The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-03-30
The Investigating Report-Concluded

We give to-day the remainder OF the report
of the Investigating Committee on the defalca-
ton of Mr.. Peck. We understand that the
bondsmen of Mr.. Peck acknowledge their liabil-
ity to the State, and that arrangements have
been made, or will be made soon, which will
ensure the speedy payment of oil the money
due the State into the Treasury. The State will
not therefore ultimately be the loser by the
affair, though the bondsmen will suffer great
pccuniary loss.
No remarks that VIC can make will add to the
disgrace which attaches to the cx-Treasurcr
and some ofthc men whose names figure in the
report. Crininally censurable as Mr.. Peck is
conceded to have been, VIC cannot refrain ex-
pressing the opinion that his real guilt does not
exceed that chargeablc upon those who first
tempted him to transgrcss the laws, and know
insly connived with him to get possession OF
the money of the State in his keeping. We
need not mention names but VIC have no hesi-
tation in saying that those who obtained the
State money in sums OF one, two and three
thousand dollars ut n time, and who coolly told
the committee that they were not aware it was
the States money, were guilty of perjury
Their conflicts of testimony shows this The
committee say with perfect propricty that such
declarations were little else " than an insult to
their intelligence" and we presume there Is
not a sensible man who has read the report but
has arrived TO q similar conclusion.
The committee find that none of the money
distracted blythe ex-Treasurer. was used for
political purposes. Their enquiries were push
ed in every possible direction, and the conclu-
sion 10 which they unanimously arrive, eilectu-
ally disposes OF this SANDER, invented for po-
litical purposes; and the report shows the in
correctness of the idle rumors upon which
some of the democrat presses had the baseness
to make sncaking inuendos and unjust suspic-
ions against individuals of the republican party.
These SANDERS, SO industriously circulated with
out the State by the Boston Courier, and with
in the State by the Democratic press, and cs-
pecially by the Bangor Union and the Portland
Argus, are set forever to rest, and the persons
who were sought to be injured by these stories,
exonerated as they are by hereport. need pur-
sue the matter no further.
The report, rs has been intimated, bears the
signatures of all the members of the committee,
the names of the democrats, as well as the re-
publicans. 1t is xritten in the clearest and
most logical manner, and from beginning to
end shows most clearly that the committee in
the discharge of Its duty knew nothing but
their duty to the State, and had no desire to
screen the persons implicated from that pub
lie censure which justly belongs to illegal and
criminal acts. ....
As matter OF course some Of the leaders OF
the democracy of the State, and those who have
charge of a democratic press, oblivious OF the
democratic corruption and proaigacy in their
own ranks, are using the matter as political
capital with which to injure the republican
party. This is to be expected, but their Efforts
will avail little. The republican party cannot
suffer very much through the dishonesty of in
dividuals claiming to be republicans. II is on
ly when party winks at corruptions. STILES
all enquiry into alledged official dishonesty,
and screens by its acts, persons charged with
malfeasance in office, that 1t can be permanent
ly injured. In this case there has been no at
tempt to cover up dishonest practices but on
the contrary the fullest inquiry has been made
by republican legislature into the matter,
the persons implicated have been brought to
the bar of public opinion and steps, have been
taken speedily and resolutely to bring the
whole matter to light. When party act thus
fearlessly, it cannot be very much injured BY
the dishonest practices of individuals.