The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1859-10-08
Letter Of Governor Moor.

iVSHcAsS " dueIieS tiiouSi 'i'N PO
press, as to the proper discharge Of his Of
fetal duties, the apologists of the late trea-
surer of state, Mr. Miller, sought, by in
uendo, to criminate his predecessor, Gov.
Moor. and to show that if the former was
culpable-had violated the law and his Of
fetal oath, that he had precedent for it in
the action of his predecessors. The re
publican press, the Journal in lead, would
not take the denial which Gov. Moor au-
thorized Us TO make, but demanded that
such denial should be made over his own
signature. Being absent from home, no
such denial was made, but we promised
that it would come on the return of Gov.
Moor to the city. Below we give a note
from that gentleman. 1t is plain and ex
plicit in denia! OF the implied charges and
innuendoes OF the republican press against
him, and Il IS no less due 10 the public
than to him that these journals give place
in their columns to his disclaimer They
cannot furnish any such thing from their
late treasurer-they do not do so-but, At
least, they can DO justice to GOV Moor
The letter is as follows:
SPRINGFIELD, Sept p 1872.
Editor Of State Register:
Early in the present month an editorial
in the Chicago Press ant Ii1btnC, in defence
Of Mr. James Miller ATE state treasurer,
against certain structures Of the Chicago
Democrat, saws that, amongst other Iu-
nOrS Is che to this effect: hen Mr..
Miller entered upon the duties Of treasu-
rer, he found that a custom had been es-
tablished 10y his predecessors in office OF
( making special deposits with certain bank
ing institutions, for the purpose Of greater
security
At the time OF its publication no reply
was made by me, because it was given as a
mere rumOr, involving no special charge
/ Subsequently, however, in reply to the
Illinois State Jo,71aal-the State Register
with my approval, published a denial OF
/ the "rumor, in clear and emphatic Ian
guage. This denial, however did not sat
iSiy the .J9araai, as appears by certain qUes-
tons and rather sarcastic articles III its col
urnns during my absence from the city.
| ROW say, however, that the ''rumor,
by whoever set aiiCat was a iai>chOOd,
manufactured for the occasion from whole
cloth.
No such custom" had been establish
ed, no special deposits OF the public mo-
uey had ever been made with any bank or
banks for greater security by me, a. the
immediate predecessor OF Mr.. Miller nor
has the public money been applied to rri-
vate purposes to advance the Interests OF
myself or any mortal man.
To accommodate collectors J have occa-
sionalIy received sight checks on New
York, u par, or at premium OF not eZ-
ceeding one eighth OF one per cent when
81 par such checks would br collected here
or exchanged for coin, aud those for which
premium was paid were used III the pay
nent OF interest, the two mill tax fund.
or in the purchase OF state Indebtedness.
and the premium was refunded 10 me Icy
the state.
When checks or drafts were presented.
however, iii large amounts, or al such
times a. they could not be Immediately
used IL the above payments. they were il
variablv refused, as The late auditor, Hon
Thos II Campbell. TO whom many such
were forwarded viii very well recollect.
From l>5J 10 ISJ.. as state trea=uEer.--I
was required 10 pay the interest on our
state debt sen.;-anuual.y, il New York
Most Of the funds III that purpose were
forwarded III coin h express, IT a est OF
oue-tyugtL OF one per cent for tran>uO-ta-
ton. II times, however, coin would be in
! demand by our bankers here. On such
.
! change tIt the same. or lower rates. OF
, t::a American Exchange Bank where the
interest was paid From these tran-ac-
tons. received no benefit whatever. By
thcn some accommodation VIZ. esst~",i,-.
/ TO our Own citizens. the state was some
/ times benefited, never injured, and the
public duties performed without any viola
ton Of Inv.
! never f.o.i any -4v,;.c for concealncn
in the performance OF M official acts. no
have ! any regrets arising from the rcsul
OF those acts. When retiring from Oiiic,
in l>j', paid over 70 my successor, tn
sum Of $3I4,5j5, the tuiiumount of none,
due the state, and every dollar OF il was il
American gold
During my continuance IN Office my c.
forts were constantly directed 10 adyaEc
and protect the best interests OF the stat &
TO perform ali the duties that dey0iyed W
Oh me with strict fidelity 10 those Interest
ana 10 tie las that | was sworn 10 SUP
port The law was my guide, not precc
dest, nor would | refer TO It as al cXcus
for wrong doing, nor viii any friend c
mine attempt TO shield me from censur
by arguments, Is shallow as they are wicl
ed, il endeavors to destroy the reputatio
OF Others. By MY 0sca actions must b
. Judged By them and not by the conduC
, OF others, must be sustaint q or condemn
5 ed. JOHN MooRE
VIII Mr.. Miller meet. as frankly, IL
: charges made by the journals of his ow
I party against him? The loudly called Il
s three lines are given above from Go
t Moore lie brands, over his own nam
:, the insinuations against him as false. L
e us hear from Mr. Miller with equal fran
|, ness, or the public will be justified in Il
! conclusion that John Wentworth's clarg
: against him, Of malfeasance in Office, a
5 true, AID that his party friends have II
J. only, knowingly, been engaged in an etlo
to cover up his criminality, but III doing
:. they have been disposed To cast blot u
Y on the good name of an honest man anc
IS faithful public officer.