The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1859-03-02

Nitoln Ncfy cloIt Tune htef nc cutcfNd upon
the discharge OF its duties. AS we have beforel
stated, he concealed the defalcation OF Mr.. Bliss,
and entailed thereby upon himself all the eonse
quenees OF his duplicity and folly. Finally he
received from the suretes of Bliss, or from
Bartlett & Smith, with whom they arranged for
the payment Of the deficit, part of d in what
was less than moneys and never was, as We be,
lieve, available as money to the State. Until
Mr.. Breslin explains from what source he ob.
tanned the Columbus, Piqua aud Indiana Rall.
road Bonds and Stock, between Sl5O00 and
$20,000,) which he has rendered to the State, We
think we are justified in the assumption that
they were received from Bartlett Smith in part
payment OF the Indebtedness of Mr.. Bliss
Such securities have been flying around between
Bliss and Chittenden, and Bartlett & Smith, un.
til they at last find resting place among the
State securities. IL .-.4.-.. .-.-.
When Bartlett & Smith assumed to pay Bres-
I'm the then unpaid balance Of the deficit, Bss
transferred to them $4,000 of these Bonds,
which B. E. Smith swears he sold 10 ]. r. Hill.
lard. III April, 1854, Hilliard purchased of
Bliss, Tn,lot No. 325, in Columbus, for Sl2 900
income Bonds of the Columbus, Piqua and In
diana Railroad Company. After the Railroad
failed to pay interest, Hilliard sold the property
to Bartlett & Smith, instead Of re conveying II
to Bliss, who returned to him the bonds, and the
mortgage he had given Bliss was canceled.-l
Subsequently, the bonds were transferred to
Bartlett & Smith, to protect them against a
mortgage existing upon piece of property Hill
| lard had sold to them, lying on the east side OF
| High street, Columbus, near the depot. Be. |
tween $4,000 and $4,000 of such bonds and
! stock are now under the control OF Breslin, as
the property of the State, which he proposes to
deliver to the Attorney General when he obtains
possession of them, with the explanation due in
| relation to them. Until that explanation is
made, we can, from the testimony now before
US, come to no other conclusion than that here
stated.
Mr.. Breslin, at the time of his settlement
with Mr.. Bliss, received from him certificate
of deposit of w. E. Chttenden, banker, New
York, for $4s ,464.76, as money, which was in
violation of law and OF every just rule of official
conduct and either by his own remissness, or by
the advice of Mr.. Bliss, the larger portion of it
was lost to the State. In our opinion, this sum
was not in fact available to Mr.. Bliss as money
when he sought to transfer it to Breslin, and
4 hence his solicitation that it should be permitted
to remain uudsturbedi in Mr.. Chittenden's hands
until the July following. inducements to with
hold dena I'd, were undoubtedly held out to
Mr.. Breslin, not disclosed in the testimony, for,
unfortunately for the reputation of these men,
as well as for the interests of the State, they
unwilling witnesses, As this never was pay
mont of money by Mr.. Bliss into the State Treas
, ury, or to the State Treasurer even, we cannot
Z
see by what rule of law, or by what principle Of
justice, he,or his sureues, canoe discharged from
their liability for the payment OF the balance
, due Of $35 900 or 100000. The testimony Of
Mr. Bliss-the statement of Mr.. Breslin--and
! the testimony OF Mr.. Giosod, all show that this
never was payment OF money into the State
treasury. 1t never, In Its inception or at Its
close, partOok of the nature of an official trans
actor. IT was entirely private-known to be
= such by Mr., Bliss-and was continued as such
! by his advice, and at his solicitation. The ac-
count with Mr.. Chittenden was never kept Upon
{ the BOOKS OF Mr.. Bliss or the books OF the
Treasury, as public. or official account, for it
nowhere appears; and the mere transfer OF the
Indebtedness OF Chlttenden to Bresiln, could NOT
constitute payment ihto tne treasury. Twas
an Illegal transaction throughout, ana IN no way
'nc'uues the o'a'e' OF uiscnarses mr' oiiSS' VI
t MS Sute"es'
a BESIDES the gross violation OF oiiicial duty on
the part OF Mr. Breslln, IN ms agreement TO CON
ceal the detalcation of Mr. Bliss, he still further
aggravated II, by permitting the suretles to give
8 tneir checks LOT Soo'Uuo' payanle IN Two years,
: without interest," as stated III the deposltlon OF
w. .; SulliVant; Mhat peculiar claims tue sur
t cites had upon the Treasury that entitled them
t TO THIS iorbearance, are unknown to US: They
may nave surrounded the TRANSACTION win GER
tan legal forms OF ac9alttanee; but without ac'
r. IN - - - ~ 80 80 $3.50 ~ ~ '. ~
ned There IS no legal acumen-no sgraelous
voice"-that can "obsclre the show OF evil, in
TRANSACTION WIN an oifcer OF ihe law ny winch
e ne Is made 10 say omcially what is known prl'
> in" to-, M p;0s 80 eGsa.n
i to meet the apyarent liability, instead of max.
! ing payment to Mr.. Breslin, gave him their thir-
:. teen checks Of $4,000 each, on the Clinton,
a Franklin and Exchange banks, of Columbus, in
/ the following form. f.t
q Mol. CoIuMBus, o., Oct. l, 1852.
i. Pay to the order of John g. Breslin, Treasurer
q of the State of Ohio, five thousand dollars.
$4,000 Thomas MooDIE,
: w. S. SuLLiyANT,
+. j. S. ATwoop,
To Exchange Bank1 M l.. SuLLtyANT, w
!; Columbus, Ohio. DEMAs ADAMS JR.
}, If any law of the State of Ohio authorized
e "John G.. Breslin, Treasurer of the State OF
Ohio" to loan these gentlemen sixty.ive thou
sand dollars, for two years. without interest, and
!, keep the transaction concealed from the public
the attention of the Commission has never been
called to it. 1t occurs to us, that with these
J, checks outstanding and unpaid. and with an
Q years, the recent given by Mr.. Breslin to Mr.,
: Bliss, October %, 1859, of payment in full of all
d balances charged against him, and Of all indebt
a edness that had appeared against him. (tbis nm.
e paid $65, 900 being part) is somewhat imneacb.
81 ed in its truthfulness
e One of the losses resulting to the State
r through the misconduct of Mr.. BresIin. was by
a renewal to the loan Of the =
v Aunov p,.,a.
I'll
f On the 10th OF November, 1851, Mr.. Sill, then
me acting Canal Fund Com missioner, loaned to
TINS hsiiroad company ,ooO, payable in the
r city OF New ork, on the first dny of January.