, 1860-07-28
n SCHEMB DEFRAUD.. THE
Stair.

Joel L. Matteson was found TO be in the enjoy
ment Of about s23o, ooo 1hich had been stolen
| by some one iron, the State. The discovery
Was accidental, the result Of . set Of circum.
stances which no one could have foretold, and
which seemed to be the work Of m ine1osable
Providence for The unmasking Of stupendouH
crime. Aaaeson protested his innocence; but
being hard.pressed, and unable 70 mime any
man or men Of whom he honestly received a
dollar Of it, he proposed refuudlng tbe money
to the State, provided he was allowed FIVE
years time in which to do it. The time was
allowed, and the State now holds his obliga-
| ton, with security. for the amount Of stolen
+ Canal Scrip. But the Legislature. can, at any
time, release hin from the payment: Of this
sum; and the taxpayers Of Illinois hsd better
bear this in mind, and look closely to the cleo
ton Of members Of the Legislature.
Standing before the world. as the investiga-
ton by the Legislative Committee and the
Grand Jury at Springfield lsfe him, no one
can now hold social intercourse with Matteson
without the consciousness Of giving counter
snce TO man suspected Of a great crime It
is fair, therefore, to infer that whoever goes
about him for any olher purpose than business.
thinks Of this in advance, and would avoid it
ware he not impslled by something more than
an ordinary motive. What is that motive7
Matteson has great deal Of Money-that
in his possession belonging to the State, is, Of
itself very large sum. Money is convenient
in many ways-isis supposed to be somewhat
available in carrying elections. Matteson can
well afford to pay q great deal-$loo,ooo
eyen-for the election Of Legislature which
would release himr=Ifom $eso,oo0. He can
we'll afford to put $500 into Douglas Demo
cratic Wigwam, give $500 for Douglas DIS
monstration at Alton. Sl,5oo for d Douglas
demonstration at Spring field, including sere-
made and visit Of the crowd at his palatial res
idence, known as Scrip Villa other surns
as the erigencies Of tho Douglas party may
seem to require, to the extent Of the sum
nam,d above, or even more, if by 30 doing he
secures hin release Us debtor to the State.
1t is only bribing ths people with the lesser
half Of their own money to let him keep the
larger hale =: e:
Ia there not evidence that an enterprize for
releasing Matteson is actually On foot7:
Last january when the Douglas State Con-
sent'on which appointed delegates to Charles
ton, was in session, the members Of that Con-
vention, very generally, attended party ut
Aateson's house. He was not appointed 4
delegate to Chnrleston, but when the time
came he went along as an outside disciple Of
Douglas carrying the bag-with perhaps the
States money in it. The bag. understood,
was very convenient to many Of the starve-
lings who went from this State to bluster
Douglas into tho nomination for the Presi-
dency, and it would be very rash to conclude
that Matteson is not yet to be recompensed.
Again it has beaens the custom at every
important or even trivial Douglas demonstra.
tion at Springfield, to make visit to Scrip
Villa aud pay court to Mattsson. OF course
the men who do this, either believe, oF have
made up their minds TO the pretence Of bel:ey-
ng, that Aatteson is innocent, and ought to |
oe released from paying back the State this
stolen money traced to his possession, and for
he possession Of which be is unable to giye |
ny satisfactory or honest account.
But are the taxpayers Of Illinois ready for
bis? Do they wish to be bribed with tho
mallpart their stolen money, to let the larger
lslf stay in those Golfers where it oil would
ave remained but for an accidental discovery
After having their money stolen from them,
re they for reinstating the man in whose pos
ession it was found, and every subsequent
movement Of whom has but tended to confirm
he suspicion which first attached to him? If
hey are, it is their owa business. But if they
ne not, they will not be blind to what is now
;oing On before their own eyes They will
AXE coguizanoe ofthe efforts which Mattsson
> now making to secure the election Of
Douglas Legislature, knowing that with his
'eavy liability to the State, he would make no
uch expenditures Of money as be is making,
ho had notthe assurance Of ultimate recom-
euse.
We sound the alarm for the benefit Of the
ax-payers. Let them look at the signs-