Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1859-03-17
The Treasury Investigation.

The Treasury Investigation.
We have before US the voluminous report
of the Commissioners appointed by the
Logisture to investigate the Treasury de-
falcai ION. It's extreme length precludes
the possibility of publishing it in full. A
great part has previously been made public.
Without here saying aught Of the character
of the report, or its reliability and conclu-
siveness, we will state as nearly as possible
The facts as set forth in the document, as
given to the public.
The default commenced with Bliss. who,
it appears, was near sac, 900 deficient. He
made such an appeal to the tender mercies
of BREsLIE that he secured loan from :he
State Treasury for that amount, to pay his
deficiency. More anxious to save BLISS
than the State, he was led from one scheme
to another, until he had transformed them
into stock in Western Rail Roads and Land
Companies. The stock is now in the hands
OF the Attorney General, but is comparative.
ly worthless. This accounts for something
over S35 ,00O, but does not recover it.
Mr. BREsLIN, from his first installment
seems TO have dealt out the public funds
with lavish hand. His own statement we
will try to publish, as being more interest.
ing, and apparently more reliable, than
anything else in the report. He acknowl.
edges that he disposed of 100000, but the
balance charged to him he never used. He
accounts for 5000 900 of the 100000, bu,
declines to give The whereabouts of ;ht
balance. He has it under his control
thinks he can secure it TO the State, but
will not give the names of the parties now
holding it. The position of BREsLIN is c
very peculiar cne, indeed. He does moi
think himself so criminal as unfortunate
he speaks of his "follies and errors," arc
thinks himse If the victim of misplaced con.
fidence. 1t is true that had all with whom
be dealt been strictly honest, the State
would not have been the loser. He weEI
on the presumption that all men are honest
The statements of GIBsoN-BREsLIs's
co-rascal--sre SO contradictory that they
to our mind are no more reliable thar
would be the testimony of a murderer il
his own case. That he is a defaulter t,
some extent is Icertsin, and probably doei
not equal BREsLfN for want of opportunit,
more than want of will
The testimony of Lieutenant / Governo
Ford, mo was employed as Attorney 70
GiBsoE's securities is probably the mos
reliable. GIBSON represented to him tha
the money was principally invested in lands
but did not give the location Of The property
more than that it was scattered from Nov,
Scotia to Minnesota. He also stated tina
the Treasury was in great embarrassment
on account of the default of Bliss, and tina
to save the State, BREsLIN and he had in
vested 500 900 in Western lands, hopin,
to able by the speculation 10 save tn
State. He had paid SAMUEL MEDAR,
$40, ,Ooe, to keep the Democratic press, tha
OF The Statesmen, from sale on execution
alleging that The Statesman had hel ped him
and that he always stuck to his friends
He had taken the money from the Stat
Treasury. He had also TO pay the create
part of note for 81 ,200 for The Ohio Stal
Journal. upon which he was endorser.
! GIBSON has tried 10 play double gam
throughout, and what he says and does ca
only be taken for what it is worth Tn
investigation do es not discover where a
the money is, and restores but little to tn
vaults Of the Treasury. 1t does not seer
to implicate one party more than another
even with an apparen: strain of the Com
missioners to do SO. 1t undoubtedly Sc,
up Bliss, BREsLIN, and GIBSON as tri
unequalled in rascalty. We expect to nc
tice this matter again.