Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1859-04-01
The Treasury Robbersll
How They Yelled "Stop Thief" 10 Die |
rect Suspicion from ThemseIvesiI
And How They got Caught at til!

Tlcu III us ueNclNpVuivutS "BaiuS' INV Pi''i'
saical Committee of Investigation into the
Treasury frauds, by which it is conclusive.
ly proved that Morgan and Edgcrton, in
1854, they being respectively Auditor of
State and Trasfer Agent, knew that Bres-
lin was defaulter and the Treasury bank
rupt; that knowing this defalcation, Nor
gen and Edgerton, both leading and Office
holding Democrats, permitted Breslin to be
reuominatcd as State Treasurer, and Nor
gan himself for State Auditor on the same
ticket.
The annals Of rascality furnish no paral
lei to the impudoncc, the unbushing de-
pravity, the partisan shamelessness exhibit
ed by these faithless public servants, in
thus keeping secret for four years the most
stupendous fraud Of modern days, and then,
when Republican nerve had disclosed the
existence Of this Democratic fraud, procur-
ing the appointment from Democratic
Legislature, as investigators into crime in
which they were implicated, at least to the
extent of shielding the pcrpetrator from ex-
posure.
This denoucment-which will not sur
prise many Of our readers--is brought
about by exhuming from the archives vari-
Gus and sundry letters written by State Off
cials in 1855, prominent among which are
letters written to and letters written by Au.
T ditor Morgan, letters written to and letters
written by Transfer Agent Edgorton, and
letters written to aud from others.
Let it be remembered that it was the du-
ty of Auditor Morgan to investigate the af-
fairs of the Treasury and and report its con-
dition. In November 1854 Auditor Nor
gan reported to the Governor of Ohio that
there was balance in the State Treasury
fs5s4,6so and seven days thereafter he
/, wrote the following letter. to wit:
MORGAN TO ATKINSON.
Office Commissioners of Sinking Fund,
Columbus, O., Nov 22, 1854.
Hon, r. j. atkinson, Sd auditor Treas,
ury, Washington CITY.
Dear Snr:-The embarrassments which
seem to have overtakcn our State Treasury
have rendered it prudent, in the opinion Of
tho Commissioners of the Sinking Fund, tc
provide as far as in their power, for any
: contingency by which the prompt payment
Of the January interest may be put in jeop
ardy, and 10 this end they have resolved tc
convert the whole amount SlO6, 200 of Unit
, ed States Bonds now in their possession in
to coin on the advertised terms Of Secreta
# ry Guthrie, &c. (The letter inclosed the
e 100000 U. S. Stocks.)
He here proposes to violate the law ere
ating the sinking fund, and sell securities
= placed in his trust as Fund Commissioner
for the purchase of the State Bonds of ! s5t
5, at a proper time, to help pay $439,3s3 in
I terast, when he had stated officially tha
there was S594,6sO in the Treasury.
Mr.. Atkinson knew something of thu
5, hands into which the Treasury had fallen
and expressed himself freely as follows:
ATKINSON TO MORGAN,
d Washington, Nov. %, 1854.
Dear Sir:-Yours of the 22d, inclosinl
= U: s. stscks 100000, to be presented t
! the Secretary of the Treasury for redemp
ton was received this morning.
!
: What is the difficulty with the Treasury
Are the funds locked up in Ohio or Indians
!. suspended banks, or what is the matter p
| see it stated that draft for $4,000 ha
g been protested, but understand that grew
out of the bank from whom the exchang,
was purchased having failed to provide tn,
y means at New York to meet it. After all
: | fear the loudly boosted Saving of ex
change" by Mr. Breslin, and which was runs
in our ears so often during the last two win
ters, will prove losing operation in the end
perceive tho Statesman is out in favor O
an "Independent Treasury" All wei
: enough as have heard YOU say; doubtless
wheL we get Whig Treasurer Of State
there will be a good many Democrats VIII,
will be in favor Of that Same, but who, un
der "present circumstances" could see "n,
necessity for any change"
g. You may remember after failing 10 ge
= any action in the House upon the Treasury
bill, we stuck on the appropriation bill il
the Senate section covering the entir,
p ground as to loaning or depositiDg any o
c !. the moneys in the Treasury; but the House
/, in their wisdom, governed by Messrs. Gos
8 and McKenze,) struck it out, aud adhered
!, : to ii, and at the last moment were compelled
to surrender, or adjourn without making an,
o appropriations. Then the Statesman 10
Rather Mr.. s. s. Cox,) could laud the Fl
nance committee Of the House, and declar,
> that the odious section was only iRtendeC