The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-05-07

toms at The port of New York but whatever can be
done to bring these matters fairly before the Govern
ment and People Of this country shall be fearlessy
and faithfully attempted in closing my connexion
with the Commission which you instituted Tor the
purpose These causesI would greatly prefer ex-
planning to you privately rather than be compelled to
bring them before the public gaze. The alternative
is under your control and will be conformed to your
wishes, when made known.
| You inform me that Congress in motion and
hare been for come time, in relation to your (my) IN
vesligations )" and that resolution is before you
adopted by the House Of Representatives that sub
ject and therefore pleased to learn that my report
will be completed in two or three days. The resolu
ton of which you speak has relation to my pro-
ceedings or of the other Commissioners, call Is
made for the evidence but simply for the power under
whichthe Commission was created, and the expenses
attending it, and the fund out of which they have
been paid. The to this resolution must of
course be confined to the call, and will not embrace
my report or that of my colleagues, or the evidence
taken by the Com missioners. When these shall be
called for, ready to furnish my opinions all
the subjects brought before the Commission at any
moment am aware that misrepresentation, inten-
tionay made to mslead you, have emanated from the
guilty custom house oficers and their accompices,
and fear that to certain extent, they have been
cessful This deeply regret, because harmony be-
tween the appointing power and the agent is ndspep-
sable to give effect to the Investigations when they
shall be communicated to Congress, and through that
body to the Public.
You must be sensible that without union of action
no beneficial result be expected from any disclo-
sures made under the Commission of corruption in the
collection and pecuation on the public revenue re-
ceived at the Custom House in New York, where
twohirds of the imposs of the country collected
You cannot expect that those who hold office, and
whose conduct forms the subject of investigation, will
deal canddly with you in their representations that
conduct, speak favoraby of any Commissioner
whom they cannot bend to THEN purposes. FL
deity in the agent to examine into their official acts
is the worst crime in their estimation which such
agent could commit But, however, it may be in
| their power to bring to their aid influences which
| overshadow my own, cannot be deferred from the
independent attitude which have occupied and shall
to continue to occupy, in placing their conduct in
bold relief before the Government and country, what
ever may be the responsibility personal injury which
may incur in the performance of this high duty.
The idea that have unnecessarily delayed re-
port to the Secretary of the Treasury by any of
the Commissioners is utterly fallacious and inbound
ed which ready to verify and shall verify, when
it may become proper to do So find in letter writ
ten from this city by correspondent of newspaper
| in New York, who is not unknown to you, the fol-
lowing paragraph:
cold Poins is expected here in a day or two, and
then we shall learn something about the Custom
House investigation. Mr.. Steuart has been anxious
to make his report but Mr. Poindexter had the books
and papers in New York"
This statement is utterly false, come from what
quarter it may have never, at any time since the
Commission opened in New York, had possession ola
single original paper appertainng to the proceedings
of the Board for single moment otherwise than
had right of them in the hands Of the Sc
| cretary Of the Board
inclose you copy of an order made by the Com
missioners before Messrs Steuart and Bradley left
New York. which placed all the books, papers, and
records of the Commission in the custody of T. l..
Thruston and George Wood, secretaries to be deliv
cred at the Treasury Department TO the Commission
ers This order was executed, and the only books
and papers in my possession at New York were CO.
pies of the originals which were safely delivered at
the Department The paragraph of the letter above
quoted is wanton violation of truth and is Of cha
racter corresponding with every thing else which has
appeared in thai print coming through the same chan
nau" h nj th ether obec in view from inc
sent time than the public interests and your fame as
the Chief Magistrate of the nation have made
great personal sacrifices both of feeling and interest,"
in the discharge of my duties. The compensation
has fallen short of my actual expenditures, and my
business in the est has suffered TO extent which
cannot now estimate with any degree of accuracy
But all this should set down nothing if my la
bors should result in purifying that kennel of coup-
| ton and fraud, the New York Custom-house.
To accomplish this object thoroughly, the Govern
ment would be the gamer if it done at the cost
| of a half a million of dollars But confess looking
at passing events, my mind despairs of reaching
consummation devoutly to be wished. 1t Is not
Iny intention to press this correspondence further by
asking any reply to this communication should
not have written line to you on the subject had you
invited me to personal conference in relation to it
1t is, however, due to myself and to you that your
mind should, in some form or other, be dsabused OF
the volume of premeditated falsehood which know
has been communicated 10 you to withdraw from me
that confidence which has so long subsisted between
u.s. and thereby defeat the great ends for which you
caused the Commission OF investigation to be Instl-
tuted | will add, because it is strictly true that
there is not in existence man more sincerely and
disinterestedly your friend than myself. do not
deal in deceitful attery to recommend myself to any
favor in your gift, for seek none, and have sought
none at your hands; but when all the devices put in
reuusition by such men Curtis and Webster to de-
sroy me your estimation shall be detected and eX-
posed you will find that there is more value in unpleas-
ant truths than in receptions practised under the gse
of friendship, which never fail to end in cruel disap
pontment
Accept assurances of my high respect and consd-
Grafton. GEO. FOlNDEAlEA
The following is the Presidents reply:
WAsHINGToN, Feb. H. 1912.
DEAR SIR: must express my surprise at some OF
the remarks contained in youls OF yesterday more
especially the apprehensions you express that ocia
harmony between the appointing power and the agent
(mvseIf and you) may have suffered interruption
through representations made to by guilty GUS
om-bouse officers and other accompllces. leave
the remark without comment.
Nor can do less than express my regret that you
have found it necessary to couple the name of Mr.
w ebster with conspiracy "to destroy you in my es-
tmation a procedure which, if it have existence In
any quarter, has not come to my knowledge. Ger,
tam it is that Mr. Webster has uttered one WORD
of dsparagement Of you to me, nor am aware OF
his having been in the slightest degree connected
with any matter to your prejudice And submit II
it be not a poor compliment to myself 10 suppose me
deceived by any cnbnl, or conspiracy OF guilty Gus
house officers" or any others, if one existed
Be perfectly assured that there exists no cabal at this
, end of the avenue Of which | am cognizant of any
, sort or description.
The commission on ,chich my request you and
others consented to serre ,cas instituted, and the report Of
The Commissioners is ,canted by for my own
, information. l do not doubt but that ,cH contain
mann suggestions ci regard to the Custom Houses and