The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1842-09-27
High Handed Out
rage.

l. who takes this paper, and alter having
read it, hand The paper TO his neighbof for
him to peruse it also. 1t is a good thing
for somebody. that Mr.. Roberts was moi a
Green Mountain Bow, Since the removal
of Mr.. R. the citizens Of Philadelphia have
held powerful meeting, in number more
than 10000 TO express their Indignation al
the treatment bestowed upon their vener'
able citizen.
PIriFUL DrscLosURE.-The Courier and
Enqu FER oftli morning contiIns letter,
furnished in advance from the United STATES
Gazette which we have read with equal
surprise and modification. II IS from JON
a,han Roberts, Esq the recently displaced
Collector Of Philadelphia. anddiscloses the
motive and manner Of his removal, through
the direct agency Of the President; the man.
ner and The motive alike unbecoming iD that
high dignitury, and painfully at variance
with what ought TO be his official conduc,
a. we'll as with the Professions ard pledges
made BY him on and before his ac:cssions
Tie appointment of Mr.. Roberts, unso.
liciied and unexpected by him. was announ-
ced to him in April lS4l-ten DAYS after
the death of President Harrison-by Presi..
dent Tvle, himself, in a letter expressing
the highest esteem and confidence. and sug.
costing an impartial course IN the distribu-
ton of subordinate offices. so as to recon.
Gle the friends of all parties, but disclaiming
all dictation, and leaving the new Collector
entirely to the dictates of his own judgment.
Mr. Roberts entered upon the duties of
his office on the 2lst Of April, and on the
9th forwarded a LIST of his appointments to
The Treasury Department: from the head os
which, Mr.. Ewing. ne received on the 9Th
of May an unreserved approval ofthe list,
with renewed assurances of confidence.
On the 10Th of May he received from the
! President himself the same assurances, and
a promise that no ear should be given 10 IN
iurions reports or insinua'ons, such having
! already been whispered about the chief mag.
! isirate: and in a personal interview ON the
j 18th. the same language of Kindness and
confidence was unreservediy employed,
AT about this time collision br,wct the
! President and the Wings in Congress was
evidently approaching. and intimations were
, thrown out by the Madsonian and the New
/ York Herald, that there was dissoffecton 10
! the President among the Custom House Of
| fccrs at Philadelphia. and that some of;hem
mus, be removed. To all this, however,
Mr.. Roberts paid little heed, keeping him
self as much as possible nloof from plriizan-
ship. and devoling all his time and powers
TO the duties Of his office.
In April 1912 the ominious foretokenings
of the Presidential organs were renewed. and
with such an official air that Mr.. Roberts
thought it advisable TO write 10 the Pfesi-
dent, expressing a wish for personal inter-
view IN which he might give an account Of
his stewardship On The 30th Of that month
he received from the Secretary of the Treas
NY, Mr.. Forward, a noe enclosing one
from the President, in which was contained
a list of thirty one subordinate officers in the
Phila lelphia Custom House, measures, in.
sn -"iors, clerks and messengers, with re-
o,,c,t tina: tih.Av should be dismissed and thir
= orc o,.c-s, who were namcd, appointed
in their stead. =,
Mr.. Roberts immediaiely wrote 10 The
Secretary. giving his reasons for declining
a compliance with the Presidents request.
principal among which was his knowledge
that some Of the nominees were unfit and
unworthy, and again requesting personal
interview.
The remainder of the narrative we give
in the very words of Mr.. Roberts:
reached Washington on the evening of
the 81 of May, and Immediately waited on
Mr.. Secretary Forward, informed him Of
the purpose of my visit and also TIE circum-
stances of the case. He disca med anv
participation or priviiy in making out the
list Of those 10 be appointed and removed,
and said that he thought If communicated
10 the President what had 10 him, he would
be satisfied with it.
From what | conceived to be the stale Of
things at the Presidents house. appre-
hended might be denied an interview. bui
the Secrelary's assurance removed this sus-
picion from my mind. On the 4th al
tended at the Presidents ante chamber for
several hours, and finally was obliged TO re-
turn without having an interview.
One of the Presidents sons to whom
was personally known, but who at The time
was unknown 10 me, as have since learn
ed. met me near the front door. ! mnde
renewed effort TO see the President in the
afternoon, but the servant even refused 10
carry my card to his master, saying that he !
dared not do il.
On applying for admission on the morn.
ing Of the 9Th, the porter at the door, who |
knew me, said could not see the President, !
as he was engaged with the Secretary of !
Stale; said | would wait till The Secretary
had gone. Tie then asked me il | had not !
received letter. | answered in the mega |
tive. lie then said one had been forward |
ee to me; J urged an admission, saying that |
my business was TO see the President. The |
servant then advanced to the foot of the |
stairs and seemed to announce me to some
one above.
| went up stairs. found no one there. and |
the door closed; after knocking and receiv.
ed no answer. seated myself on the only