The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1857-07-02
WHOLE NUMBER 625


here is remissneSs-.a lazisy, which II not
culPable, is un6utiful and untrustwortby.-
For It they must be held responsible.
A half million gone-the records show il
to be in the hands of Gibson-the leeisls.
ture' the newspapers. the streets are vocal
with surmises and enquiries about the conai-
tion of the Treasury; and from April. 1856
to 1867, not movement under the law, to
detect the absence of this immense amount.
The Treasurer is absent for weeks, II not
months-the Treasury is open 10 the exam
ination ofthe other officials; and not move.
ment to examine!
Oh! but il is said that the Governor acted
under the 18th section. and; appointed MFR.
Dennison to examine with the AUDITOR
When! after the horse is, gone, there is
locking up. Mr.. DeHnisoRi is no doubt hon.
est, and will faithfully examine but he
comes in--too late-too late. The default
has occurred; the DUTYsTo BE DONE il per-
formed when the performance is a, mockery
to virilance. ta
The enquiry is prevalent--why are not
these spoilers .of our treasury punished
Have we no law to reach such huge default
ers! There was on the Statue book the
law of March 2, l846, against abstracting
public monies and securities, and which, if
these parties were convicted, would consign
them to the penitentiary. That law of 1916
was repealed by the Black Republican Leg.
isIature on the 10th OF April, 1856, "aH suits
pending and rights accrued under said act 70
1896 are hereby saved"
The law Of lS4S in the third section pro
vided for civil suit by the State against
certain parties; and this right to. sue was
saved by the other clause. The right
of indictment was. not in my Judgement
saved; if indeed any such right could con-
tinue after law fixed the offence, was re-
pealed. If it be so, the last Legislature
have repealed the law to punish Breslin, il
at all, under the lew of 1916. But Gibson
is indictable aud punishable under the EN-.
bezzlement law of 1886. If he be guilty
why is it not enforced! The people expect
them to nidiu bringing to condign punishment
the spectators of their money. In the pres
ent state of the record, nothing will satisfy
tie people but legal investigation. If that
be not had-woe to our law! Vigilance
Committees and convenient ropes and grape
vines will be the Instruments of popular
vengeance.
For one, ask in the name Of American
honesty which is reproached, in the name OF
our State, which has suffered a greater defal-
cation than any other State in the Union has
suffered; in the name of the law qtoat has
been outraged by snch stupenduot,s rascali-
ty; that the robbers of abe public money be
arrested and punished, and that the fespon-
sibility be fixed upon those whose negligence
and remssness have permitted such dis
graceful condition Of the public treasury.
Mr.. MILLER: Why did the Democratic
party nominate and elect man known to
be d detaciter! In reply to which Mr.: Cox
showed that Mr.. Breslin was nominated in
Jan. '55, elected in Octa'55, and in Novem.
ber following the, dedication was first made
known. The late administration HAD NO
POWER TO EXAMINE THE Treasury. The
late Fund Commissioners repeatedly sought
to examine the Treasury, and were always
battled by Mr.. B., there being no law by
which they could compel him to submit to an
examination. Subsequently law was pas.
sed authorizing the Auditor to examine the
Treasury, WHICH Law HAS NOT BEEN conf
Piled WITH. -