ,Iary incraSe III tot0 The noisy en mics
of Grnrral Garfield have insisted that he Was
tIe fri nd of both an Increase OF sala'l IN
gt neral, and the retroactive feature ot Il, ana
Ia proof of the allegation, point TO his vote ON
The general appropriation bill, TO which the
salary clause WAS attached Without waiting
for an explanation, or looking INTO the history
If the case at issue, many warm personal ana
political friends of the General have Joined IN
the 'hue and cry" against him, with an honest
intent OF rebuking corrupt legislation when
evrr or wherever attempted. In the midst oi
tue tumull, the address referred is presented to
The people of the District, giving II lair, candid
and truthful history OF the progress ot me ap-
preparation bill and salary clause, and the part
.cted by Iur Representative in connection WIN
each. We ask our readers 10 pcruse the adj
ress, intent upon doing exact justice We
ask any who may have formed II judgment
rom egr pdrte reading and influence, to suspend
I, and read with an eye single TO justice and
Ii right.
The Ravenna Democrat says of Gen.
Gartield's letter:
We need not ask for this document a careful
IIerusdl, for we ARE sure n fair-minded, inelll-
gent eleclOr will pass il by unread. 1t is the
rank, manly, explicit utterance Oi influencing
honesty and uniarnshcd fidelity. We envy
ne qualities of head or heart OF him WHO can
Il isc from its perusul. and retain, if he before
p 'sesstd lhem sentiments of hate and annos-
| Y, and the spirit of condemnation engendrred
" the action of our Representative on the sal
Try bill. The explanation, full, precise AM
| truthful, can but be received with approval
| and satisfaction by every one who wishes 10 O'
| lair and candid. Those who have itit INA
! General Garfield made mistake in signing
and voting for the conference report canno
| longer, we are sure, in the light OF recorded
acls, and in view of the developed history o
,he current events connected with The iransac
| ion, say thai he made even mistake, that ~
lid not do right in pursuing the course he did
| We hesitate not 10 SAY that, in our belief, Lat
ne acted differently, he would have acted un
worthy OF himself, unworthy of his high an'
responsible puslinn as Chairmtn of the Appro
Jralion Committee of the House, ana un
wuItuy of his patriotic and enlightened constit
u.ncy
The Uemocrat says further, in refer
ence to Gen Garfield's refusal OF thu
oack pay:
General Garfield, when he signed the confer
ence report which carried along with IL IN
,alary bill, resolved within himself not To toucl
the back pay allowed by the bill. And, as
matter of incr, the record in the deparimen
will show hat General Garfield icas Tie trst on
in the Ohio deLegdtioR to cover into The Treasu
~ the S., 900 back pay, and 10 put u hry0h
the reach OF himself or his heirs. Was II
rime or a fault, thai General Garfield dld no
ran blataniy To the putii', aud make procfa
nation ol the act he had perlormed' IL Is
much the fashion ul the times iOr mrh 10 S'orl
: iy themsrk es that u good many sc, IN 10 thlh
! that n public man who refririns from soundin
mis- own praises is quite a delinquent.
The truth, is, General Garfield never intend
ed to claim any credit for refusing In
| back pay, ana leli u naiurdl u 'llCuCy anu lV
pugnance To- maxi " any allusion to his aclio
in that behalf Nor did he make any alluslo
t. il, by the pprs 'slent, wanton abuse and mis-
f. presentations of his personal enemies, he wa
lorced 10 do it in selidefense. ..
The Westera ReSeroe Chronicle, th'
Republican organ of Trumbull County
where the strongest opposition to Gen
Garfield exists, and published at Wal
rem, where the Convention was held
!. which adopted the resolution demandn
, his resignation, speaks thus fairly an
! impartially of his letter: s1 gu
lis deserving ofa careful and dispassion
ate reading. II is oulspoken, temperate an
> candid. Most of his conclusions will be az
!. knowledged TO be logical and just, and muc
5 that seemid dark aud perpexing to h
4 politial friends, in connection with his cours
, on the appropriation bill is explained TO a
' extent that rxhouorates Mr. Garfield, from III
= charge Of being responsible for the iincorpor'
Q tion OF the salary clause 10 the general appr.
i priation bill, WhseyG Of eondsmasuon =
g 6-.sc.i lsf ss.rigc