Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1841-03-18
NETWORK CUSTOM HOUSE.
To The Editors efh The Ncp- York Express:

To The Editors Of h Nc,o- York Express:
The administration Of Mr.. Hoyt was a system ofhigh
pressure action, as was known by those behind the
scene, and as the public have learned in some measure
by his expulsion.
The object Of this communication, and Of future
ones, will lie TO e~nlighlen The public mind, and to show
what has been really transacted 10 the Custom House
Department.
The frauds committed under Swartwouts admins
iraiion, by officers of the Customs, are already before
the public. The zeal manifested 10y Mr.. Hoyt, in fer
retipg these out, deserved and received commentator :;
but the state OF affairs was used by him as a means Of
acts more disgraceIul and dishonofable, than any others
that have stained the annals of tie Custom House, as
the records of our courts will 20 to show. Mr.. IIoyt
was essentially a tyrant towards those about him. Sci
flslness and avarice, united with a naughty insulence
Of mien, and extremely i|orbiddine and coarse manners,
to those whose integrity he dare not approach, while
he was supple 10 those who were found abiect and
mean enough To play the part of tools, pimps, and af-
hdavit makers He was logged, cold and rude To
those who were far above him in moral worth, homes
~, and intelligence in the Custom House, and whon he
did not dare TO approach for the purpose Of aid in car
rying out his views.
Blu, Mr.. Iioyt knew his men. lie selected those
whose salaries were small, whose principles were phi.
ant, and whose necessities were great. This created
two parties in the Custom House Department one
anxiously bent on carrying ont his designs, for the pur-
poses which can be guessed by the results which have
followed IN their pecuniary affairs, which are too pal
paHle to he misunderstood. a salary of a thousand,
or even fifteen hundred dollars, does not often build
several fine brick houses, keep a carriage, &c. &c
A word to the wise is sufficient. The public have
eyes.
The press of both political parties was filled with re-
ports of enormous frauds, after all those frauds had
ceased A prejudice was created against certain
classes of English AMI French importers. and they were
selected as the victims of avarice and prejudice. Not
that any fraud was alledged against them, but only be-
cause they were in the power of the Collector. Their
goods were all stopped at the Custom House, and they,
knowing that if they attempted to eGIer them they would
hp gntZal "a liar m, rapnatn IN TIN tIlu At,ra. I'LL tiu
enormous amount OF nearly two millions Of dollars was
thus accumulated. The crime of the importers was
precisely such as induced condemnation in the Spaa-
ish lnquIsitiun IN old times. They were rich, or at
least controlled riches, and each one was put m the
scale, TO see how far, 10 use the phrase Of the great in.
stigator Of all these proceedings, they would bear
squeezing They were also foreigners, and rivalry
united with this fact To create n prejudice.
The detention of 50 many goods was felt not only by
the owners, but the Secretary at Washington bcgIn to
feel Inc want Of the duties. Finances were low. but
the goods could not be sei2ed-and il they were. they
would probably not be cOndemned-as the lures I'M
derstood the thing too well for that Notwithstanding
the chances are and were nineiy-nine IN a hundred
against the importer, as the law at present sianjs, or
at least as at present construed. These wicked i'm
pOneTs therefore were CivIlly approached, and gently
Informed, that If they would not enter these goods they
should Tor ever remain locked up; bat If they would
pay As a gratui,y, (called compromise, but IL was nuD
according to their ability, from twenty-five thousand
dollars down To less than five. they might be restored
80
The same Tune II was indirectly understood, that the
Custom House could add double that sum to tie amount
ct duties, and instead Of paying FIVE per cent. on their
lmporiations, they might be compelled 10 pay f1y.-
The cheapest course was adopted. Tins squeeze 9
amounted 10 near one hundred and fifty thousand dol.
lars
suits were commenced against some individuals who
had been merchants here for thirty years, and to whom
terms have beer offered from ten Thousand dollars
down 10 the cost OF issuing lie viii. These gentle
men would not be 'squeezet.' These suits are sol, TO
be tined How much Mr. Hoyt viii get Tor a sun COM
nlenoed for a violation Of Mr.. Jefersou's embargo, the
public NIL also know. The gentleman was To DO
squeezed
HE ground Of all these high handed measures, was
the confidence reposed by Mr.. Van Buren, m the col
lecioi. and he perfect security that Mr. How fell ia
HE re election Of the eH-PWsiden,. Tie dlsappoint-
ment 10 TINS respect IS the reason why the public are
al length enlightened on the subject OF Mr.. Hoyis ac-
oouais That Mr. Hoyl wac a ceauiler was known
10 Mr.. Noodbuiy many months (uearly tWe.yc) before
any movement was made 10 turn him out. Tie cerI.
hcale OF Tie Naval Officer was withheld, and u Is said
lhe Secretary Of the Treasury threatened 10 report Nj
Hoyt to the President The Extra Session viii star
lie the public, by is Developments as 10 h- accounts