The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1857-10-01
From tho Cincinnati ENQUIRER.
Letter from MIR. AtkinSOn-WhO
is responsible for the late loss
of the State Treasury OF Ohio
Interesting Political History.
WAsHINGToN, JuIy I, 1871.

Of the State Treasury OS Ohio
Interesting Political History.
WAsHINGToN, July l, 1857.
To the Editors of The Enquirer:--
The late defalcaiion in our State Treasury
is we'll calculated, in view of all the circum.
stances, 10 arouse the indignation of the tax
paying people, who have been plundered,
and to induce thorough investigation into
the causes which produced it, as we'll as an
inquiry whether there is not some radical
defect in the law regulating the fiscal con-
Germs of the State, and the reason why that
defect has not long since been remedied by
legislation. ..,-.............
| observe that an effort is being made to
throw the entire blame on the late Treusur
er Of State, (Mr. Bresln,) elected as Dem.
ocrat and 10 charge on the Democratic Leg
slutures, Immediately succeeding the adop.
ton of the new Constitution, q "dereliction
of duty" in falling to place on the statute
books some restrictions and safeguards to
protect the Treasury, in addition to such rs
were then in force. am not aware that
the delalcation Of Mr.. Breslin, so far as it
goes, is attempted to be extenuated by his
political friends. The policy which produced
that unfortunate result was denounced at the
time by the Democrats alone; while the op.
position were eithsr entirely silent on the
subject, or by their voiccs and votes, gave
evidence OF their approval of his course.
But, with regard to the majority of the
Democratic members of the Legislature
elected in 1851 and 1858, am bold to say
that no part of the responsibility for Mr..
Breslin's course Of policy, or still more ru-
inouS policy of his su, cessor, can be truth
fully placed to their account. On the con-
trury, the facts are, and the legislative re-
cords are full of the evidence, that q large
majority of the Democratic members elected
to each Of these Legislatures felt deeply the
necessity of legislation on the subject, and
Iabortd earnestly and zealously to provide
against the evils which were believed to
exist, and which have resulted at last so dis.
astrously to the State.
, On behalf of those sound Democrats and
faithful public servants who laoored with
me during the sessions Of the Legislature in
earnest efforts to place on the statute. books
some further guards aud restrictions against
me improper use Of the public money, |
propose now, in this letter, to give you a
brief sketch of the proceedings had in the
Legislature on the subject, with such refer
ccs Us have space to make to The records,
in order that the responsibility may rest
where it properly belongs, SO far as the &C.
ton or ne Il action OF the Legislature is con-
cerned,
To begin: the first legislature under the
new Constitution, met at Columbus on 1st
Monday in January, 1852. The official re-
port of the executive officers disclosed the
fact that 100000 o: the public funds had
been loaned or deposited with the Coum-
tus Insurance Company, by the former
State officers, (Mr. iss being the treasurer
of State.) which sum was then supposed to
be lost by the insolvency of that concern.
Mr.. Dreslin, the newly elected Treasurer OF
State, entered upon the duties of his Office
few days after the meeting of tha Legis-
Iature; and it was soon surmised that he
would continue the old practice of loanine
or depositng public funds with favored ndi
viduals and banking institutions.
had been placed on the c. mmittee o.
! Finance of the Senate, (Joel w. Wilson, o
Seneca county, being charman,) and towurt
the middle of the session, if recolectright
brought this matter up in the committee
and proposed the introduction Of bill from
the comnittce providing for the organization
Of the Treasury on an independent basis
and total divorce from banks, or other cor
porations of individuals, as repositories o
public funds. On comparison of fviews, i
was ascertaned that majority Of the com
mittee were averse to the proposition.
then took the matter into the Senate
and introduced resolution instructing tt
Committee on Finance to prepare and repor
a bill to provide for reorganization G
the State Treasury, and for the collection
sarekeeping, transfer, and disbursement c
revenue" This reso luton was laid on th
table or defeated by direct vote-on me
ton, think, of the chairman of the Financ
Committee. have not the journal of tn,
session before me, and I am, therefore, con
PEELED to speak from recollection, but fe'
confident that am partially correct. TIL
was, perhaps, towards the latter part of tt
r session. At all events, had no bill matu
ed, and the burning of the State House, Il
!; general arrangement and confusion whit
: ensued, the amount of legislation absolut
ly requisite to inaugurate the governme
!. under the new constitution, with the certai
: !. ty of an adjourned session, all consfired
9 defer further action at that session.
i Accordingly, the legislature adjourned un
y the 18th Nov. '52. On the third day Of 4
e session-the 18th November-t gave mott
. of, the introduction OF ga bill to provide fol
.e reorganization of the State Treasury, a
RS for the collection aud safekeeping, transit
and disbursement of the public revenue