The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1857-07-30
TERMS.-S2,0O
Letter from RIP. AtkinsOn--WI mo M
responsible for the Late Loss ia
the State Observation-Disclosures
pcIttitaI Isislery, .t..,f
WASHINGTON, Wednesday. ]


WAsWNdroN, Wednesday, July l. 1867 8
To He EtitorS Of tic Cincinnati Enquirer: rta ft'
The late deialcation in our State Treasury 3
well calculated, in view of all the circumstances
to arouSe the Indignation Of tie tat-paying peo-
pie "ho have beet plundered, and 70 induce d
thorough investigation into the causes which
produced it, as well as an inquiry whether there
is not some radical defect in the Law regulating
the fiscal Concern Of the State, and the, reason
why that defect has not long since been renedied
by legislation.
| observe that an effort, is being made to throw =
the entire blame on the late Treasurer of State,
(Mr Brcslin) elected as Democrat; and to
charge on the Democratic Legislature irnmedi,,,.
ately succeeding the adoption of the new eon-,,
stitutioh, "derelection Of daty,' in falling to
place on the statute books some restrictions and
safeguards to protect the treasury, in addition !
1 to sitct as were then in force. i am not aware
that the de6cGtion of Mr.. Brcslin, so far as Il 4
goes is attempted to be extenuated by his polit-,
ical friends. The policy which produced that
unfortunate result was denounced, at the time,5
by Democrats alone, While the opposition were,
either entirely silent on the subject Or, by their 70
voices ard votes, gave evidence of their approval
of his Course. '5,si
But, with regard to the majority Of the Deni.s.s
ocratic members Of the Legislature, elected irl,s
1851 and 1858, am bold to say that no partlofdi
the responsibility for Mr.. Breslin's course of poll
ICY OF the still more ruinous policy of his lsuc.
cessCr can be truthiully placed to their account
On the contrafy, the tatts arel and the legisla-
tive records are full Of the evidence that a large IN
majority of the Democratic members elect tos1
each OF those Legislatures felt deeplythe neces7 "a
sity OF legislation ON the subject; and labored q
earnestly and zealously, to provide against tho
evils which were believed to exist, and which,
| tn1 at lop Il lico t, IL,
State. ~ IA ..,.,,,,
On behalf Of those sound Democrats and Gafthbes
ful public servants, who ltbored with me durinsrn
those sessions of the Legislature in earnest ei-t
forts to place on the statute-book some further
guards ahd reStrictio against improper use off,
| the public MONEY; propose, now in this letter.
to give brief sketch of the proceedings had incs
the Legislature on this subject with such refer
ences as have space to make to the records IN 81
order that the responsibility may rest where it ~
properly belongs SO far as the action or monaco
tion Of the Legislature is concerned Z lbts
TT begin; The first Legislature under the new.
constitution met in Columbus, on the first Mon
day Of january, 1852. The official reports Of 10
the Executive officers disclosed the fact that
100000 of the public fluids had been loaned to
or deposited with the Columbus Insurance Com
pany, by the former State officers, (Bir Bliss.
being the Treasurer of State WHICH vas then
SUPPOSED to be lost by the. insolvency of that
concert. Mr.. Breslin, the newly elected Treas
urer of State entered on the duties of his office
a few days after the meeting of the Legislatures
and it was soon surmised that he would contin-7
ue the old practise of loaning or depositing pub '
lie funds with favored individuals and banking
institutions. asa, att
| had beef placed Oh the Coihmtnitte OF FL
nance, of the Senate, (Joel W. Wilson, Of Sen
eca County, being Ghairlnat) and, forward tho
middle of the session, if / rGcot1ect Alright, -
brought this matter up in the Comimittee, and
proposed the introduction ofa bill from the COM Z
mittee, and proposed the introduction Of bfH
from the committee providing for the organiza-.l
ton OF tie treasury on on an, independent
basis, and total divorce from banks, OF other
corporations or individuals, as depositaries off,
tie public fluids. On a comparison Of views, it
was asccrtaned that majority Of the committee
were ayerSc TO the proposition it@ EHi sa7gh
then took the matter into tie Senate. and
introduced a resolution instrticting the CON-
mitee 6h Finance to prepare ana report a bilf
to provide for 4 Reorganization of the State
Treasury, and for the collection, safe keeping.
transfer ara disbursement OF the public reye-
nue." This resolution was either laid on the,
table or defeated hy direct vote on motion,
think, Of the chairman Of the Finance Commit .
tee. have not the journal of that session he.
fore me, and am Therefore, compelled 10 speak
from recollection, but feel confident that / am
substantially correct. This was, perhaps to-
ward the latter part of the session. At all events
had no bill matured, and the burning Of the
State-house, the general arrangement and con
fusion which etisued, the amount Of legislation
absolutely requisite to inaugurate the govern
ment under the new constitution, with the GER
taiity Of an adj0urnc5 session. conspi1ed to ii.
duce me to defer further action at that session.
Accordingly, the Legislature adjourned until
the 10Th November, 1852. On the third day
OF the session-the 18th Noyember-I gave no
tce of the introduction of "a bill to provide for
a reorganization Of the State Treasury, and Nr
the collection, safe-keepng, transfer and dis.
bursemynt o' the pu lc revenue" ann Oh the
ll-h December | introduced Senate bill No.
lb5 under the above ttle-Se.dte Journal for
that session, page g. | have not space here ID
give even synopsis Of the bill II had doubt.
less, many imperfecions, as all primary legisla-
tion on such subjects must be more or less ces
lectiVe. But it contained many provisions to bo
salutary. The bonds Of the Treasurer were in
creased y IN amoutt more close accountability
was provided, by giving to the State Audit6FB
checks he did not formerly possess and freaueifsS
examinations were required, on which occasion
the money in the treasury was to bs submitted
to actual count. ate eitt S9faa14
But tie great leaefns feature-the life HeRgs
bill, which, Of ITSELF would have been reforniSi
was a section which prohibited the Tieanirefg
of State and every officer charged with thes@
collection safe keeping or disbursement or
the public money from loaning to Or de-
posting with bants, bankers, iniividials.a4s
companies or CORPORATIONS, with pr without IN
terest, 81 under any pretence whatever, sf ffotfs
investing the same in any species Of property on
failing to promptly account for
and pay over theSfdblic iunus when legally re4ea
qured: I'll these acts were defined as acfs S.
and made punishable by f,apyTsi
onmcnti IN He peaiteahdty. 44e8aa f'fswaa
1t is Unnecessary TO follow the bill throuuHsals
its stages nor would the limits Of this latfaf All
low it. Sutficet to say, that On the I'd of Marclf
1858, the bill passed tile Senate by vote oF
eighteenth to twelye-those voting in the affrriar
tive being al De,an,,lts, Ofthose voting HI Ira
negative, SIX were then known as Wings two as
Freesoiois, and four rs Democrats Sejate
Journal page 43E, On Saturday, March III ~
he last working day Of the session, tfie bfIf vas
returned from the House, having passed mat
'ody With several amendments, by d q, csdeds
majority, the entire opposition voting, as III ire
Senate, with few Democrats against Tie bin.
out still enough Democrats voting for IL 10 giye
he constitutional majority, The Sehate reI,i-
'ed to agree to most Of the amendsnGnts md
he bill was Immediately returned to the 1ioise.
On the evening Of the same day, The Bill w;sb
gain returned to the Senate, with a mss I'd
hat kf1a Hailen dinsiSte ~, M ...s ~ 8&a ~