The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1857-08-27

4 i
| 1851, ............ 1926 26
1852, Jno. G Breslin, ....... 46?, III Is
. 1853, ............ 759, ,352 %
| 1884, " ............ 5s4 9g4 81
| 1853, " ............ 6S3, ,5.4 80
1856, VIM. H. Gibson, ...... 350, ,54S 50
The act of 1916 authorized the Treasurer of
State to call upon County Treasurers to depos-
| it in advance of their February settlements
Mr.. Breshn was not backward in ayailing him
self Of the powers conferred upon him by that
law. The County Treasurers were liberal in
their deposites. In 1855 he refunded to them
$61 1927 49, which they had paid above the
amount of taxes due from their counties to the
State. AT tie annual statement in 1856, Mr.
Gibson refunled to them an excess of $44, l83-
| 81, which had been deposited with Mr.. Brcslin
previous to his retiring from office.
WHO IS THE DEFAULTER?
| The evidence against Mr.. Gibson consists of
acknowledgements made by him to public Off
GERS and committees of the Legislature in his
official character and under the solemnity OF
his official oath. There is nothing in the teSti-
| nony OF the witnesses indicating that he had
embezzled the public funds. Though we have
made dilgcnt inquiry, we have found no trace
OF any investments made by him beyond what
his private pecuniary resources would justify.
The books of the office do not show that any
portion of the balance due the State from Mr..
Breslin has ever been paid to Mr.. Gibson, or
that any funds were ever placed in his hands to
redeem outstanding certificates to county 1rea-
Surers.
In his settlement with county Treasurers in
1856, blr. Gibson received the certificates of de-
post or receipts issued by Mr. Breslin, and char
ged himself with them as cash in his account,
with the several classes of revenue. The act of
l646, required the county Treasurers to make
their deposits to the State Treasurer, and pre-
scrbed the time and manner of making them
They had been made in exact conformity with
the provisions OF the statute. 1t was not
therefore, competent for him to pronounce them
illegal, or refuse to credit them on the account
OF the several parties to whom they had been
issued.
In the Settlement Book these certificates
are carefully marked with the identical mark
or full name of Mr.. Breslin.
Mr.. Glib On has kept his accounts and made
his reports IN manner which implied that Mr..
Bresln had paid in full the balance due from
him to the State. He has been silent about
any dealcation of his predecessor. His silence
raises the presumption of payment. The legit-
innate inference, under ordinary circumstances
would be, that the Indebtedness had been fully
discharged; but in the financial transactions off
the Ohio State Treasury, this reasoning is alto
gether illogical.
Mr.. Bliss transferred all the balance due
from his predecessor to his books, yet it is we'll
known that Mr. Whitehouse, without authority
OF law, retained $4,000 of these balances. 1t
is true, and but justice to Mr.. Whitehouse to
say, that upon close scrutiny of his accounts, |
this sum has been found really due and has
been allowed to him.
BY the same process of book keeping, Mr..
Bresin concealed a deficit of 5000 for his pre-
cessor lie not only concealed it, but in res
ponse to a resolution OF the Senate, averred
that Mr.. Bliss had paid over to him the balance
which appeared on the books of the department.
1t has been the uniform practice of success
sye Treasurers to carry forward the balances
due from their predecessors without regard to
the fact of payment The manner in which
the books of the office have been kept, does
not, therefore prove that Mr.. Breslin furnished
Mr.. Gibson with means with which to redeem
outstanding certificates, or paid him any por-
ton of the public funds in hishands at the ex-
piraton of his official term.
The statements of Mr.. Gibson made on nu-
merous occasions, in his official character and
over his official signature make very strong
case against him.
In a letter Of March 14th, 1856, addressed
to Mr.. Kelley, chairman of the Finance Com
mittee of the Senate he says "My predecessor
has provided means from time to time to meet
these certificates. and but 10000 are now out
standing; when he fails to place inc in funds
will refuse to receive these illegal certificates"
The certificates issued by Mr.. Bresln in
1866, amounted to S7GU,71570 The forego-
ing statement is equivalent to an acknowledg-
,n,f Df 41o NfA - a..
date. 4f 44
In an official statement Of the condition of
The Treasury (Which has not been published,
but which is in our possession) furnished by
him to the same committee, he acknowledges
that he had received from his predecessors in
office up. to the 10th of February, 1856, the
sum of S509, 800. 10.
His letter of the 18th Of March, is more ex-
plicit and unequivocal than either of the pre-
cedng statements. 1t is perhaps the strongest
item Of evidence against Mr., Gibson which has
been submitted to our consideration. 1t is so
specific minute and circumstantlal in its char
acter, that we deem it proper to give it in full.
1t is as follows:
STATE TREAsURER's OFFfcE,
Columbus, March 20, 1856.
Hon. A. KELLEY, Chairman, dc
Dear Sr:---Below find statement Of the gross |
and several sums of money paid me by Jno G. I
Bresn ESQ, late Treasurer, on account of bal |
ances due from him.
January A. 1856, S223,e9l o2
t. Il, !. n. 75,sSs 1853 g g
!" ls, :" -. 5e,s77 ossss3 ,67227
February 6, 29S45 81
9, deprecated l'52o 90
3, 50,757 81
9. l2, -. 2.61645
ls 627s az 90 400 az