Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1842-09-29
EXPOSITION BY JONATHAN ROBERTS
FaoM THE UNIFIED SrArss CAssrrs.
TO THE PUBLIC.

ness toWdfuS the I>TeStUent, Hnll0 L own u 0S
sense Of the injury which he has been induced
infict on me by causelessly removing me from
post in which he Voluntarily placed me.
On the 18th Of April, 1871, received an aut
graph letter from President Tyler, snnounciI
my appointment as Collector Of the Port of Phi
adelphia, expressed in the strongest terms OF col
fdence and kindness. Thought had been, in Il
course Of my public life. often tcrms Of int
mate association with incumbents Of the Exec,
tive Office both State and Federal, had never II
timated wish for favors from them, nor did ev
er receive any assurance of a willingness to do M
service. This appointment was unsolicited ant
unexpected. 1t reached me in a retirement o
nearly fifteen years duration, and was accompa
MED by circumstances which made it more honor
able to acceptthan to decline it.
I i came into community where was wholly
"A stranger, and which, as the President had in
| formed me, was disturbed by very active COM
petition Tor the Office to which was appointed.
brought no friend with me, and called none 70
me. had no private ends to serve, and in good
faith set about healing, far POSSIBLE, the il-
ritation that had before existed. Before receiving
my commission had written to MIR. Tyler, rec
onmendng the appointment Of Mr.. Henry Nor
ris as Collector. 70 this letter received the fol-
lowing answer, and at the same time the intelli.
gence OF my appointment:
WAsulNoros, April Is. 1919
My Dear Sir:-Your letter is before me, and
has been read by me with all the respect which
sincerely feel for your character and past seryi.
ces. recognise in you my elder in that political
school to the advancement of the principles Of
which we have alike devoted anxious days and
nights. The regretted death of General fiarri-
son has cast deep gloom over the country, and
has been moro painfully felt by myself than any
other because not only Of the strong personal ties
which existed between us, but because of the
high and delicate responsibilities which it has de-
volved upon me. How shall acquit myself in
the discharge Of the duties of my high office, de-
ponds, under Providence to be yet seen. / rejoice
that among the first acts Of my Presidential life is
that OF comforting office on true and sound pat
riot, such you are. The mail which bears you
this will also convey to you commission as Col
lec,or OF the Port OF Philadelphia. Your disin-
terestedness In recommending another. who /
should have been very happy to have obliged, haS
wrought no injury to yourself knew you would
not ask office, but act the ground that IL you
had merits, they would be known to the appoint
ing power. BESIDES, my dear sir, the warm per.
sonal contests which this Office had created in
Philadelphia seemed to me to render it proper TO
give neither triumph nor defeat. have there
fore, obeyed not only the suggestions Of my feel
ings, but sound policy, in making the appoint
mcnt You will, l doubt not, by a somewhat e.
quail distribution of your favors, reconcile Tho
friends OF all the parties. Mr.. Badger and MI.
Tyson have been the warmest contestants. They
may have made promises in anticipation of sue
cess to particular persons, who you may quiet BY
carrying them out. j merely mako you sugges-
tons as from one friend to another, to be adopted
by you as your judgment may dictate. l have
one wish, | confess; and il is that Governor
Shuttle should have the place Of Principal Weigh.
er-an office the duties OF which are light, and
The Income OF some moment TO him.
BE pleased TO accept, my dear sir, assurances
OF my great respect, confidence and friendship.
JOHN TYLER.
Hon. JONATHAN ROBERTS.
1t was conceded fac; that, during the political
canvass OF 1910, from the head of the custom
plt "A lorfrta If
gagged In the performance Of its duties, there had
been the most ardent political action. There had
been an avowed assessment the compensation
OF the officers for election purposes. There were
cases OF firm and honorable nome omp liance, an
well as of compliance, by worthy and estinlabis
men under what seemed TO them to be an irresist-
IDLE necessity. With regard to those W no had
thus abused their trust had no hesitation. The
dictate OF propriety was at once TO remove them
The inofensiye were, so far as my knowledge ex-
tends, without exception, retained; and my app
pointnents were governed throughout by the exr
pressed wishes Of the President, my anxiety be-
ing 10 see that no unworthy individuals were
thrust upon me. SO far as could rely on the
testimony of others, had reason to think that
those appointed were men ofcharacter. Of Wing
principles, and (as directed by the Presidency tho
friends of those whom, in this respect, he was
desirous 20 oblige.
J took Office on the 2tst April, 1871, and on
the 9Th the list of my appointments was forwar-
ded to the Secretary of the Treasury, from whom,
on the Sth of Mays received the following letter
of approval: =.
WASHINGTON, May s, 1871.
My Dear Sir: have just received your letter
Of yesterday. Do not, pray you, suppose that
the President or myself for moment doubt tho
correctness of your under the trying and
difficult circumstances In which you have been
placed. Far from it; you may have made mis-
lakes-this we think probable in some cases a.
mong the many. We know that we have. But
you have full and entire confidence in your
sound discretion and unwavering patyiotism, and
il is no! in the least shaken. BE assured of this.
am, very truly yours, t.,
i. EWING.
Hon. Jonathan Roberts. j.:
AT this point Of time l had right to believe
that all uneasiness OH the subject of the appont-
ments was tranquilized; and my conduct being
thus approved directly by The Secretary of the
Treasury, whose supervision is alone centempla-
ted by law, and also by the President, whose
wishes was anxious 10 crafty, dismissed tho
matter from my mind and applied myself to the
faithful and seduious discharge of my duties
Unfortunately for the pubic service and for the
good fame OF the President there is too much
reason 10 Believe that an individual entitled in no
respect TO the condolences of the Executive or his
felow-citizens, %ho was at one time Surveyor Of
the Port and more recently Commissary of Pur-
chascs, became DISCONTINUED at the share of in
fuence which lie had with me in the distribution
of Office, and was active in fomeniing, by some
means unknown to me, unknd feelings i'm the boz
som Of the President and his family. Though,
reluctant to credit The possibility OF such an influ-
ence with an Independent and intelligent Chief