Preble County Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1857-1859, 1857-06-18
The Late Declarations ut Column

The people of Ohio seem to be pecu-
liarly unfortunate in their selection of
custodians of the public funds. The
State sustained large losses by Mr.. Bliss,
the old Wing treasurer of 1847 and
1850, and Mr.. Breslin, the Democratic
treasurer of 1855. Both of these in
dividuals deposited considerable sums
of money with banking institutions,
which subsequently failed, and the de-
posits of the State were, of course, lost
in the wreck of their collapse. Whether
these treasurers were influenced by un-
due and wrong motives in making their
selection of banks, or whether they
were the victims of misplaced confidence,
Gas c~ontended by themselves and their
friends,) the people have lost the
money under their management-lost it
irretrievably and forever. The late State
| Treasurer, Mr.. Gibson, elected by the
Black Republicans, has resigned his
Office, and there now appears to be a
defalcation of over half a million of dol
lars-a sum far exceeding the losses OF
both of his predecessors, and which
may well cause an excitement through
out the State. MIR. Gibson alleges that
he has kept the books straight, and that
the loss must be put to the credit of
| his predecessor, Mr.. Breslin. Perhaps
such may be the case upon investigation,
but, if SOFT is singular, indeed, that
Mr.. Gibs6n should not discover it until
he was just going out of office, and that
it should. also have evadcd the grasp of
our keen-sighted Auditors and Govern
ors, to whom the Treasurer's reports
have been submitted. 1t would be diff
cult, indeed, to hide successfully so
large a sum, or prevent the fact of its
loss leaking out for eighteen long
months, unless the State Treasurer was
privy to or in some way knowing of or
connected with the matter.
A corrupt and willful concealmcnt is
quite as censurabfc as the original de-
falcation.s If Mr.. Gibson's skirts are
clear, it is remarkable that he did not
remain in the Office and face the
music" which would have been the i'm
pulse of an honest man. Why did he
not remain at his post and say this is
not my dedication, but it is the act of
another, and prove it to be so by the
books in his possession? Such a course
would have placed him in a better posi-
ton, where the breath of suspicion could
not attach. But DESERVING his post,
simultaneous with the discovery of this
immense dcfalcation, has a very bad
look. We hope he can clear himself,
and shall publish anything which is an
equitable defense if it is brought for
ward, for we are governed by no per-
sonal or political favoritism, and shall
censure wrong and corruption wherever
it may fall. If it shall turn out that it
was Mr.. Breslin who made this defalca-
ton, he will be treated quite as roughly
as Mr.. Gibson. if not more so since,
by such conduct, he has brought dis
grace upon the Democratic organization.
These successive losses in our State
Treasury call loudly for the accomplish
ment of that Democratic reform so long
urged in Ohio unsuccessfully-a State
Subtreasury, which, we believe, would
put it outof the power of corrupt and
bad monfto purloin the public funds,
and they should also impress upon the
politicians of all parties, in the selection
of candidates for the State Treasurer, to
bring forward men only of the s~ternest
integrity and best capacity for the place.
Neither party hacks nor county politi-
clans will sufice.-Cn. Enquirer.