The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1859-02-26
Another Letter from Gov. Mattesou.

Another Letter from Gov. Mattesou'
Gov. Matteson has written the chairman
of the Senate committee in regard to the
fraudulent checks, another letter, copy OF
which we give below:
SPRINGFIELD, H., Feb. Q.
SIR: AT the date Of my former cOmmu-
nication to the Chairman of he Senate Com
mittee, supposed the validity OF the bondsis-
sued 20 HE for Canal scrip OF tho issue OF May
and August, 1899. was supposed to depend
upon the genuineness OF the scrip. Since,
to nv great surprise, the fact is established
that these scrips or checks, though genuine,
have been redeemed by the officers and
agents of the State many years since, AID
have been, by some person or persons IN
known to me, distracted from the places
where they were deposited, and again put
in circulation. With perfect innocence on
nv part, and without the Ienotest suspicion
that the scrip had ever been redeemed these
checks were purchased 10y me OF different
persons. for their cash value at the time,
upon actual payment OF money therefor.
have thus unsconciOusly and innocentiy been
made the instrument through whom q gross
fraud upon the State has been perpetrated.
Nv past relations to the people OF this
State and my earnest desire for the preser-
vation Of my own reputation, pure AND spot
less. render Inc unwilling to retain these
bonds, although purchased By and issued
TO me bona Tide, and for valuable consider
alton. | am willing, rather than possesS
one cent which the State OF Illinois ought
not to pay, even though the courts might
decide that, by the strict rules ef law, my
right to the bonds could not be impeached,
TO sustain. myself, the whole loss, and TO re.
o,-fl ,f dol
edness of every kind nave received OF the
State on account o: these checks, or any
bonds issued for them. The bonds are a.
ready deposited as security for the circula-
ton Of the State Bank. / will ijernuify the
State against all liability on these bonds, and
provide for the repayment OF any money or
evidences Of Indebtedness received as
aior esald, By and with any kind Of security
that NAV reasonably be required therefor
OF course, il may take some time to replace
so large az amount; and | propose that,
upon my giving the security above indlca-
ted, satisfactory to the proper officers, the
bonds remain and be held as security for the
circulation Of the State Bank, with the priv
ilege to ;ae, from time to time, 20 replace
the n with other securities; and, as thus re-
placed, they shall be cancelled by the Gov
eruCr.
The same regard for my reputation (whicn
i now gilmore value to me than any amount
ofrlonev) that, in connection with my unwil-
linguess 10 profit by the loss 70 the State,
has prompted the foregoing proposition, also
leads me 10 ask, as an act olju,t:ce 10 my
self. that the investigation commenced by
the committee shat! be continued. | will
lend every assistance in my power to rem
( der !; thorough and searching, resulting in
I the discovery Of the commencement OF the
wrong, if not the perpetrators. For this
purpose, hope, If necessary. the committee
will be authorized TO act in vacation. From
my acquaintance with he gentlemen com.
prising the committee, as well as from the
courtesy already manifested to me, DOUBT
net they viii be willing to continue the in
ves;igation even after the adjournment, if
necessary j. 4 NATTEsON.