The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-07-08
diAE ONO pEFAIcAryoN.

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Ohio treasury is quite as large has been stated
That it is chargeabe. at least prima taeis against
Gibson, the late treasurer, is not questioned This
is shown in three ways Firstly, his receipts prove
the moneys into his hands; secondly, exam
inaton by the State auditor, Mr. Wright without
previous notice to the treasurer, when he, as he
says, g examined the books and counted the money
and papers in the treasury and found them to be
correct" thirdly an investigation by persons APP
pointed by the legislature. Here is proof Of the
most ample kind to establish first that Gibson rel
ceiyed the money, &c. second, that two dis
tinct subsequent occasions he had the in the
treasury Now it falls short about three quarters of
a million.
No tribunal would hold that here was not the most
reliable evidence that the defalcation rested upon
Gibson. In order to shift the odium which naturally
results from such state of facts from republican
to democrat Gibson and his friends allege that the
default occurred under Breslin the former treasurer
To defeat the strong evidence above stated Gibson
says he gave Bresn receipts for what he did not
ceive and that to deceive and mislead the auditor
and the Legislative examiners, he borrowed money,
for the time being from Banks sufficient to cover the
deficiency. This improbable story rests wholly upon
Gibson's statement whose position is such as to
cast damning suspicion over it, If he had receipted
as largely as pretended to conceal Bresns default
it would have been natural for him not only to have
taken counter-cydence in writing from him, but to
have demanded security to indemnify himself. HAY
ing before him the most conclusive evidence Of Bres
Inns utter dishonesty, he would not upon his mere
word have trusted him. as not only to hazard his
own fortune and honor, but to have put his bail in
jeopardy AS he professed to have managed the af
fair involving secrecy and confidence, it would be
utterly impossible for him to have shielded himself
or to have protected his bail This of itself strong
" initiates against his assumptions. If it is true
that he procured temporarily loans from banks to
meet the investigations, why is not evidence of that
fact forthcomings But if adduced, it would not
tend to prove that he not the real defaulter but
simply that he was covering up defalcation, and
under circumstances tending to show that the bank
officers were cognizant Of the fraud and accessories
after the fact while would conclusivey convict them
of d; breach of trust towards their stockholders Of
the highest magnitude.
If the money had not been returned by Gibson,
banks and probably have those who trusted
it to Gibson to the criminal laws of the State In as
Stunning this ground Gibson takes upon himself a load
of oboquy which would crush any other living man.
He was, when elected, presumed to De worthy of
his trust, and was so held out to the people of the
State. BY his admission, his first act on enter
ing office was to give his predecessor false and
fraudulent receipt, to cover up defalcation, and
thereby to deceive the people who had intrusted
him with office thus proving that his personal friend.
ship for an unworthy predecessor was stronger than
his obligations and sense Of duty to the laws and the
public.
He convicts himself of the offence of screening the
guilty He next, if his story is true, deliberately de-
ceives the auditor by placing in the vaults OF the
treasury money which did not belong there, and point
ing it out as funds belonging to the State He does
the same thing when the Legislative committee appear
Both they and the auditor grossly deceived by
him. He furnished evidence Of honesty and fidelity
intended to deceive which covered up monstrous
fraud committed upon the people If he screened the
guilty he pretends, he committed an offence little
short Of that of the actual abstraction of the funds No
Jury will give credit to the statement of who
proves upon himself so many discrediting acts. BY
his own assumption he labored to screen personal
friend until he caught in the act. He now turns
around and attempts to damn that friend with the
hope of saving himself from the consequences of de-
lection, and to protect the political friends who ele
waited him to Office from the oboquy which the de-
facaton naturally entails 1t is clear, from the facts
which we have alluded to, that his testimony can
neither convict his predecessor save his political
friends from the consequences of having elected to
Office gross defaulter, who deceived the auditor
and legislative committee, as well as the public at
large. Even If Breslin had distracted funds, Of
which there is evidence, Gibson has confesscdly
done what must cover him with nfamy and his party
with shame. But his own unsupported oath viii
never overthrow the evidence derived from his acts
He and his party must bear the consequences Of
| what he has done.
THE FRENCH ELECTIONS.
We copy the following from Gagnanis Messen-
ger Of June % @
"The first days voting for the general elections OF