The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1860-01-26

John Mckinney, for the manner in
which he managed the Saul Ste Marie
Canal Fund, but it is duty we owe to
our readers to expose wrong doing in
public offices, as we'll in friends as foes,
and we have no disposition to hide the
wrongs committed by any public Off
Ger, although he be of the same politi-
cal faith. The statement of the facts
we give as we have them, reserving
for the future any explanation which
the State Treasurer may make in refer
ence to them, or his motives in the
transaction.
The Detroit Tribune states the case
thus briefly and to the point:
In pursuance of the provisions of
law the Governor and the State Treas
urer advertised for bids for the Saul Ste
Marie Canal loan, and at the appointed
timeforreceiving and opening them, they
proceeded to New York to make the
award. Messrs. Hazleton & Co. being
the highest bidder" the award was
given to them, and the bonds taken for
the payment of the money on the first
of July last or to secure the state against
loss if they failed to pay. The bonds
having been properly prepared and
signed, the State Treasurer proceeded
to New York TO receive the money and
deliver the bonds on the first of July
The amount of the loan and premium,
s1O2, 900, was placed to his credit at the
Artizan's Bank in that city; but instead
of receiving the money, there appers to
have been "private side understand
ing" that the Treasurer should give
Hazleton & Co. his check on that bank
for $4,000, and receive their voucher
for that amount. The purpose of such
peculiar financiering does not yet ap-
pear. Why Hazleton & Co., the osten-
sible purchasers of the bonds, were al
lowed to retain one-half of the pro-
ceeds and be made depository of
$4,000, is mystery. The law makes
it the duty of the State Treasurer, "be-
store he shall have made any bank a
depository of surplus funds belonging
''to the State, to take good and ample
"security, to be approved by the said
"Treasurer, the Auditor General and
"the Secretary of the State, for the safe
excepting and reimbursement of said
"funds whenever called for, and the
payment of interest thereon, at the
"rate Of not less than five per cent. per
"annum."
Hence, in making Hazleton & 90. a
depository, without that security re-
quired by law, the Treasurer violated a
duty, which we are compelled to say,
cannot be reconciled with duty and in
tegrity to official obligation or honor.
1t was gross violation of the conf
dence reposed in him by his personal
and party friends which cannot be over
looked.
Immediately upon receiving the
above sum upon deposit, or as loan,
it is said the firm of Hazelton & Co.,
failed in business.
The board of State Auditors, on as
pertaining these facts, communicated
them to Gov. Wisner, who with Attor-
ney General Howard, Immediately pro-
ceeded to New Yord and obtained am
pie and satisfactory security for the
$4,000 and interest since July last.
This, we are happy to state, absoIves
the State from any loss IN the matter
aohatecer. But this does not absolve
the Treasurer from blame; he has
done wrong, and so far as we can see,
wilfully. He knew the law, and should
have complied with it to the very let
ter. If these charges against him are
true-and we have 70 reason to doubt
the truth of the statement-he should
be promptly removed from the office
he has failed to fill honestly and salts
factorily. This is due not only to the
people of the State, but to the party,
which has thrice confided important
trusts to his care. But whether Mr..
Mckinney be guilty of this wrong or
not, the damage can only affect himself
and friends-as party can only be
held responsible for the maladministra-
ton Of its officers to the extent that
such acts are apologized for and de-
Tended.
The Republican party, we agree
with the Grand Rapids Eagle, belongs
to no man-was organized to subserve
the interests of no man or class of
men it was the outgrowth of, and has
its existence and force in, the moral
sentiments of the people and this
party can never palliate or tolerate Off
cial turpitude on the part of its repre-
sentatives. The fate of the party
which formerly held the reins of pow
in this State should serve as a warning
in this respect, to say nothing of the
duty which devolves upon every citi-
zen, and especially upon every public
journal, to criticise the acts of public off,
GERS, and expose all evidence of un-
faithfulness or corruption which may
be detected therein.