Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1858-01-14

diO SaiNGidltU W buSlIGic l!tG Hppe
OF reform which might be otherwise reason
ably entertained. While do not doubt ,ha
the General Assembly viii DO whatever ma,
be within its constitutional power toward
the object proposed, respectfully submi
that its whole duty will not be performe;
until this matter be commended to our Sena
tors and Representatives in Congress by ap
propriate resolutions.
An act to incorporate new banks haI ins
been twice submitted to the people in DIFF
ferent forms, aud having twice failed receiv
ing the popular sanction, it may now be
properly considered as settled that the ma.
jvrity of the electors do not desire the fur,
ther creation OF Institutions of the charac.
ter proposed. see no reason, indeed, es-
pcciaIly if small notes be once excluded
from circulation why the business of bank.
ing may nat 5essafeiy ieis as open aut free
10 all who desire to engage in it, as any
other kind of business, care being taken that
ample securities be given in bonds of the
State or The United States, and bv the pro-
vision of an adequate specie furd. for the
prompt redemption of all notes in coin.
Bank notes circulating as money are debts
due to the CONN unityat large. payable on
demand, and it is the duty of the State, rep
resenting the community. to see that these
debts are perfectly secured. Such securities
are Indispensable; and respectfully submit
TO your better Judgment, whether the ex-
perience Of the last few years does not sug-
gest the expeiiency of requiring similar Sc
curities, or at least of providing efficien t
guards of some kind, insuring punctual pay
ment of deposits for safe keeping.
The condition of the State Treasury re-
quires prompt attention.
On the 10th of June last, William H. Glib
son, the then Treasurer of State, disclosed
TO the State Auditor the existence OF de-
ficit in the State Treasury to the amount,
as be stated, of about S55 600, occasoned,
as he alleged, by the defacation of John c.
Breslin, his Immediate predecessor. AT the
earliest practicable moment this information
was communicated to me
Up to this time had not entertained the
least suspicion that Mr. Breslin had failed
to pay over to his successor the whole
amount of public money which had come to
his hands, except The sums reported by him
rs deposited with failed Banks and Bankers,
or RETAINED by him under claims for ex-
change. The repeated declarations of Mr.
Gibson to this effect. in varied forms and
on frequent occasions, confirmed by the re-
ports Of the several Legislative committees
charged with the examination Of the Trea-
sury, and bv TIE report of the Auditor, after
performance of the same duty, seemed to
leave 10 question on this point.
| The allegation of the Treasurer Eow made
to the contrary, though supported by strong
ly curroborating circumstances, did not ap-
pear to me to be entitled TO much consider
alton, unless confirmed by thorough and
| impartial exa5sination.
.heFeforefayaied myself OF the earliest
opportunity of conference with him TO urge
his resignation, expressing to him my con-
vic,ion that he had placed himself, by his
own statements, in the position of default.
er, aud that he was consequently liable to
an arrest, which would in my judgment
work vacancy oy disability, 10 be filled i'm
mediatcly by the appointment of a rev
| Treasurer.
Mr.. G bison resigned and forthwith ap-
pointed Alfred P. Stone Of Franklin County,
to the vacant Office, who gave bonds, was
qualified, and entered upon his duties with
out delay.
| 1t seems to be the opinions of some per-
sons that the Governor has some supervis-
| ion or centrol over the other Executive
Offices, and. is therefore in some measure
responsible for their action. Such persons
do OF reflect that each of these officers is
elected by the people, and is made by the
Constitution wholly Independent OF the Gov
ernor, in the administration of his own
department., except so far as the inerven-
ton OF the latter may be sanctioned by eX-
press enactment. The only ac: providing
| for any Intervention of the Governor with
the action ofthe Treasurer, previous TO Mr..
! Gibson's resignation, was that OF April s,
1886. That act authorized the Governor,
u! OF request of the Auditor OF State, TO ap-
point suitable person to aid that officer in
examining the Treasury, and required him
TO direct the Auditor 10 make such an ex-
/ uIiUST CeItdlu AI
the proper time | directed the attention Of
! the Auditor to this law, and he made the
examination required by it, and reported
trat the funds OF the State were safe in the
Treasury. He made no request for the ap
pointment of any assistant, and in the ab-
5 nee of that requst there was no authority
to appoint Gne. Fl S report, and those Of
the Legislative Committee, furnished no
ground for any further direction to him and
one was otheiwise made known 10 me.
A further duty was imposed upon the Cow
ernor by the act OF March 80, 1857, which
required him to appoint, once in three
months, an Examiner OF the Treasury. The
first three months had not expired when Mr.
Gibson resigned; but believing myself war
ranted in making the appointment at any
time in the course of that period, and re-
garding the disclosures which had been
made as demanding an immediate and thor
uugh investigation. appointed Thomas
Srarrow, of Franklin County, 10 that Office.
The results Of the examination made by
AIr. Sparrow, are SET forth in his report,
which is herewith transmitted. The nature
and extent of the de(alcaton; the devices
by which it was concealed from the Legis-
laiive committees, and the Auditor of State,
at the time OF their several examinations,
and the respective parts in the criminal
transaction, Of the two State Treasurers
implicated in it, are clearly stated in this
document. No candid person. | think, can
withhold his assent from the conclusion to
which he arrives, "that John G. Breslin ab-
s,racted the morey from the Treasury, and
that William II Gibson, by cOrcealing the
defalcation and denying its existence. disre-
garded truth and his sworn official duty"
As soon as this official investigation had
been provided for, the facts which had been
made known to me were communicated to
the Prosecuting Attorney of Franklin coun-
", " no is charged by law with the prosecu-
tion of all ofienSPs committed within It's