Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1857-03-27


But in all his transactions, Steedmnn seems
to have cared more for his friends than the
interests of tho State. This same Parks
obtained the contract for section No. 8, at
S5,499 year, by giving o. White $4,000
to Withdraw his bid, after the work had boon
awarded to him at SO, 750 year, and after
the contract had been drawn, ready to be !
signed. 1t don't appear that tho Board in
tcrposed any objection TO tho withdrawal Of
White, but awarded the work to Parks, not
on his own bid but that of Hayes.
Mr.. Stccdman was elected in the fall Of
1851, and went into Office in February,
1852. He had taken lessons under tho old |
Democratic Board having had contract on
the Maumeo canal, in partnership with A.
J. Dickinson, brother Of the acting Com
missioner, and who is now in the contract
for section No. !. He had, therefore, fine
opportunities for learning how to manage
the public works, for the benefit Of bis
friends. It must be acknowledged, that he
has proved himself to be an apt scholar
He signalized his debut into office by induc-
ing the then Democratic Acting Commiss-
ioner, Mr.. Miller to pay him $500 for stone
which belonged to the State. look upon
this transaction as little short of larceny
The State had not only paid for the stone,
but nearly, if not quite the full value Of tho
whole farm from which they were taken in
the construction of the canal. But this
transaction was very significant prelude to
the official conduct of Mr.. Steedman, and
his Democratic associates, from that time
until he went ont of Office last February
A system of favortism, extravaganza and
reckless disregard for the interests Of
, the State pervaded all their acts, and served
to lay tho foundation and inducement for
their last grand scheme for plundering tho
, State. They knew very well that their acts
would not bear the test Of investigation,
: that an economical administration of tho
! public works would exhibit contrast too
; great for the public gaze. With the Sena-
tor from Auglaize, they thought it would
be better for the people, whom they loved
so dearly, not to know how their money
! had been expended by their Democratic
agents, for such knowledge would only make
: them feel bad, without doing them any good.
= From present appearances, Mr.. President l
: fear they were about right, in regard to any
> good coming out of these disclosures But,
it is said, as long as there is life there is
hope, and | shall continue to tho last mo-
: ment, to do what little / can, to prevent the
consumation of what consider the greatest
: fraud ever attempted upon the State. The
= election of 1854, and the appearances oi
the campaign of 1855, convinced the Dem
u ocratic members of the Board of Public
u Works, that day of reckoning was near al
y hand. They plainly saw the hand writing
u on the WALL and, therefore, commence
preparing for coming events. Although the
} law authorizing the letting of the repair:
. by contract, had been in force for more thar
u ten years, the Democratic Board had not
= thought of exercising that power, until they
y found that the people were about turning
Z them out of office.
!, Two objects were to be accomplished
y One was, to cover up, and keep from public
view, the enormous cost of the repairs un.
. der their administration and the other, 10
!, continue the Public Works under the control
. Of their friends for five years longer, against
: the express wishes of tho majority Of the
4 people of the State. That course was,
: therefore, determined upon. The reason
J and object were so perfectly apparent, that
: something must be done to lull the suspic.
. ions of the people. For that purpose il
= was determined to let in a few TRUsrY Re.
publicans. E. S. Hamlin, who was known
to be good on bargains and intrigue, was
. employed, by Steedman, as counsel, to ex
o anime the law, and assist in getting the
d thing up in the right shape. Mark, Ham
y lin was not employed by the Board, but by
,, Stcadman. Blickensderfer was not consul
u ted at all in the matter, until after all thing
= had been arranged. 1t is a little curious
IL that Steadman could not find, among al
: the distinguished Democratic lawyers in tn,
!, State, one worthy of his confidence in
u matter so important to the State Blu
/, ; Hamlin was an adept in that kind of bust
: ness. 1t did not take him long to get the
machine up, and in running order. His
| scheme was not only grand, but shrewd,
II and cunningly devised. All things being
arranged, a meeting of the Board was call
= ed, for the purpose of going through with
- the farce of putting to vote the scheme con
: cocted in secret, between Hamlin and the
u Democratic members of the Board. Blick,
ensderfer voted against il, and, l have nc
= = doubt, was honestly opposed 10 it. He did
y " what he could to protect tho State against
u this scheme of wholesale plunder; but every
+ proposition, made by him for that purpose
! i was voted down by the Democratic maiori-
! ty. The Republican papers, all over the
: State denounced the scheme in severe and
J appropriate terms; but some of this oppo-
Il sition was destined to be short lived. The
plans were laid, designed to silence, aud
J, which very soon did silence, some of these
/ Republican guns; some, too, which had beer
planted at the most conspicuous points OF
! the Republican watch tower.
b The law requires that the Board shall
IS give "due notice of the time and place o.
r the letting for said repairs, with the plan.
r and specifications of said repairs, and tho
: manner of doing the same" / contend
e sir, that this law was not complied with il
y any respect. 1t the first place, fifty dayl
e notice of the time of letting, was entirely
o too short considering the magnitude an'
l. extent of the public works. 1t did not Civ
: sufficient opportunity for those wishing t
J, bid to make the necessary examinations an
d arrangements for bidding.
d "rhe plans and specifications of said re
G, pairs and the manner of doino the Same