Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-08-30

records, find that under this administration, or
rather under this legislaticn-b because the Leg
islaturo either directly or indirectly arranges
the whole system Of taxstion--there was a
rapid increase Of the taxation of the State ~
We find too, while the Treasury was thus filled
from the taxation Of the people, there was no
legislation whatever directed 10 the object of
securing the proper administration OF your
public revenue. In other words, there was no
legislation whatever for the regulation Of the
Treasury in it's receipt, safe keeping and dis.
bursement Of the public finds That is un-
questionable Different men explain this thino
differently The Democrats say that there was
a division in what is called the Democratic
party, and that portion Of the Wings went
with a portion Of the Democrats to defeat
proper measures. OF that have nothing to
say, because hold il for certain truth that,
when party has a majority--a clear majority
lin the legislative and administrative branches
Of government, that party is responsible for the
administration Of the affairs of that govern
ment If that be not so, there is no use 20
have any organization whatever, and there is
no responsibility at all. l take Il, then, as a
settled thing, which the common sense of all
mankind justifes, that the party which has a
clear majority in legislation and iministration,
is responsible for its Legislation and for the
administration of the government.
This party neglected, during its term Of four
years-duting the whole term Of the first Leg.
islature, which held two sessions, and during
the two years of the succeeding Legislature,
which held one sessioH-to make any effective
provision whatsoever, for the safe Keeping Of
the public money, but left it entirely at loose
ends
So much for legislation. Now for admins
trstion. Mr.. Breslin was Treasurer he was
elected in 1851 To him was committed the
custody of all your revenue of every kind, as
State Treasurer Mr.. Morgan was Auditor
Mr.. Medil was Governor. As early as 1853
MIR. Brcslin was suspected of mismanagement
Of the revenue of the State he was suspected
OF using the public funds for his own private
benefit What was it the duty of his assDciates
in the State administration to do That is the
question which address to an intelligent au-
dience. In my humble judgment, their duty was
plain. lt was to expose that misconduct to
the people, to see to it that he was deprived OF
the trust which he unworthily fulfilled. Upon
that suppose there can be no honest differ
ence of opinion.
What was done in point OF faotl Tn 1853
the fall of 1863 the parties held State Con-
ventions, and Mr. Breslin was nominated for
re election. Gov. MedilI was nominated for
Governor. Not word wus lisped to the peo
pie of the State as to the actual condition Of
their Treasury. That is true Was it right
! think there is nobody, be he Democrat OF Re-
publican, who will say that that was right
The people, ignorant of this mismanagement,
reelected Mr. Bresln in 1853 Encouraged by
impunity thus far, in ls54-5 he went on in the
same career, and at the close of 1856 when he
went out Of office, he had abstracted from the
State Treasury, between five and six hundred
thousand dollars, of which he rendered no ac-
count, There were, besides that, moneys de.
posted in unsafe places and such like, which,
| added to what is commonly called the deialca-
ton deposited by him in various institutions
as he alleged, in the exercise of his Iightlul
authority, where it proved to be insecure, and
! whore it has in part been lost TO the State
making the amount some three quarters or neal
a million Of dollars but the dedication which
there was no account anywhere, was between
| five and six hundred thousand dollars
This was known TO all the public officers
connected with the administration of the gov
ernment, and especially to the Auditor, TO the
! Governor, and To the transfer agent at New
| York. ! say that the existence OF some defal.
cation, and that measured by hundreds of thou
sands Of dollars, was known. About that there
can be no question.
What, again, was the duty of these agents
II seems to me that the duty Of these officers
was to communicate this information inlmed
ately to the people 1t was the duty, as il
seems to me, of the Governor 20 require Mr.
Bresin to resign his office, and then take biz
chances before the tribunals of the country, OF
Immediately to cause prosecution under ar
rest, and to bring about the appointment, un
der the Constitution, OF new Treasurer -
That seems TO me to have been the duty of tn
Governor and State officers Did they do it'll
We all know that they did not We all know
that these very State officers were nominate
for 70 election upon the same ticket with Mr.
Breslin they went on the same ticket wit
him, and thus gave TO his conduct before tn
people, although they knew what he was doing
the highest sanction. Was that right
think not
REPUBLICAN LEGISLATION AND ADMINISTRATION
Well, now, have said what tho Legislation
and administration upon this important sui
ject actually was. AS | have said, the Repub
lean party rose at this time Il was not tn
old Whig party 1t is not responsible for tn
acts OF the old Wing party Il is not tho Ere
Soil party it is not responsible for the acts q
the Free Soil party. Nor was it the Demo
cratic party 1t was a new party, or rather Al
old party revived. 1t was the Jellersonian Re
publicanism revived in 1854. That party j
1855 elected its State ticket and its members q
the Legislature, andit being a new patty, it !
to be tested by It's new acts,
The very moment the Republicans obiaine
the control Of the government, they sought I
reduce the expenditures so far as was in thel
power / cannot 90 into details upon that sui
iect, but il could, l could explain il more nj
nulely They went TO work TO organize a sy,
TEN for the safe keeping of the public money
What was that systemi IL required that th
, Treasurer should take bonds from every depol
ltary Of the public money, in such sums, an
with such securities, as would make the sal
keeping Of the money sure, beyond all questio
or peradveuture, That was the original priI
ciple.
Wei, all that have to say in regard TO thi
system, because il has hardly had lair trial
/ it existed only during the brief term Of the Re
publican administration, and only part OF that
all have TO say in regard TO it is that belle,
il the system had been adopted by the hr
Legislature which assembled uuder the ne
Constitution, that there would have been no dl
faleation 10 day 10 complain Of; believe II thi
system had been adopted, if in addition TO Iii
bond Of the Treasurer, there had been require
ofevery depositary sufficient security to obllg
them TO keep the public moneys safe, thel
would have been no detacatiOn, and your pul
lie moneys would have been in satisfaction
condition all the while. or that l have u
doubt
SO much in regard to Republican Legislation
Whether you THINK il was the best legiolatiC
or not dOn'tunaeEtake to say, but think "
{ will say thatit was incompsrably better tha
the absence Of all Legislation which Preceds
IL.
! Then fellow citizens, we come 70 administr
ton Here the first thing have TO say is Chi
Mr. Gibson was elected Treasurer Sir. Gil
} son entered into some arrangement or uDde
standing with Bresin by which he undortot
{ 10 conceal from the public bis deialeation
4 / A. EtIe,., Al ,.op,aaI A. Io ruf in l.