Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1859-04-06
AN INVESTIGATION
Into the Committee of Investigation

We stated, last week, that we would
publish the letters of Morgan ami Edger
ton. the two Democratic Members of the
Investigating Committee We copy them
from the Cleveland Herald, together
With the comments of that paper, upon
them. The Herald says:
The Columbus Journal mas opened &
mine rich in lis developments against the
phsrisaical Committee of Investigation
into the Treasury frauds, by which IT IL
couclusively proved that Morgan and
Edgerton in 1854 they being resPec
uvsly Auditor of State aud Transfer
Aren't, knew that Breslin was defaul-
ter aud the Treasury bankrupt; that
knowing this d. falcstion. Morgan and
Edgerton, both leading and ofice-h hold
ing Democrats, permitted Breslin 10 be
re.nominated as State Treasurer. and
Morgan himself for State Auditor on
the same ticket.
The annals ofrascsli'y furnish no par
sllel to the impudence. the unblusning
depravity. the partizan shamelessness
exhibited by these faiIhless public ser
wants, in thus keeping secret for four
years the most stupendous fraud of mod
ern days. and then. when Republican
nerve had disclosed the existence of this
Democratic fraud. procuring theiappoint-
ment from Drmncratic Legislature. an
investigation into a crime in which they
were Implicated, at least 10 the extent OF
shielding the perpe'rator from Exposure
This denouemept-whicbw will not sur
prise many of our r-aders-is brought
about by exhuming from the archives
various and sundry. letters written by
State officials in 1855 prominent among
which are letters written to and from
Auditor Morgan, letters written to and
from others.
Let it be remembered that it was the
duty of Auditor Morgan to investigate
the affairs of he Treasury and report its
condition. In November 1854. Audito
Morgan reported to the Governor of Ohio
that there was balance in the State
Treasury of 1884 $50 and ssuen days
thereafter he wrote the following letter.
to wit:
MORGAN TO ATKIEsoN.
oryrcr or COMMISSIONERS SINKING FUND,
CoLuNBus o.. Nov. -, 1854.
Hos. r. J. ATKINSON, 81 Auditor of Treasury,
Washington City.
Dear Sir:-The embarrassments VIII ch
seems 10 have overtaken our Stale
Treasury have rendered it prudent,
in the opinion of the Commission
ers of the Sinking Fund. to pro-
vide as far as in their power. for any
contingency by which the prompt pay
ment of the January interest may be put
in jeopardy, and to this end they have
(f06 so0) of United State Bonds now in
their possession into coin on the sdver-
tised terms of Secretary Guthrie. DC j
(The letter inclosed the Sl06. 200 U. S
Stocks.
Here Morgan knew there was deficit;
the amount of interest due was S433 383:
ard Morgan had reported 1884 $50 in
the Treasury. and yet he proposes to
naisapply stocks in his hands for partic
ular purpose, for which be had no warrant,
for the purpose of meeting this deficiency.
What Mr.. Atkinsou's opini was at
that time Of Breslin, can be gathered
from his letter, as follows:
ATKINSON TO MORGAN.
WASHINGTON. Nov. 25, 1854.
Dear Sir:-Yo rs of 22J, inclosing U.
s. st ,cks Sl06 200, to be presented to
the Secretary of the Treasury for re-