Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-01-04

the QePfaNoQt ana the ulfop p61teIt Cffl1l-
nal, must ever be extended at the Expense
of the community that Is entitled 10 pre-
lection against him. The offender must
be brought to realize that deteetion and
conviction certainly follow crime; snd that
trans erosion against human, as against
Divine law, must be atoned by repentance.
If, disregarding these considerations, par
don becomes easy, or yielding to imPortu-
mites, certainty of puntshment is impaired,
and the inducement to stOnement destroy
ed. The line, 1 admit, is difficult one;
and therefore il Is that the duty assumes 3
grave and responsible character. The
wisest man may err in 1.-THE can only
strive to perform it honestly and justly.
PUBLIC PRINTING.
The Supervisor of Public Printing re-
signed his position on the lst of December,
and w. II. Foster, of Columbus, was sp-
pointed TO the vacancy. If this Office is
regarded by the Legislature as of any val
ue or Importance, the compensation must
be materially increased before it can be
permanently and advantsgeously filed.
As one of its qualifications, it requires 8
practical printer. Such an one, competent
to discharge its duties can, now earn double
the salary in his occupation. l regard it IS q
very important one under the present sys-
tenn of aontract printing. An officer OF
competency and integrity can save the
State large amount of money annually;
but he must be able to give the matter his
entire time and attention during the
larger portion of the year. No such man
can afford to do that st the present salary.
/ y1ar,uf ut,r,5n Vooarc
of living, for on this alone he would soon
become Impoverished. This coupling of
public trusts with other employments is
not good economy. A position so impor-
tsnt rs this should proffer inducements to
men of character and integrity to devote
their time and talents to the full perform
ance of its duties, and to stand with per-
feet Independence between contractors and
the public treasury.
| Mr.. Foster has all the merits and quali-
fications Of q good officer, bnt he cannot
afford to abandon other employments, ard
give to this his entire time and attention.
He will be diligent and faithful 10 the ut
most of his ability, and will devote to it
i such portion of his time as other ayoca-
tions, actually essential to his support will
admit. trust you will give this subject
early consideration.
| FINANCIAL AGENT IN NEW YORK.
a conflict Of opinion having arisen be-
tween the Commissioners Of the Sinking
Fund and myself in regard to the ppoint-
ment of the Financial Agent of the State
in the City of New York, it is proper l
should make a statement of the facts in
regard to it.
The 6Sth section Of the act in relation
to Fund Commissioners provides that "the
Agent of the State, as herein provided,
shall be appointed by the Governor of the
State, on the recommendation, in writing,
of majority of the Board of said Com
missioners of the Sinking Fund, for the
term of two years, and mag be eligible to
re-dppoiHtne7st." In May, 1862, Addison
P. Russell was duly recommended by the
Fund Commissioners, and appointed by
the Governor for the term of two years
from July 10th, 1862. On the oath Of
May, 1864, the Secretary of State and At
torney General, as Sinking Fund Com
missioners, recommended the appointment
Of John NJ: Armstrong as State Agent
for the term Of two years from the expirs-
ton Of Mr.. RusselPs official term. My
own construction of the statute Wss, that
as Mr.. Russell had been duly recommend
ed and appointed in 1862, he was Heligible
to re-sppointment" by the Governor with
out any further or additional recommend
alton by the Commissioners. No other
man could have been appointed by the
Governor alone; but Mr.. Russell was un-
questiopably eligible thereto, and his
"eligibility" consisted in his prior recon-
mendation and appointment. The statute
clearly intends this, or that provision hss
no meaning whatever. -.l.
On the 7th Of June, addressed note
to the Secretary of State and Attorney
General, asking them to inform me "wheth-
or there Is in your Board, or with the men,
bers thereof any information or charges
of misfessanee or malleassnee in offiee
against the present incumbent of that po-
sition, or any want of cRpabi,ity or integ-
rity on his part, which renders it the duty
of the public officers, in the protection of
the interests of the State to supercede
him, or which impairs his eligibility to
re-appointment' On the 10th of June
these gentlemen reply at soma length,
treating my enquiry as foreign to the sub
ject but Indirectly admitting that they
have no charges to mako against the Off
cial character or integrity Of Mr.. Russell.
On the Goth l presented to the Secretary
of State and Attorney General my views
and construction of the law, and notified
them that had re-sppointed Mr.. Russell
State Agent in the city of New York, for
the term of two years from July 10th,
1864 Ga the 23d of june, (which, owing
to my absence from the city, did not reach
me until the 9th Of July, these gentlemen
reply at some length, notifying me that
they dispute my right to make this ap-
peintment; that they will resist Mr.. Rus
sells authority, and refuse to acknowledge
any of his official acts. present you the
entire correspondence. The final COM
munication OF the Commissioners does not
display the most perfect amisbility Of tenn
per but as it was mainly devoted to po-
iitical topics, that could be more usefalIy
and properly discussed elsewhere, 1 al
lowed it to remain as the 'last word" Of
the official correspondence,
On the 10th of July. the Secretary and
Attorney General, as Commissioners, pub
Iished in one or more of the papers of the
city of New York notice (of which I
append copy to the correspondenoe,) re-
pudisting Mr.. Russell as the Agent of the
State, and declaring that "no acts of his
will be recognized by the Board of Fund
Commissioners" Holders of stock were
put to considerable expense, trouble and
delay by this arbitrary and illegal act of
the Commissioners Whether the credit
or character of the State were materially
affected by it, am not able TO say. This
spirit of hostility to Mr.. Russell has been
continued to the present time; and among
other manifestations Of it, his compensa-
ton, as the Commissioners inform you,
has been withheld from him. The pay
ment of this will probably require the
special action of the Legislature; and 1
respectfully recommend it to your early
attention. The radical change made in
the Board of Commissioners ct tho recent
election will probably ObViste any further
difficulty in this particular.