The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-09-07
From the Newark Advocate. f
ur. Red-Patch Stone aud his
ScuFVy FalsehOOds.

scurvy FalsehOods.
Notmsny years ago, the OAiO State Jour.
nal and men now among the leaders Of the
Republican party in Columbus, proved by
sundrY sffidavits, that A. P. Stone, then a
Democratic candidate for Congress, thought
and declared that all mechanics should be re-
quired to wear red patch on the seat o.
their breeches to keep them from being mis-
taken for gentlemen. This same Stone, as
might naturally be expected, has since leII
the Democratic party, end is now the Re-
publican Treasurer of State, and is laborins
for a reelection. In imitation OF Gibson
HE illustrious predecessor, he is sbroad over
the country making stump speeches instead
Of applying himself to the faithful discharge
Of his official duties. A few days ago, he
was at county meeting in Lancaster. A
correspondent of the Ohio Statesman, in
giving the points of bis speech at that place
says: -.... ....... .
"He charged that Morgan, Trevitt, Edgerton
and Medill with Breslin's defalcGtion in The
fall Of 1854, and that they went deliberately ly
to work to aid him to cover it up by borrow.
ing money to meet the January interest and
withheld that information from the people.
He repeated his charge and remarked that il
was serious charge and then proposed tG
prove it. He read several of Morgun's let.
lers, and one of Morgan's reports to prove
it," ......
Now, II Mr.. Treasurer Stone said what he
is above alleged to have declared, we must
be pardoned for intmatiDg our conviction
that it will be wise no; to repeal the Peni
tentiGry clause OF the Sub Treasury law at
least so long ss he continues in the Tressu-
ry. As has been shown over and over again,
it lie an utter falsehood to assert thut BresIin's
colleagues knew that he was a detoulter Ell
ther in the fall Of 1854, or at any other time
up 10 the close of his term of Office. Nei.
ther the Auditor, nor any other Exective
Officer, so far as we know or believe, had
knowledge that Breslin had sustained the
loss Of single dollar until the very eve OF
his retiring from office, and even then their
information was limited to his claims against
w. w. Cones & Co., the Commercial Bank
of Toledo, and Chase's City Bank Of Gin.
cinnati. Their knowledge of these losses
arose through Mr.. Breslin's desire TO put the
claims in the hands of the Attorney Gene
raj and thus square his final account BY
creditng himself with their amounts as
"claims in the hands OF the Attorney Gene
raj Tor collection" As Breslin had con-
cealed from his colleagues all knowledge of
these transactions up to the close Of his
term, Col. McCook who was also soon to
retire,) peremptorily and very properly re-
fused to touch them, but advised Breslin to
make a fair and unreserved statement of all
The facts to the Legislature, which wos to
meet within fortnight.
II Mr.. Treasurer Stone, in his stump
speeches, shall declare that Morgan, ,Trevitt,
&C., entertained fears that BresIin was en-,
dangering the public money by putting it out
as his Whig predecessors had done, he will
only say what their printed official reports,
as early as the summer of 1852, publicly
proclaimed. But the Democratic State off
GERS had no power to investigate the affurs
,f the Treasurer's Office or to see how that
officer used his money, or to know whether
t was certainly safe. They had no right
as is now the CASEY to enter and examine
he condition of the Treasury, as they ought
o have done, end as they sought 10 obtain.
The laws, as they then stood gave Breslin
he absolute and exclusive control, not only
If the ordinary revenue, but also of the
Sinking Fund, up to the very day it was
payable in New York, and neither the Go
vernon the Auditor nor the Fund Commits.
'ioner had power to restrain its use or know
where or how it was kept. In the fall of the
year 1854, the Auditor and Fund Commits
nssioners fearing that Breslin would prove
% be involved in the bank disasters which
in Nova hop IF hat
Is We venture to affirm, took steps to guard
against his possible failure to promptly pro
tide the money to pay the approaching jan
larry interest in New York. They did not
borrow as Stone falsely alleges, but avsiled
themselves of means which they had tempo
'arily invested 10 stocks of the United States
md which "a man even as superficial as Stone
,ught to know were Lawfully applicable to
he Payment either of the interest or the
principal Of the State debt OF Ohio. But
he fears of Mr.. Bresin's colleagues PROVED
'RouNDLEss-he promptly provided every dol
ar Of The interest money, Upwards OF $780,
.oO, on the day ii a0as required Yet Mr..
Treasurer Stone says that this transaction
hows that Morgan, Trevitt, Edgerton and
Nedill knew of Breslin's dedication in the
all Of 1854"
1t seems almost useless to show up the
alsehoods OF such fellows as this red patch
Stone for he seems not TO have sense or de-
'ency enough to know that he ought to be
shume6 of such stupid and wilful lying as
le has been practising. Not days delay
occurred in meeting any portion OF the in
crest at the close OF December, 1854; but
'elay did occur in meeting part Of the in
crest in July. 1855. This latter fact Gun.
eservedly set forth in the Fund Commis-
ioDers' report, August, 1859 was known
md publicly commented on by Hon. Alfred
Kelley during the discussion in the Senate
PREVIOUS to his examination Of the Treasury
n March, 1866. Senator Taylor was pre-.
ent and participated in that disc ussion.-
Auditor Wright, it is not unreasonable to
oppose, may have learned OF that delay, by
December, 1856, when he "actually count
ID" the funds in the Treasury. Yet ali
hese distinguished Republican inanciers
liter three distinct and careful personal ex.
Of the Treasury, and willis,
ware of Breslin's failure to meet promptly
he July interest of 1855, instead OF report.
ng the existence of the defalcation, "KEPT
T CONCEALED FROM THE PUB.
1IC," for according to Stone, Chase q Co.,
thut there was a delay in the
nyment OF the public interest, or fear that
clay might occur, was equivalent to knowl
dge that the Treasury deIalcatioD actually !
xisted This is simply the philosophy OF
;hase, Stone & Co., applied to able men Of
heir own party, one OF them (Senator Fay
or) being their present candidate for State
AUDITOR. Surely these Republican gentle
nen have cause to excleim, "sGve Us from
ar friends"