Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-09-17
Esm ths Unisi S:siss Gassits.
To THE runLIc.

uent, whle own a deep sense OF tue injury whieh
no has been induced to inAlet me by causelessly
removing me from post in which he voluntarily
placed me.
On the i4th OF April, isii. I received an auto
graph letter from President Tyler, announcing my
appointment, as Collector of the Port Of Philadel-
phis, expressed in the sronges, terms Of confidence
and kindness. Though had been. in the course OF
my pibl'e life, terms OF in,inate association with
ineumbents Of the Executive office, both State and
Federal, had never intmated wish for favors from
thtm ror did ever receive any assurance OF will
insness TO do me service. This appointment was
unsolicited and unexpected. Il reached me in re-
tirement Of nearly Is years duration, ami &C
| eompaned 10y circumstances which made il more
honorable TO accept than 10 decline il.
| came into a community where was wholly n
stranger, aud which, as the President had informed
me, was disturbed 10y very active competition for
the Office 10 which was appointed. brought no
friend with me, and called none to me. had no
private ends TO serve, and in good faith set about
healing, far possible, the irritation that had be-
fore existed. Before receiving my commission,
had written to MIR Tyler, recommending the APP
pontment OF Mr. Henry Morris as Collector. To
this letter received the following answer, and at
wAsHIseros. April 10, 1871.
My dear Sit: our letter Is before me, and has
been read by me with all the respect which | SIN
! cercly feel Tor your character and past services. |
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 nc
GREETED death OF General Harrison has cast q deep
gloom over the country, and has Leen more painful
ly felt by myself than any other, because not only
OF The strong persona, ties which existed between
1 L.. 4 IL -
lites which 1t has devolved upon me. How | shall
ncqult myself in the discharge Of the due, of nv
high office, depends, under Providence, to be vet
seen. rejoice that among the first acts OF my Pre-.
| sdenlh hie, Is that OF comforting Office a true
and sound patriot, such You nTe. The mail
which bears you this, will also convey 10 YOU a
commission as Collector of the Port OF Phade phia.
\ our dlslniereSiedness in reeommen dng another,
who should have been very happy to have obliged,
has wrought no injury TO yourself. knew YOU
would no. ask office, but acted on the ground that il
you had metits, they would he known TO the APP
pointing power Besides. my dear sir, the warm
personal contests which this office had created in
Philadelphia, seemed 10 me TO render IL proper 10
have neither triumph or a defeat. have, there
FORE obeyed not only the suggestions Of my feelings
but sound policy, in making the Appointment. You
Will, doubt not, by somewhat equal distribution
OF your avors, reconcile the friends Of oil the par
| ties. MIR Badger and MIR Tyson have been the
warmest contestants. They may have made po
misses IN anticipation OF success TO particular ror.
sons, who you may quiet by carrying them out.
merely make you suggestions as from one friend TO
another, to be adopted by you your judgment
may dictate. have one wish. confess and it is
that Governor ShulZc should have the place of
Principal Wesher-nn Office, the duties OF which
are light, and the income OF some moment to him.
BE pleased 10 accept, my dear SIR, assurances OF
my great respect, confidence, and friendship.
JOHN TYLER.
Hon Johnathar Roberts.
Il was conceded fact, that during the political
| canvass OF 1910, from the head of the Custsn
House, through large portion oil the persons
gagged IN the performance of its duties there had
been the most ardent political action. There had
been an avowed assessment on the compensation of
the officers for election purposes. There cases
OF hrm and honorable noa compliance, rs well as OF
compliance. 10y worthy and estimable men, under
what seemed 10 them TO be an Irresistible necessity
With regard TO those who had thus abused their
trusts, had no hesitation The dictate OF propfie
ty was at once to remove them. The inoiicnsve
were, so far as my knowledge extends, without ex-
ceptior, retained; and my appointments were 90.
verned Throughout by the expressed wishes of the
President, my anxiety being TO that no unwor.
thy individuals were thrust upon me. So far as
could rely on the testimony of others | had res son
to think that those appointed men of charac.
ter, OF Wing principles, and las directed by the
President) the friends of those whom in this res
pect, he was DESTROYS 20 oblige.
TOOK office on the 2Isi April, 1871, and on the
2Iih the list OF my appointments was forwarded TO
/ y
s.h OF May, received the following letter Of np-
prova:
WARRINGTON CTR, May g, 1871.
My Fear Sr:-I have just received your letter Of
Yesterday. Do not pray you, suppose that the
President or myself, for n moment, doubt the cor
RICHNESS Of your course, under the trying and diff
culs circumstances in which you have been placed.
Far from il. You may have made mistakes-th this
we think probable in some cases among the many.
We know that we have. But you have our full and
in nd
waverng patriotism, and II Is not in the least shak-
en-. Be assured OF this.
T. EWING.
Hon. Jonathan Roberts.
At this point of,imc had right 10 believe that
oil uneasness on the subject ofthe appointments
was trnnquilised, and my conduct being thus np.
proved directly by the Secretary Of the Treasury,
whose supervision is alone contemplated by law and
50 10y the Presden' whose wishes was anx Gus 10
Crafty, dismissed the matter from my mind, ard !
applied myself 70 the initkfu and sedulous discharge
oil my duties Unfortunately for the public service |
and for the good fame OF the President there is too
much reason 10 believe that individual entitled !
IN no respect 10 the confidence of the Executive or
his Re low citizens, who was at time Surveyor
OF the Port, and more recently CommissoTy OF Pur.
chases, became disconnected the share of IL huence
which he had with me in the distribution Of Office |
and was active 10 iomentng by some means unknown |
to me, unknd feelings in the bosom of the President
and his family. Though reluctant to credi. the |
possibility Of such an influence with on indepen. |
dent and intelligent Chief Magistrate | am unable |
10 trace TO any oiher source the mischevous and |
uDiounded rumours which were very soon CT cua |
ted to my prejuics ut Washington To such on |
extent was this carried that on the 5th Of May |
the President wrote 10 me begging "me to nppease |
his anxiety" and assuring me he desired TO hear |
from me, "OHly 10 enable him 10 stop idle fongussp
answered the letter without delay, and on IIth Of
May Tece we'd the following answer:
.s,,.o.s. A.. N 90,
My Dear SIR take a moment TO say TO Won. |
that ny confidence in you is wholly undated, and |
that have doub, but that all that you have done
will be well. My last letter was designed to place
me in possisseon Of fic's which might use sdvsnin
geousy. shall give ear 10 nothing to your injury
With uuesi regard, yours, &c.
JOHN TYLER.
Hon. iona. Roberts.
On the 18Th Of May, paid my respects in person
70 the President, and was received by him with tho /
klndest welcome. had tho pleasure TO assure him |
that believed the Custom House Department was /
en'irey harmonsed and that no difficulty existed in
the successful transaction Of the public business
About this time or soon after, collision was fast /
riponng between the President and the Wbie nartv
in Congress. REPEATED publications ppeared in the
New York Herald, m apparently accredited /
print Of the Administration, charging on officers Of
the Customs IN Philadelphia disaffection IN Mr. T'v
Ter, and recommending their immediate removal
Since my acceptance Of Office down TO the present
time, have been studously reserved with regard
10 party politics, had habitually suppressed the ut
of nuy -