, 1859-03-14
Besetments Of a State Treasurer.


Breslin, the great Ohio Democratic dotaulter,
draws graphic pfcture Of tho temptations and
Influences that bssst newly sleatsd 1ta.s Treas
urer. Hs make the following extract from his
statement to tho Investigating COMMITTEES,
showing the interest taken In his welfare BY
dislnterested patriots in all parts Of the State,
who desired to assiat him IN taking caro- Of the
public money. He sa1a:
new Treasurer il instantly called upon By
hosts Of devoted "Giend1,'! many Of whom "4f-
IDENTIFY supported him for the nomination !"
others took t'no part in politics." but wers d.
lighted With the last election for Treasurer.
Others were so1ely perplexed 1t the l,st election
II your predecessor, nut high personal re-
gard for ths Pr<sent incumbent greatly emhar-
rsssed them At tho polls finally consented to
throw party aside and vote for tho person now
ia office. The Treasurer il advised By visitor
Of his wonderful popularity in his {visitor's)
section OF ahe State-the universal satisfaction
with which hia nomination Ws4 received, and
tho 1ndeserib.b1e joy with which his election
was hailed. Visitor WAS not disappointed with
tho nomination Of the present Treasurer. Vis-
ltor had, long since, ia looking around for
suitable person for Treasurer, hAd the pres-
regretted he could tarry - short a
time. and would say before leaving" that in
the event bin friend Mr. So and 30 should call to
see the Treasurer, be WIS entitled to lhe "full-
eat @ @e9nndence" everything entrusted to him
could be relied upon 10 the death !" T'sitor him
self might, latter awhile" suggest something
Of great advantage "all around.' and "perfect.
y safe" or Visitor would not think of nention-
ing it. flsltor would call sgain, unless busi-
ness prevented, with particulars Of q very 'nice
Thing" II the Treasury had anything Of inter-
est IN Visitors locality requiring attention,
command me-" The instances ot this sort of
attempted ingrstiatlon into the Treasurer's con:
hdence, all ending IN some proposal to cooper.
ate IN confidential investment or magnificent
speculation, are innumerable; yet to designate
Aingle case would doubtless meet with lat
contradiction Aud the very persons who
are most persistent in their effort. to
tnvegle tho Treasurer in soIe private opera
tion With them8elves, or others for them, are
those who are most Indignant over his errors
when discovered, and hare least sympathy for
him when his misfortune comes A torrent of
denuuclatiou and cenaure hesped upon the ruin
ed 10 the shield to protest them aRainst suspic.
ion OF haring influenced him in any act which,
With others, may have contributed to his
troublea.
As al evidence Of the hcartleasnsss OF the fowls
Of every p'urna:e, from the ragged 10 the richest,
that are ever lowering around Treasurer, aud
who upon the turn Of vault key, make light
ming ds'cent upon their medit2led victim, allow
me- to state few incidents connect d vita the
troubles Of Mr.. Biss. When he communicated
to NE his aPpTeheasIons OF deficit upon his part,
with an appeal tor protection that would haze
penetrated any heart, be added that lie Intended
to protect bis sureties ia thclr possession sat
lslActo1y amount Of colalcrals, and through th m
IN that n inner, arrange for speedy payment to
me o! wat appeared to be the balance due; thus
saving his oWn exposure and his bli from iuevita-
70 ablslty that 1t was pesaliaEIy the interest Of
Messrs Sulllvant and Others, who. had so Ion: 1e-
Veled in the Use Of tue public money, not to be-
cone involved in litigation or controversy with
the State, but unpleasant developments might en-
sre. Regarding the direct liability to the Tre2-
sury Of Hesscs. Snlliyant and other sureties, 81
batter for the State than the doubtful chances Of
recovery upon bail bond, and feeling deep
Sympathy tor Ar. Bliss, agreed, without the
promise or hope Of reward, TO acceds to the ne.
gotistlons proposed BY bin.
Alter few interviews with the parties inter-
eated, and subsequent to tho consummRtion of
the arrangement to exsricate Ar. Bliss, er:
couutered nothing but preTsrication, delay, in
annoyance. and a dishonorable failure to comply
with their promisek.
When The arrangement was frst proposed, it
positively agreed that the whole matter should
be settled and paid within one year. found
very 5000 tnat no attention Was given to this
subject, except in pursuance Of ny calls and
urgent request for payment Iprotested against
such treatment, AZ displaying bad faith toward
me, and dishonor8ble violstlon of the arrange.
meut to which had consented.
The psrtiea involved in this liability to the
State well knew that disclosure at that time
OF any Of the facts narrated here upon this sub
ject would be to ms political e1termlnAtion, and
the probable cause Of serious official enbarra.s-
ment. Hence, no matter how treacherous their
conduct toward me, my mouth Nas sealed
through motives OF self preservation. Thus, for
nearly four years VAS obliged to carry about