The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1860-11-09

upon the State, this blow falls with crush;n o
weight upon Mr.. Ba,es's own family, and his
bondsmen at Mortified, most of whom are
men in moderate circumstances, and which
to reimburse the State. will take every dollar
they are possessors Of.
We believe this is the first act of Official
disgrace which has stained the fair name of
our State, and We hope it may be the last
There are many who blame-and we think
with reason-those friends Of Mr.. Bates who
have ardently pressed his claims for re-eec-
ton each year Mr.. Bates intimate friends,
as we'll as some others, knew years ago that
he was not competent man for the place.
There is also no little speculation as to
what has become of this large sum of mon
ey. Mr.. Bates certainly has not got it
Who has 1t is a sad case in its most favor
able aspect, and is so considered by all right
minded persons.
Mr.. Bates absconded the day before his in
Equity was found out His whereabouts has
not yet been ascertained.
Since the above was in type we clip the
following from the Springfield RpuJlican :
"The citizens of Vermont are astonished
and not more astonished than mortified. al
the defalcation in the accounts of their late
state treasurer, Henry NJ Bates of North
field. Mr. Bates had always held high
place in the good opinion of the people. and
whether as cashier of the Mortified bank. or
treasurer of the state during the last six
years, first elected in 1854. his integrity had
passed unquestoned. Indeed, the security
that was fc!t in him, and the fact that Yer
mont had never had any trouble abcu, he,
accounts, left him almost free from restraint.
tie could handle the funds about as he liked
and his accounts run on from year 20 year.
while the governor and legislature took no
specia! pains to look into them his bonds.
moreover, were loose and insufficient and il
is doubtful it anything can now be realized
theretrom. Mr.. Bates spccuIated he invest
ed good deal in marble and soaps stone en-
terprises, and was largely interested in the
ali ->eHS III purchase Iied! DufilnStOn.tN-
pecting to make a fortune IL the "verd a,-
tique marble upon it ard being screv disap-
pointed. Where all the mo,.ev went to how-
ever, it is Impossible to tell. The new state
treasurer John r. Page of Ru,land.) discov-
ers deficit of some $4,000, and he and the
Legislative committee on ways and means are
at work the books, revealing new dscrep-
ancies every day. The prospect Of recover
ing any great portion of the embezzled funds
is not flatterns: Mr.. Page thinks $4,000 is
as much as The state can hope to get. 1t is
bad piece OF business, and very little is vet.
probably, known Of its true history. There
are all sorts Of rumorS. and names are con-
netted with the transac,icn that had better
not be mentioned until the truth is known
MIR. Bates has fled. and where he may be-
found is not known ;he was last seen to pass
through Troy. y. y. The immediate etf.c,
of the Development at Montpelier will be to
knock in the head all proposed appropria-
tons except the necessary annual ones. The
legislature viii now, probably, DO something
decisive. in order i.at such accidents ma, l.,
prevented IN future, and Il variety ofmc,lods
are proposed.