Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1837-02-16
NO. 34g.


uinaie appointments in abe cusrcn by Lit
t:fed the collector of Ncwpnrt. An ac-
count Of ihis transaction will be- f,und among
the record. Of the Senate, in n report ssaGe
on the last day ofthe session.
Sir. thr gentleman from Rhodr Island OBJ
je'trd 10 the resolution before is because tho
committee Nigh; r, quire the Dcpa gtmen,s to
furnish Information relating 20 rcm6rdis from,
cilicp. lie seemed horror.struck at The bare
thought OF snch IN investigation. Well may
il be- Grend.d; for there j. no part of the ac-
tion Of the Government IN winch there would
probably he found more corruption, injustice,
and oppression. But this, sir, is u spcgEc
charge, made by one Of his own ielIow-ctl-
zcns, Of an abuse pra,tlsed in his own State;
and the gentleman will, trust, od the com
mittce IN asccrtalpiug its truth.
Mcvil states IN his petition, TINT hr held
his appointment under the former collector.
Ellery, for ten years: ihoi ElI"ry wns satisfied
with his conduct. and 50 informed Littlrhpld.
his successor: TINT he wu- continued IN flee
by Littlafeld until March last, when he with
four Others Uas removed. lie ascllbes these
removals 10 the Influence of party spirit, and
more immediately Ia the proceedings nf"au
A Administration meeting held Mt New port,
and at which il IL SAID the gentleman from
Rhode Island was present. ! ask that hls
statement on This subject may be read.
! The Clerk rcnd the following passage:
| mot long after Mr.. Liitlefcld became col
lector, he was called on by those who rccom-
mendcd him to office, to know why he had
not made the re novals from and appointmc rts
to Office vi hich he had promised, in case he
obtained the appointment of collector. He
was accused of keeping in employment those
who had uniformly opposed the Adminstra-
al. ~ L
he was threatened with their displeasure ifhe
did not speedily comply with his engage
ments. made previons to his appointment. 4
meeting Of pnrtisans was soon after held,
styling themsevca "a committee of the Ad-
min!stration party where n list was made one
Of the officers of the customs required To be
removed, and those who were selected tn he
appointed in their places: which WAS sent to
the collector, Liillcield. with a request ihat
he would Immediately make those removals
+ and appointments; which list Of prescribed Of
fcers, and those who were 10 take ,hrir pla-
ces. was sent by the collector ,as his own list,
/ to the Secretary uf the Treasury ior his ap-
! proval, and II was approved of by the Secre-
itnry al Inc Treasury.
+ "Of the officers attached TO the customs a.
4 Newport, who held office when Mr.. Lil,le-
hcld came III as Collector. three were retain
ed and five removed; Of three retained, one
had not recently opposed the Administration,
ard gave ASSURANCES that he would noi IN fn-
! turc; the other two had uniformly voted with
, the Administration party. OF the FIVE rcinov-
| lone had sometimes voted with the Admin
I istration party. but declined voting when mem
bcrs of the General Assembly were 10 be
/ chosen, who were tn elect n Senator tO CoH-
/ Lrcss, his ialher-inlaw being the Wiig can
: dldatc; two OF them were not ireChOlders, ct
! course had no vote; ond two others, by their
votes hnd uniformly opposed the Adnrinistra-
ton party"
Il Mevill further states in his petition. rha,
= Littlefe'd told him that CoUgeshall had been
removed because he nnd his son had uniformly
roied against The .9dministraiiou; that no COM
plants had been made against him, (Melvlll;l
that he had performed his duties correctly
and faithfully; that it was not the collectors
wish that he should be rcmoved and that he
should be pleased to see him reinslated which
he ;honglt might be effected by a proper
, representation to the Secretary of the Tres-
, sury. He further states that an honorable
member Of Congress from Rhode Island, fer
whom he ha voted as long as he had n vote,
and to whom he applied for an explanation Of
, The cause of his removal, informed him "ihat
It was stated by one Of the committee who
VIII" made the nominations, that, five or six
years ago, when Governor Teupfr was can
ddatc for Governor, although Melvill voted
for hint, yet he voted for the whole ocpnsi-
, ton ticket" But the strongest reason for
his removal was "thn! he icas not possessed of
a feehoid estate, and could BE- Of no use 10 lie
. party, eren u he ,cns fdrornbic TO their meas
, Wts;" "that it was incumbent on the party t0
husband all their resourccs:" but further said,
iDhe ,conid possess himselfof n freehold 8-
tate, and support the Administration, he Shoms
. be appointed 10 b,Her o6fce, when the new
i custon-bonse act should pass" As to Cog
II. gcshall, that this same member Of Congress
told him he (C.l had been reinstated upon
"he express condition that he and his so,s
$ should IN future rote on the side ofthe Admin
isirdiion." Melvill solicited tho Secretary of
+ the Treasury to inform him for what cause
he had been removed, declaring that it would
be source OF consolation to him and his fam
. lily, To know that there were no charges
galnst HIM of incompctency or neglect. lie
addressed him again,represenling all tho facts
of his case, his support Of the Administration
! ever since the first election Of General jack
/ son, hs faithful services IN Office, his lnabill-
" at his advanced ageif deprived of its emo
lumcnts, To support numerous family. lie
, requested a copy of the report; and received
n brief answer, that the collector had only tr-
trci~ed his legal rights, and that the Depart
, mnnt SAFE no occasion for lis further nterftr-
srce, but would kape the responsibility on the
the collector. He repeated his request, and
f was answered that "thc representations OF
, collectors 10 the Department were. generolfy
/ of confidential nature" lie then, sir, pre-
scented his memorial To the Senate. IIc ask
. cd nothing for himself, but prayed ttei such
legislation might be had ss would res,roin, ,Sn
Gtfu plusc ,f had