Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-06-25
The State Treasury-Defalcation-
Democratic Einanciering.

The resignation of Mr.. Gibson, and the
cause Of it, will make much remark. II it
shall occasion a thorough examination into
tbe use of the public money by John G.
Breslin, late Stale Treasurer, we shall not,
on the public account, regret Mr.. Gibson s
course He has been made a victim to screen
the real offenders. If he has used the pub
lie money for himself, CT his party,we have
no sympathy with him. But we suspec. a
very different state of things, and are sup
ported, by very curious revelation, ,politica al
and financial which has occurred in the last
three years. We shall state what we know
of these.
In October, 1852, (at the frs, election
under the new Constitution } JOHN G. BREs-
LIN, of Seneca county, was elected State
Treasurer by the Democratic party. When
he entered uponbis Office there seemed little
prospect that the Democratic party would
be ousted in long series of years. The
glorious advent of franklin Pierce had just
occurred. He had defeated in the most sig
nal manner the Hero of Niagara and Mexico,
and proved to the satisfaction of mankind
that in the United States the utmost little
ness and meanDess could be preferred to the
most illustrious public service. Alter such
an event what might not the Democratic
party expect, Even in Ohio they had rea
son to expect perpetuity of power.
MEDlLL, was Governor, TREvITr, Secre-
tary, MoHeAN, Auditor, and BREsLlN, Treas.
urer. They supposed themselves beyond the
reach of any political disaster, and each, in
turn, signalized himself, by arbitrary acts o:
party power. About this time,the Kanawha
Bank was flooding the streets of Cincinnati
with its notes. They were at every corner.
and in everybody's hands, till merchants and
bankers began to suspect them. Ofcourse,
reaction soon took place, and the Kanaw-
ha notes were driven home. At the same
iime,if we mistake not,a certain Mr. CONES,
was officiating in three-fold public charac-
ter, as C5shier of the KaLawha Bank. and a
Broker on Third street; and last, not least,
Chairman OF The Democratic Committee of
Hamilton county! At the same time, certain
noted political characters Ind dealings with
him. In the end, it turned out that CONES
failed, and among the deposits in his Bank,
was certificate for a large amount ol
money deposited by the Treasurer, ,of Haml-
ton county. This fact gave little insight
into political fnanciering. But,the end had
not come. In October, 1855, William H
Gibson, also OF Seneca, and a brother-in-
law of Mr.. Breslin, (as We are told) was
elected Treasurer by the. Republican party
In January MIR. 6 bson entered on his Office
and the Legislature met. Soon after r,Alfred
Kelly ESQ, Chairman of the Senate Finance
Committee, introduced a resolution, calling
on the Treasurer for the amount of money
in the State Treasury-where deposited, Sc
curities, &c. For some reason, this did moi
pass the House, but was sent to the House
but was sent TO the Treasurer, as Senate
resolution. Mr.. Gibson declined answering
| on the ground that he was not obliged tG
answer the reso olution of one House. Some
controversy arose between him and Mr.
Kelly, and several weeks elapsed, finally
the Treasurer reported, and among his as
sets were certificates of several broken Banks
in which his predecessor, Breslin. had de.
posted he public monies. Some two OIL
three hundred thousand dollars were lost in
this way. 1t did not appear that Mr. Glib
son had done any wrong. His delay in an
swering the, call of the Senate was accounted
for by others on the superstition that he
wished TO cain time, 10 enable Mr.. Bresl;n
to get The vouchers of the Banks in which
he had deposited money, and the return o
whatever they were able to return. Thi:
was an smisble and friendly act; but it i.
deeply 10 be regretted that afull erpose o
all t cir transactions was not forced out, a
the time of Mr. Kelly's call.
We have now shown curious collocatior
of facts and parties, The mere statement o
which is enough to enable an acute mind t.
see more than what the open record has ye
revealed. We have in sort of fnanc ia
series, the Kanawha Bank Mr.. Cones Cash
ier; Mr.. Cones, Broker, and ChairmaR o
the Democratic Committee; the Democratic
Treasurer of Hamilton County, the Demo
cratic Treasurer of State, he worthless
Certificates of Deposite, and the Treasury
Defalcationl If we could get the names o
borrowers ut the Kanawha Bank, and of tht
deposite Banks, and the ultimate disburss
ment of the money, we should have the de
ficient lists Of this history, and be able Il
exhibit one of the finest illustrations of pc
ltical fnanciering. But, since there is n,
inquisiiorial power the world must, we fear
be satisfied with only fragments Of this in
terestng cl apter Gin. Gaz.