Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1859-09-09

oho tnhAeH NJ hppcaA4 " tne fitIAolcfa y
passions Of his hearers, as Is the habit Of too
many political speakers, butspenkson grave
questions to serious men. The manage
nent Of our State affairs Is Of far more inn
portanco to the people Of Ohio Just now,
than subjects Of a national character, and we
are glad to see that Gov. Chase devoted
good portion Of bis speech TO the discussion
Of State matters. With these he is perfect
ly familiar, aud the way be traced out and
exposed the nismanagement and downright
dishonesty Of the Democracy, while they
we're 10 power, is we'll calculated 10 open
the eyes Of honest men Of that party. For
their enlightenment, NO give below some
what lengthy extract from the speech Of
Gov Chase, and commend Il to the care
ful perusal Of all readers:
II shall now speak of State matters, haE-
ing spoken Of the coincidence of our divis-
ion in State politics with thedivision Of the
politics Of the nation. Our State affairs
during the first fouryears after the adoption
Of the new Constitution, we're under Demo
cratic rule. i use tho word Democrat not
because l think il describes this party, but
call them by the name they prefer.
/ shall propose to show that this party's
course Of action was during this time. They
hadthe State government-Executive, Leg
islatiye and Judicial. Now, when our State
was thus ushered into new being, the first
important concern which would naturally
engage the attention of the Legislature,
would be the subject offinance--the custody
aud disbursement of the public revenue,
and the arrangement Of taxation. We fiod
that under this legislation, there was rapid
increase in the taxation Of the State. We
fnd, too, that while the treasury was thus
filled through the taxation of the people,
there was no legislation whatever directed
10 the object of securing the proper admin
stration Of your public revenue. In other
words, there was no legislation whatever
for regulating the treasury, 10 the safe-keep-
ing and disbursement of the public funds.
Different men explained this matter differ
emily. Democrats say there was division
in tho Democracy, and great body Of the
Wings went with the Democrats 10 defeat
a portion of the measures. But | take it
as settled truth, which the common sense
Of mankind justifies, that when party has
a majority in the Legislature and Admins
tration, that party is responsible for the
administration Of the government. Then,
l say, the Democratic party neglected, dur
ing the whole term ofthe first Legislature
= two sessions-and the next Legislature of
one session, to provide for the safe-keeping
! and proper expenditure of the peoples mon
ey. So much for the administration dur
i, ing those years.
Mr.. Breslin was treasurer having been
elected in 1851. To him was committed
: the custody Of all our revenue. Mr.. Morgan
: was Auditor and Mr.. Medill Governor. AS
. early as 1858 Mr.. BresIn was suspected of
D. using public funds for his own private ben
eft. What was the duty of his associates
in the State Administration In my hum
| bic judgment their duty was plain. 1t was
!, to expose his misconduct to the people, and
;, see to it that he was deprived of trus
: which he unworthily filed. In 1853 Mr.
: Breslin was nominated for reelection. No
= : thing, however, was said by those who were
6 cognlzant of his guilt. Was that right!--
|; No one will say it was. The people, ignor-
: ant of these suspicious against him, re-elect.
: ed him. In 1854 or 1855 it wasdiscovered
= that some $780, 900 or 100000 had passed
! through the treasury, OF which Breslin rem
dered no account. The defalcation, in point
of fact, amounted to about three quarters
of a million Of dollars, large amount of
funds, in addition to that unaccounted for,
g having been deposited in worthless banks,
4 thus proving total loss to the State.
This defacation was known to all the
officers Of the State Government, and espe-
cially to the Auditor and Governor, and to
the transfer Agent in New York. What,
again, was the duty of these gentlemen p
D. 1t was to communicate this information at
once to the people. 1t was the duty of the
Governor to offer to Mr.. Breslin the alterua.
Of tive of resignation and taking his chances
before the people, or of immediate prosecu
1t tion. We all know these State officers
e were nominated for reelection upon the
e same ticket with Breslin, which gave to hi.
o conduct the highest possible sanction. Was
Of that rightl l think not. have already
le stated what the Democratic legislation upor
y treasury matters really was.
Now the Republican party arose. 1t wa,
not the old Wing, the Free Soil, nor tho
Democratic party. 1t was new party, Of
" rather an old party revived. It was the JET
n fersonan party revived in 1854. Tha
Il party elected its State ticket and Legisla
1t turc. From the moment the Republicans
10 obtained control of the State government
d they sought to reduce its expenditures
E. They went to work for tho purpose of es
l. tablishing a system of keeping safely The
E. public money. Itrequired that the Treas
n urer should take bonds in such sums a
. would make the safe-keepipg of tho money
2 sure beyond all question or peradventure
/, | believe that had the system been adopted
y by the first Legislature which assembleC
'e under the new Cousttution,- ,---that in addi
e. ton TO the bond of tho Treasurer, there
bad been required from every depositarJ
sufficient guarantee 10 oblige them TO keeI
ID the public money safe, there would have
le been no defalcation. You will see one thing
ia that il was ineomparably better than th,
legislation, or rather the absence of all leg
islation which preceded it.
D. Mr.. Gibson was elected Treasurer, anC