Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1857-09-04

properly belongs.
A few weeks ago in the month of June,
| discovered to my utter astonishment that
there was deficit of some $4,000 in the
Treasury. I had supposed from official re-
ports Of the Legislative Investigating Com
mittee, and from the Auditor, that the mon
ey was all safe in the Treasury as they had
found it. Aud it was there when they ex-
amined the Treasury; and shall show you
that it had been absorbed during Brcslin's
administrator, and that not one dollar of
it ever soilcd the fingers Of n single officer
of the Republican administration.
And | shall show you the circumstances
under which tho Republican administration
assumed the government. Wewere elected
in 1855. No legislature had sat tor two
years, and tho last Legislature which pre-
ceded our entry into office, which was Dem
ocratic, had failed to pass laws to guard the
Treasury, and thus left it at the discretion
and mercy of single man.
When the Republican Legislature met in
January, 1856, almost the first thing they
did was to pass law guarding and protect
ing the Treasury. But upon trial it did not
provo as efficient as had been anticipated.
Learning its defects, by experience, however,
whom they met at the adjourned session of
this year they enacted new law, which re-
quired quarterly examination by the Gov
ernor and also by the Auditor. At the reg
ular session they bad also appointed Leg
islative Investigating Committee, comprised
of three members, all of whom wcro Re-
publicans the Democrats having refused to
permit q representative Of their party to
serve on tho Committee. They did hold n
caucus and designated one Democratic
member for each Of three Committees, but
subsequently another Democratic caucus
was held, and upon deliberation they re-
fused to countenance the investigation into
the administrator of their own party, thus
establishing their fears that corruption had
existed which they feared to expose.
The examination, however was made by
the Committee and also BY the Auditor, and
they found the money. 1t was there, in the
Treasury. But it was sham. 1t was
there, as money is sometimes found in tho
vaults of your bankers, when the examiner
comes round. They fly to somc other bank
and borrow funds for present purpose. The
examiner sees that all is right He rctires,
5 when prestoi change and it amt there
Just so in this case. Just so with Gibson.
He has borrowed drafts, bills DC, evident
L ly of value, for the purpose of conccaling a
deficit which he knew existed, and have
since learned, for purposes which, if correct
ly understood, cannot be considered entirely
dscreditable to him. Tho money was there
but the Committee was deceived.
Mr.. Gibson was elected when was.---
The same confidence was reposed in him
that was reposcd in me. In fact, they re-
posed moro confidence in him than in me
for the Rnow Nothings had confidence IA
him and IL appears they didn't hare IN
me. (Laughter)
When discovered the deficit Mr. Gibson
was absent from Columbus. 1t was clever
o'clock at night when he returned. l had
an interview with him Immediately. de
manded that he should resign. He did'n
want to resign. insisted again, and he re
iterated his disinclination. But the keys o
the Treasury were put in my hands, ant
they did not leave my possession until hi
did resign. l then appointed an officer il
whose integrity have entire confidence
and who demanded and receives the sures
: possible security from every depository o
, the State.
Now respecting the blame that is at
tached to me, and for not having sooner dis
covered tho robbery. Gibson is maj
from whose appearance and character nev
# er could have suspected the great wrong h
+ has committed. Auditor Morgan and Gov
g Medill had ten times as much reason to sus
pect Breslin of dishonesty rs had to sus
pect Gibson. And they could have rs easi
E ly compelled him to resign as did his sue
!, cessor. What did they do? Compel hi
y resignation! No! AT the very first chanc'
; they had they put him on their State ticke
again for tho very same office. l an
: obliged to talk somewhat of myself bu
the nature of the case is my apology.
t asked Mr.. VIM. D. Morgan to act with DR.
a Dennison, gentleman of undoubted integ
o rty, and native Of your city, in whom th'
= people everywhere have confdence-in al
l Investigation ofthe Treasury but he declined
He did suggest Mr.. Prentice to act in hi
J stead, and Mr.. Prentice ia aPro-Slavery Dem
I ocrat agreed to accept. On further con
: sideration, however, he adopted his party
Q tactics, and declined to serve--doubtles
D that they might have fairier opportunity
/. of asserting that whatever appeared is {
"Black Republican lie." A party of then
!. then got together and black-balled me-
, Mr.. Cox was their speaker at the meeting
. and General Joe Geiger, a Buchanan man
t who immortalized himself by abusing M
s last campaign, immortalized himself agail
! on that occasion by defending me. Laugh
, ter
? After the refusal Of Morgan and Prentic'
to serve, / then appointed Mr. Thoma
5 Sparrow, member Of the Democratic par
: ty, and late an Office holder under Presi
: dent Pierce, and he--a gentleman of indie
! pendence and character--aecepted, anC
t made the investigation. He has presented
: facts aud they are before you. am told
r that the Democracy way up on the lakes, il
Payne's region, new attempt to get out 0
4 the scrape by saying | am pet of Sparrow
J.. am sure he is not a pet of mine, for h
: has not sense enough to vote for me. HI
y isn't good enough Democrat, as | under
O stand that designation, to vote for me.
Q But, of the defalcation. The facts as pre-
$ sented after investigation arc that BresliI
took every dollar of the money. Their
= was not one dollar of the peoples money ia
n