The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-04-06


like another class of persons, should have long
memories. To make good his charge against
these Democratic General Assemblies, the gen.
tlernan from Madison is compelled to admit in
SO many words, that ssAuditor Morgan con-
scientiously discharged his whole duty as pub
lie officer" He tells us that at every session
of the General Assembly, during his term, he
sounded the tocsin OF alarm, "and the gentle
man from Cuyahoga confirms this statement by
ports. The fact is, that what the gentleman
from Cuyahoga has read -4completely refutes
everything he has said against that officer
And now with single word fpreface let me call
the attention of the House. particularly to the
passages from the Auditers annual reports
read by the gentleman from Cuyahoga.
AS before remarked, n. Morgan, during his
official term, suspected that Breslin was deposit
ing the public money, with Banks, brokers and
others, and feared the State might suffer dam
age, thereby. Under the then existing laws,
his office was no check whatever on the Treas
ury. He was unable to ascertain the condition
of the States fund, or to interpose a hand to
save the Treasury from plundcr. In this state
of things, in the language of the gentleman
from Madison, he sounded the tocsin of alarm.
In his first annual report December, 1852, he
uses the following language:
"An examination of the laws organizing the local
treasures of the various counties of Ohio and those
having reference to the Treasury of the State will
awaken surprise that the system of accountability
prescribed for the former is explcit-and complete
whilst the laws applying TO the latter loose,
gre and inadequate The impression is general one
that all moneys paid into the State Treasury become
immediate charge against the Sac Tr azurer in
the books of the Auditors Office and that the daily
receipt the one, matter of daily record the
other. The extent to which this impression is erro-
may be judged by the fact that the late Treas
of State "a a BlissO atthe date of his retire
ment was credited on the books of this Office with
larger amount than the liabilities with which he
charged. The fact unexplained would seem TO prove
that the State in debt yet it will be seen by ref
to the special report Of the present Treasur
dated Dec. %, 1852 that Mr.. Bliss transferred
to him the of 81 114, ,242,51, being the balance
which appeared by his (the late Treasurers) own
books to be due the State x < As necessa-
ry consequence of system that is so inherently de-
fective the of the Treasurer of State are
mainly adjust ed by him alone an retiring from office
he settles not ach the prtr eading officer tut 'h Aie
successor"
In his next annual report, (Dec., 1868, } Mr..
Morgan again recured to this subject in the fol-
lowing terms:
sense of duty requires repetition Of he Effort
made in the Auditors last annual report, 10 impress
upon the Legislature TIE NECESSITY of placing the
of the State under additional checks and safe
guards, : The impression is natural as well
a general ore, that all monies paid into the State
Treasury become immediate charge against tie
Treasurer, the books of the State Auditors Office
and that the daily receipts at the one are matter
of cord in the other. The extent 10 which this i'm
preston is erroneous may be judged by the single
fact, that during the months of Nopeaa6cr and Deem
Ter 1852 payments q money etre 1dde 70 fhe Treas
qlzzTzeTS c5
million Of dollars of which the Auditor had no Off
cal Information until the JoLoIrlg month OF Te6TuGry
This occurrence, although extraordinary is neither
neuc the only Of ITS kind. 1t will serve, how
ever illustrate The utter absence of accountability
between the Treasury and the coordinate depart
ment, charged with the duty of adjusting accounts
tanning the receipt and disbursements OF the
public revenue
In his last annual report, Dec, 1855, after
quoting the previous passages frcm his former
report, Mr.. Morgan says:
'-Haying thus, in every. former annual report
which TIE undersigned has had the honor TO nlace
before the legislature brought this vial subject
notice, he esteems it imperative
duty avail himself of this last official opportunity
which he will possess, to again invoke for it that
careful and effective consideration which its pre-
eminent importance demands"
There, sir, is the record of faithful and sa-
gacious public officer
Both the gentleman from Madison and the
gentleman from Cuyahoga, in charging neg
lect of duty upon the Democratic General AS
semblies clectedin 1851 and 1858, respectively,
are compelled to admit that Auditor Morgan
did his duty, and had his warming voice been
needed the Treasury of the State would never
have become the prey of plunderers and thieves.
Out of their own mouths they convict them
selves of an atrocious attempt to asperse the
fair name and fame of as pure and faithful
public servant as ever held Office in Ohio.
Now, sir, having replied to the charges made
by gentlemen against Auditor Morgan, ask
them, I defy them, OF any gentleman upon this
floor, to name a single act of malfeasance, mis-
feasance or nonfeasance committed by that ofi-
Ger during his entire term. 1t can't be done.
He has been $50 clear in his great Office" that
his entire record, as public servant, is free
fromspot or stain. I can tell the gentlemen that
the leader and founder, the body and soul of
their party in Ohio, Gov. Chase, believes the
charges they are making against Mr.. Morgan
here upon this floor to be false and unfounded.
When the great deficit in the Treasury was dis
covered in June 1857, and Mr.. Gibson was
compelled to resign, to whom did Governor
Chase first tender the appointment of EHamin-
er of the Treasury? Why, sir, to W. D. Nor
gan. Gov. Chase had the same facts before
him them in reference to Mr.. Morgan, that the
gentlemen have now. Did he believe then
that Mr.. Morgan was particeps crtn,inis in the
robbery of the Treasury? Would he appoint
an accessory of Breslins and Gibson's to inves-
tigate their doings, and bring them to justice?
That is what theseRepublican gentlemtn charge
on Mr.. Chase. Before the gentleman again
assail Auditor Morgan, they had better 90 to
Mr. Chase and take his advice, for every blow
aimed at Mr.. Morgan is a blow directedat their
dearly beloved leader. IF they are not very
cautious, they will prove Mr.. Chase partieeps
crimeinis by the very logic they apply to Mr..
Morgan.
But, sir, the gentleman from Cuyahoga,
after charging that the defalcation in the treas
ury was attributable to Auditor Morgan's neg
lect of duty, makes the same charge against
the Democratic legislatures elected in 1851 and
in 1858. In order, however, to make out this
branch of his case, he is compelled completely
to exonerate Mr.. Morgan as L have before re-
marked.
We are told that the Democratic party must
stand responsible for this great loss of the
peoples money, because the Democratic legis-
latures just named did not act on Auditor
Morgan's recommendation and provide for
the safe keeping OF the public money. Now,
sir, I assert that in both the General Assem-
blies referred to, the great mass of the Demo