New-York tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1841-1842, 1842-02-25
Death Of an VI. House Dcrcl-
opcmccts
Correspondence OF the New.York Tribune.
w.cu,x,roS Wadnesd,,.

wAsnlSGroS Wednesday, Feb. q
It's nv painful task to inform you that Hon.
LEWIS WILLIAMS. a distin gushcd Member Of the
House Of Representatives died Of bilious plcu-
risv this morning. after brief ilnc.sof thrtysix
hours. The death of this hgh-n1inded, honorable
man nas cast a gloom over the Capital which IS
rarely Witnessed on similar occasions. His great
experience and ability in legislation. his un>taincd
n,lrit. OF character with heart full Of the best
charities Of our nature endeared him to all who
knew him Perhaps man TO a greater degree
enoYed the confidence of his friends. both in pub
lie and in private life: and the long. uninterrupted
pcrioa of his service III Congress abundantiy tcStl-
tic5 to the talent and fidelity with which he dis
charged the functions of the trust assigned him
If we're disposed to indulge in the gossip Of
the Metropolis, and furnish Your rcudcls with the
mysterious on dts that are circulating here.
might give to the Tribune notoriety for wonders.
and minister,o the morbid appetite Of your famed
CITY. But since tIs, Press Of our country is too
often stained with gross. ana obscene publications.
| hold it to be the duty OF a faithful correspondent
To torbcar giving currency to ilnauthcntc rumors.
However [ feel perfectly justified in making the
srbioincd statement. notwithstanding II may cau-,
YOU andvour readers TO stare.
Sometime. in 1889 Mr.. Hoyt. late Collector Of
the Port Of New York. caused large quantity of
goods belonging to the firm Of La ChGssc and
Faucht TO be seized under pre,cnec of fraudulent
entry and differentiation. after requiring and OBJ
tanning the usual penal bonds from the importers
D..
i, is understood the good, seized on srsp-
cion only. and ,hcy expected 10 prove their iabii
" by the testimony Of two Witnesses whom they
contessedly knew to be base and unworthy Ct be-
belief. Moreover, Mr.. Butler admitted that the
goods for the most part, were not subject to duty,
and Mr. Hoyt confessed that the witnesses allud-
cd TO. were at all times prepared To swear either
true or false according to their pecuniary inte
rest. Notwithstanding. these witnesses
gagged By the gentlemen to prove the facts alleged
against the importers But upon examination it
was found they would not testify TO the guilt Of the
Honorable Collector had caused to be procured
against !MesSrs. La Chase 81 Faucht were dis
missed and noNc proseqni entered by tho Dis
,rict Attorney, Mr.. Butler. Not however, until
there had been cxtorted from the trembling French
men, about SAG 900, in consideration of which com
Portable sum the goods were restored to the
These gentlemen are foreigners of respcclabiy
and unacquainted with our language; consequently
their apprchcnsons Of uncertain penalties that
nigh, be inflicted impecd them thus to compro-
mise the difficulty.
Was there ever Il grosscr outrage upon the
honor and character of the Government perpc-
trafed By men in high official stations. than this
=palpablc cx,ortion of money from strangers. who
were wholly ignorant of our laws and institutions
The proof of the above statement will be shortly
presented to the public in the form OF an Official
report from the Cus,om-H House Commission. which
has nearly concluded its labcr>.
would commend to the >pccialat,eniion Of the
good citizens of Gotham the very able aud elaho-
rate exposition by Mr.. Poindcxtcl of ,hciraud and
corruption among the high officials Of the Rove
nue. Department of Your city.
Yours. Sc Cunrlus.