Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-06-25
More about the State Treasurer's
Dedication.


We reproduce in another place the state
men,s published in the Columbus States
man and Journal, of Monday afternoon, with
reference to the defalcstion Of the State
Treasurer. Thus, our readers have before
them the figures and conclusions of the pa
pers OF both political parties. In addition
to the editorial comments of the Statesman
which we have copied, that paper also pub
lished the exhibit of w. H, Gibson, late
Treasurer, transferred to the Gazette from
the Journal. The statements thus presented
show the deficit to be as follows:
Previous deficit charged to Breslin s225 .sI9
Deficit now charged to Breslin 549,692
Grand Total S775.7ll
This, probably, does not embrace all the
missing funds, and we should not be sur
prised to find the deficit farther increased by
the investigation that is in progress.
Ii will be seen by reference to Mr.. Glib.
sons statement that he charges the entire
amount of the deficit to the late Democratic
Treasurer. J. G. Breslin. He also promises
full statement, by which he expects to be
able to free himself from all charges affect
ing his integrity: We trust he may be able
10 do so. Without the charge of having
pocketed any portion of The public money
he will have quite as much responsibility
growing out of his course towards Mr.
Breslin, as any ordinary man with com.
mon regard for character should undertake
to shoulder.
A remark made by the Statesman that
Mr. Gibson stated under oath to commit.
tee of the Legislature, that all was right in
the Treasury department., except what was
publicly charged against Mr.. Breslin, while
he must ksve known there was a farther de.
ficiency of over half million dollars il
quite suggestive but we will not at present
undertake to comment upon this feature oi
the case.
Whatever doubts may exist IS to the really
guilty parties, or as to which of the individ.
uals directly concerned, pocketed the funds;
the fact is fully established, that not very
far from the round sum of one million dol.
lars of the public money has been directly
and deliberately stolen. by man or mer
elected by the people to responsible office
and sworn to perform fully ,snd faithfully the
duties designated by law for the government
of the Treasury Department. Thus, in ad
dition to the crime of robbery,a "a solemn oath
has been violated. One of these parties, al
though his guilt was some time ago clearly
established, has been moving about in soci.
ETY., speculating in Western lands, lay M
out paper towns, perhaps, as If he had been
guilty of no misconduct. This, too, while
hundreds within gun shot of his house
were serving the State in the penitentiary
in expiation of crimes, insignificant when
compared with the grave offence of delib-
erately taking from the treasury a sum o
money, vary ing from half to one millioI
Of dollars. This may be in accordance with
law, but it is not justice. While the small
est offenders should be punished, the whole
sale, official plunderer should not be per
mitted to go free. defying legal authorities
enjoying the advantages Of respectable soci
city and exercising the right of citizenship
Unfortunately, there is no law making the
act of which Breslin has been guilty, and o.
which Gibson is suspected, criminal of
fence. This defect should not be permitted
to continue. Ifmen's regaId for their charac'
ter will not restrain them from a f1agran
violation of The trust confded to them BY
the people, the fear of the penitentiary
might protect the property of the public
Mr.. Breslin, we are informed, returned
to Columbus on Monday; the committee o
investigation are at work, and Mr.. Gibson
promises full statement upon the conclu
sion Of the iabors OF the committee thut viii
exonerate himself. Very good. 1nasmucf
as the money is gone, :he people have &
right 10 know who stole it, and what ha:
become of the funds. We shall probably
be informed as to the party by whom thu
money was taken from the Treasury, bu
upon other points it is not probable satisfac
tory information will be furnished. Th'
promise d developements will. however, b
swaited with no small degree of impatience
Gin. Gag.