Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1857-07-08
The State Defalcation.

i The State Deialcation.
We regret that our contemporary O
r the Democrat persists in his curse o
I Misrepresentation with regard 10 the de
falcalion in the State Treasury. 1t i
neither ere litable to his honesty or in
teligence, o is he paying much of a
compliment to the intelligence of hi;
readers.
The Rlveuna Sentinel of last week,
which is as strongly Democratic, as any
paper in this State, candidly admits the
dishonesty OF Breslin, the Democratic
Treasurer, while it charged equal dishon-
esty upon Gibson. While We have not
the slightest doubt of the superior ras-
cality of Bresliu, we are forced 10 admit
that Gibson has been highly culpable.
1t does not matter that he has not las
he says taken one dollar of the money
himself, but he has concealed the defal-
cation Of Breslin. Why cannot the
Democrat for once b: as candid, and
tell the truth, and the ot9le truth;
In its article upon the Defalsation in
the last number, it throws the whole
blame u2ou Mr.. Gibson. Now we wish
to ask the editor a plain question, and
will use the words Of the o. S. Journal
of July 81.
On the 18th day of November, 1855,
Mr.. Morgan, then Auditor of State, re-
ported d balance liz the hands of Mr..
Breslin, as Treasurer of State, of S7O3,-
370,O8. On the same day Mr.. Bresliu,
as State Sreasurer, reported to the Gov
ernor that he had on hand in the Treas
ury the sum of S683. 574, 90. This diff
ference between the Auditor and Treas
urer arose from certain claims of B@reslin,
that were not allowed as correct by Nor
gan.
But We will take Mr.. Breslin's own
statement as correct. He had in cash
1888, 564 80 on the fifteenth Of Novcm-
Der, 1855, just W months before he
gave up the keys Of the Treasury to his
successor, Mr.. Gibson. OF this sum be
claimed that 204, $50 66 was in the
hands of the Commercial Bank Of Tole-
do, w. w. Cones & Co.. Cincinnati,
City Bank of Cincinnati, an Daniel
Beckel, of Dayton, and was not then
available. Deducting this sum, and the
actual available cash on hand, according
TO his own showing, was S478,938.
Six weeks after this report was made
TO wit on the first of January, 1856,
the semi-annual payment of the interest
upon the public debt became due. The
total interest on the foreign and domes-
tic debt for 1856, WAS 1897, 909 Co.
One half of this sum Was to be paid on
the first of January, 1856. This would
be S413,95 Is. Alter deducting This
payment from the $47G, 938 then on
hand in cash, the Treasury would still
have S64.98 in its vaults. This, with
the various receipts constantly coming
in, was a~bundantly sufficient 10 meet the
ordinary current expense Of the Govern
ment for The two months that Mr.. Bresl In
IVES 10 remain in the Office as Treasurer
Of State.
But, with means to pay the January
interest, and with SD, 987 surplus on
hand after its payment, Mr.. Breslin, be-
tween November 18th, and January 10th
Of that year. drew on the several COun-
ty Treasurers, in advance OF the time of
their settlements, for the enormous sum
of $3.50, 600. There was at that time a
law authorising him SO 10 draw, fin his
opinion ii Wds necessary in order TO p0y
tie JnUdry interest. He did so draw,
and his drafts in the shape of certificates
OF deposit for that sum are now in the
Treasury. He received that amount of
money in addition to the large sum OF
cash which his report shows he had on
hand at that lime.
Now, the question we wish to ask,
and to have answered is this: Why did
BresLiR lien draw upon tie County Treas
urers for one d9lar? Ii his report was
true, and tie money was in his hands,
why did he call for this enormous sum?
He had no authority t. do so. except it
necessary TO meet the January
interest. He had reported to the Gov
that he had ample funds for all
purposes. No such necessity existed, if
his report told the truth. Yet, in the
face, of this he did draw, and receive,
between the 18th of November 1855
the 10Th Of January 1856, two
months time, and just before going out
Of Office, oUer three .Iourtbs Of a million
dOHdrSl
Mr. Breslin afterward paid a portion
Of this TO Mr.. Gibson. but the latter de-
that there remains unpaid by
Breslin, of the proceeds Of these drafts
.he sum Of $4,000 OF the amount of
he present deficit. His published state
nent has been made for weeks, and Mr..
does not deny its truth.
We submit these faete from tie official
recOrdS to the people. They can make
such deductions and comments as they
obviously warrant.