The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-03-15

The recurrence of great frauds has become
so common of late years, that popular in
dignation has ceased to express itself in any
other form than that of few denunciatory
words. We do not remember single instance,
during the last quarter of century, in which a
plunderer of the public monies has been convicted
and punished according to his deserts. Had
prompt justice been melted out to these knavish
peculators the moral sentiment of the nation would
not have been so frequently outraged. But while
we still visit upon the petty larceny rogue all the
terrors of the law, show ourselves more disposed
to admire the adroiness with which great frauds are
perpetrated, than to punish those who are guilty of
them in such manner to deter others from follow
ing their evil example. 1t is melancholy sign with
us of the decay Of public morals that gentemany
scoundrels should be treated with singular
leniency, and that what would be regarded as
highly criminal in men occupying a low social
position, should be considered in those of superior
station as scarcely belonging to the category of
crime at all. Frauds of every conceivable kind,
and of magnitude that puts to shame the opera
tons of the ordinary class of genteel swindlers
and confidence men-the MONROE EDWARDS and
the HUNTINGDoNs-hav become such every day
occurrences that we are beginning to regard them
as matters of course; and although we have not
reached that point of decentralization which would
lead to eulogise such acts, we are gradually in
clining to the opinion that probity is a virtue
which we must not expect to find in men
who are elevated TO places of trust in the public
service MATTEsoN, of New York, convicted,
by a Congressional Committee, of corrupt
practices resigns his seat in the House of Repre-
sentatives, and is straightway returned, trium-
phantly, to Congress, by an admiring constit-
uency. MATTEsoN, of Illinois, obtains nearly q
quarter of million of dollars from the State
Treasury, upon Canal checks that had either been
once paid and cancelled, or had never been issued
for public purposes, and when the knavery is ex-
posed, he makes, through his counsel, an offer to
compromise the affair, and his offer is accepted
Fraudulent contracts are made with the
General Government, with the knowledge
of those whose duty it is to guard the public
treasury from the harpies by which it is constantly
beset, and Committees of Investigation after
taking testimony which duplicates many private
individuals, and more than one public functiona-
ry, come quietly TO the conclusion, that there has
been great deal of roguery practised somewhere,
cate to express themselves, as strongly concerning
the transactions in question, as the evidence would
justify, or TO recommend to Congress any specific
action in the premises. Turning again from the
National, to the State Legislatures, we find three
successive State Treasures of Ohio, either appro-
priating to themselves, or scattering among their
friends and confederates the monies entrusted to
their care, until the aggregate amount of loss, to
the State, by these populations, reaches, very
nearly, six hundred thousand dollars. Mr..
ALBERT A. BLISS retires from Office, in 1852, de-
faulter to the extent of nearly eighty
six thousand dollars. Mr.. JOHN G. BREsLIN
his successor follows in his footsteps and improves
upon his example; whilst to Mr. VIM H. GIBSON,
who subsequently became treasurer, strong sus-
picion attaches, of not only being cognizant
of these depredations upon the treasury but also
of seeking to shield BREsLIN, his brother-in- law
from the consequences of an exposure. etnothing
has been done with these men. On the contrary
they treated with almost deferential respect
BLss-defaulter No. lis invited to appear and
testify before the Committee, but politely Declines
whereupon the Committee wait personally upon
the ex-Treasurer to CLEAN from him whatever infor-
nation thatindividual may feel disposed to impart
BREsLN retires to Canada, whittier one of the Com
missioners is despatched to treat with him as to
the conditions on which he will return to Ohio
and give his testimony in regard to the manner in
which he had disposed of the half million of
dollars he had distracted from the State Treasury.
All his stipuations agreed to, and then he de-
clines to comply with his engagement, on the
ground that his personal liberty might be endan-
gered thereby He, however, condescends to make
explanations with respect to a considerable por-
ton of the money he has taken from the
treasury, and acknowledges that he still has in
the hands, or under the control of three persons
whose names he refuses to divulge about two hun
dred thousand dollars of the distracted money
Of course there are numerous parties in Ohio who
are interested in preventing full disclosure of the
manner in which the frauds were committed, and of
the names of those who were benefited pecuniari-
ly by their intimacy with the deultiug Treasurers,
and personal and political considerations will alike
prevent any judicial action being taken against
either BLISS, BREsLIN, or GIBSON, or any of their
confederates. Thus it is, that with us wrong doors
suffered TO enjoy their ill gotten gains in safe
ty, and although the moral revolts at first,
against such acts, the impunity with which they
are committed emboldens others to enrich them
selves by similar means. The distinction between
right and wrong, especially where the use of pub
lie moneysis concerned, is becoming gradually more
and more confused, and the time seems at hand,
when, with the lantern of DIoGENEs in our hand,
we may 90 through all our public offices searching
in vain for an honest man.
It will be seen, by the report elsewhere, that the
Grand Jury which adjourned yesterday, pre-
entire fact