The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1886-10-26
AN OPEN LETTER.
RESPONSE TU GR0SFEN0S.
Y0UNG VOTER HEARD FROM.

STAFFORD, O., Oct. 90, 1856.
Hon. c. II. Grosvcnor, Athens, Ohio:
DEAR SIR: / have received your |
circular letter addressed to me as q
young man about to exercise the
privilege of voting. feel grateful
for the interest you manifest in me,
and hope that l duly appreciate the
supposed kindness.
Your frank admission that YOU
are anxious to secure votes for
yourself in the coming congression |
al contest marks the principal mo !
tive that inspires the sudden inter !
est you manifest in the young men
OF Monroe County, hence before l
give my attention to the history and
traditions of the party you repre-
sent, and your congressional record,
to all of which you cite me, would
first like to enquire into some other
matters more personal TO yourself,
and which would certainly have 4
more potent influence in directing
my vote than would the delicateness
of fattory, so ingenuously served to
me in your letter. For when you
say you would rather have the sup
port of three young men like my
self than five like my father or OIL
der brothers, l have suspicion that
you mean to ilatter me, and "flattery
is the food of FOOLS"
Your letter has impressed me with
the idea that it comes from the pen
of a demagogue and was written,
solely to catch the votes of the un-
wary, hence | want to learn from
those who know you personally, and
from the written record of your
past life whether | am right or
wrong in my impression.
What do your neighbors say of
you? From them | learn that the
court records of your county show
your name as plaintiff or prosecu-
ting witness in more than one SLAM
der and libel sait. That Hamilton
and Montgomery counties do the
same, except that in the latter you
figure as the defendant. 1t appears
to me that a man with your reputa-
ton as lawyer, who when his char
actcr is assailed and he seeks justice
at the hands of the blind goddess
and is awarded the muniticent (?)
sum of one cent damages, that char
acters are either very cheap or yours
is below par.
Again | learn from your neigh
bors that you were in the habit of
leaving your command in the army
and returning to your home, so fire.
quently, and under such circum-
stances as to give rise to the then
common saying, LOOK OUT FOR A
BATTLE,-GRosyENoR Is AT HoME." ."
Besides these and many other un-
savory matters that come from your
home, | have heard a whisper of
certain maneuyors of yours during
the war. in regard to some cotton in
Georgia, that do not reflect the same
credit on you as did the use to which
Gen. jackson put the same article
at the battle of New Orleans.
But you cite me to your congress
sional record. | have examined it,
and can not see that it presents any
particular feature for admiration,
unless blind following in the foot
steps of your party leaders, entitle
YOU to credit. You did nothing to
shape legislation. and your best
friends do claim for you sufficient
ability to give you high rank even
in your own party. You appear, in
fact, mere demagogue, using all
the arts and devices of your class
to further your own selfish purposes,
regardless of the rights and wrongs
of the masses.
d! Space will not allow me to follow
your record further, so / close by
saying frankly, l cannot give you
my vote, as | expect to vote for the
man whose public and private record
is that of a man of principle, integ-
rity and honesty, When in battle
was at the front, and though battle
SCARED and wounded has lost none
of that courage which stood the
test, when that of those failed who
now in time of peace are crest fight
ers, and seek by false pretense to
gain the votes of soldiers and others.
a You've VOTER.