New-York tribune., 1873-05-24
4 MINNESOTA IMPEACHMENT TRIAL

MINNESOTA IMPEACHMENT IhihA'
THE pEyAmr1NG STATE TREASURER ON TRIAi-His-
RORY oy THE EMBEzzIYNENT-THR REAL DE-
v.rurER THE TREAsURER's soN-N-LAw
irpou AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRrBUSEl
Sr. PAUL, May 16.-The defalcatiOn which
has created such an excitement in this city took place
dnrine the time when Emil Munich was treasurer, his
term ending at the close OF 1871. Munich had taken
$4,000 of the States money 10 bolster mp some ialng
business undertakings hoping to replace the sum Deiore
long The States money, however, went Where DIS own
had gone and there apparently nothing left but ior
his bOndsmen-al moneyed men-to make good the loss
But by coincidence which is thought not at all strange
by come, Munch's fatherin-law, WIN. Seeger, who
yas deputy under Munich, had been nominated
and elected by the Republicans, to succeed 10
the Office OF Treasurer II he did not know OF 1t BEFORE
seeger could not avoid discovering the deficit In the
Treasury Immediately his assuming ONCE lnsteao'
them of demanding that Munich should return the
money, and, when unsuccessful In that demand OF
making TIE defalcation public Mr. seeger set about
eonceang the crime Of his sonnaw. 1t is customary
for legislative committee examine the funds in the
Treasury to themselves that the accounts are
correct When the time came for this examination soon
after Seeger wasinstaled Munchs bondsmen advanced
the Treasurer the s2OO necessary TO make the proper
exhibit The committee OF the Legislature found the
and at once seeger handed back the $4,000 to the
bondsmen, actually making himself a defaulter,
whereas before he had only been acces-
sorry in sn indirect way. Dir. Seeger then
went 10 work-ony following the example OF
his predecessors 1t may be said-in lending banking ana
mercantile establishments various sums belonging 70
the State When the Legislature met this year had
already been whispered that sl not right In the
Treasury, and, following call by The Dispatch for
thorough investigation Senator Ward Liberal Repub-
lcan, moved for Special Committee The Committee
was agreed TO. and was selected by the Lieutenant
Governor with evident eye TO an impartial trial.
While this Committee at work. and indeed, after 1t
had obtained positive evidence of the alleged Irregular
itles the regular House Committee paid their annual
visit 10 the Treasury and with blare Of trumpets pro-
nounced everything to be "a it should be. Again the
bondsen Of Munich and the persons to whom Seeger had
lent the States money had supplied the Treasurer with
certificates deposit TO conceal the actual condition OF
affairs. These certificates would have been returned
Immediately. at the examination OF the previous
year. but not considered prudent to do so until
the Special Committee had ceased its researches This
Committee after multitude OF denals and preyarica-
tons by seeger finally forced him TO confess.
full and extensive report was prepared, and, coming
Immediately after the whitewashing report OF the
House Committee, 1t had truly startling teGect The
timely discovery prevented the withdrawal Of the
fcates deposit and the State Treasury has suffered
no substantial loss.
Upon the presentation OF this report to the Legsla-
ture a motion made by a Democrat in the Lower
House for the impeachment Of seeger The Republicans
had been confused by the Of the facts narrated
and took fright at the prospective injury 10 their party
interests should Treasurer be impeached
1t grossly mpoliuc course, but between fear and
the party whip tho motion to impeach voted down.
But soon the Republicans the mistake they had
made and with a preparatory censure OF exceeding
mdness requested Mr. Seeger 10 resign Seeger banky
refused 70 S anu H9 bv Tube csnoT
the Republicans determined 10 shut their eyes aud
gulp down the impeachment morsel unpalatabe though
1t Almost at The close Of the last day OF the ees,
son FIVE representatives OF the Lower House appeared
at the bar OF the Senate and formally presented articles
Of impeachment There arose hyeiy debate concern
ing the OF the Hgh Court OF Impeachment to sit
following a precedent from New-York practice. IL
decided that the court could Sit and the 2Oh of this
trial The Legislature then adjourned. and, within
few days, the case took new face. The Treasury ring
yestgation, and determined 70 stop the trial trial
al hazards ni,,,, Mr. ;n sSeger was tSld
Wheeock editor Of the posoce organ in this city,
wrote for Mr. seeger really touching letter of resigna
ton, in which Mr. Seeger made that the
OF defense would be than his means could sustain,
ana taat Inere0re' ne mSt goit MS once athoueh
ceped the resignation and by 80 doing Injured his own
future prospects hot te; Lse etter Oh acceptance
gwen 10 Thomas Murphy. The Governor, how
doiae by introducing the plea that his refusal 70
accept it would not invaldate the resignation
On che other hand the argument used by the Ring
is that the managers of the impeachment have power
70 proceed under the circumstances. The managers
however WILL without doubt appear before the Court OF
impeachment with their case prepared. the duty OF
dra wing up the assigned to Mr.. WlistOn,
Democrat and lawyer Of nigh reputation the State
What tue Senate may do IL is impossible guess
with any degree Of certainty there will be enormous
party pressure used 70 force them dismiss the case
entirely upon the ground OF Seeger's esgnation.
In the time, the Grand Jury OF this county have
the OF Seeger and Munich under consideration and
may possibly bring criminal indictments against them
Such result wonld, think, be almost unanimously
regretted In this community far Mr. Seeger Is
cerRed, for he personally very much liked Not
Of those who most vigorously demanded his im-
parchment is without sympathy for " old Seeger,"
he is generally In his private transactions
his reputation is unsOed and the worst part Of his
crime a public officer at least for his own
benefit, but In weak, good-natured effort 10 shield a
relative. The popular desire for the continuance O the
impeachment trial is not with the desire OF wreaking
vengeance Seegar but in the hope Of disclosing
that will forbid repetition Of such Ofenses with pos.
siby more serious results.
THE TREASURER CONVICTED.
ST. LOUIS, May ga special dispatch from
st. Paul says the Minnesota 6tate Senate sitting as
Court Of Impeachment in the OF Seeger the State
Treasurer found him guilty, last night and passed SEN
tenoe, formally removing him from Ofhco.
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