New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1842-09-17

Till the Secretary had gone. He then asked me il
| had not received letter. ! ns-crrd in the
negative. He then said, ose had been forwarded
to me. ! urged an admission. saying that my
business was to see the President The servant
then advanced to the foot of the stairs and seemed
10 announce ne 20 some one above. went up
stairs found 30 ore there and the door closed ;
after knocking and receiving 10 answer, seated
myself on the only chair in the passage and re-
NAMED there for more than an hour, several per-
sons whom did noi know in the mean time pass
inE - aGd out OF the Presidents Rooms. went
into the aute-chanber opposite. and directed the
servant 10 say TO tie President that was there
and would wait his pleasure. After remaining
some time longer till the hour for receiving vsiters
had expired Il was admitted 70 the President, whom
| found in conversation with an individual whom
learned to be one Of the Suffrage agents from Rhode
Island On retiring, remarked to The President
that my object was as my letters had intmatcd. to
have personal conference with him in relation 20
his recent requisition OF me- He said that he must
decline any conference; he wished his reque> com
piled with, was not an order. . was surprised,
said he, g that you demurred In very guarded
and respectful manner / replied that | could not
conscientiously do what ne desired. The Presi-
dent then said. with great vehemence, :" Then, Sir
YOU know what, as Of honor lou ought TO do.
I answered, firmly and respectfully, Mr.. Presi-
dent. | cannot withdraw from my duty" then
handed to him, and requested him to read, very
scurrilous, abusive and prosnne letter. too i'm
proper in It's language to be inserted here. signed
John Griffin, No. Strawberry-strcet. one OF the
persons when was directed TO appoint asking
him if he thought person who would write snch
letter worthy of his confidence. He read 1t,
or appeared to read H. and returned it without
remark; he then asked me abruptly how many men
there were belonging to the Philadelphia Custom
House. My reply WAS, " Including laborers, about
one hundred {" How many of them, said he,
are Clay men 2" | answered that mono, to my
knowledge, had avowed themselves such, for that
had followed bis instructions in enjoining silence
on political topics. Conceiving it tine to with
draw, | rose and took his hand, he remaining
seated, and remarked that this probably the
last time we should meet. that | should ever be
mindful Of the kindness he had manifested IN aP-
pointing me to chce and that | should never en-
terrain vindictive feelings toward him. dc made
no reply not the acknowledgements which
ordinary courtesy 10 one so much his senior would
dictate, and retired
On my return to Philadelphia, found my
desk the following letter, signed K. Tyler. +.
Secretary, which, no doubt. the same which
the porter at the Presidents House spoke Of 1t
has no date, bat is postmarlSed Ma, Sd;
Dear Sir The President has received your letter on
subject removals in Inc custom Rouse
at Philadelphia.
He be-. me to say 10 YOU that he eneraiu the highest
consideration for yourself but .ha he thss the pu
"He therefore has ordered 10 to that he de-
sre the requon he has made you IN this matter 10
be at once, and to the letter, complied with
With very great respect 9n y1nr R sscr,,,rv
"JoNATnAN ROBERTS, ESQ.,
retarned to my post and resumed the perform
ance of my public duties, which have been dis
charged from that time TO this with scduious hdeI-
ity During the interval from the lst OF July,
when the Compromise Act expired, uutll the en-
actment of the Tariff Act, have incurred rsspon-
sibilities as an officer of Government, the nature
and extent of which no can determine NO
complaint has ever been made of my conduct IN
oeice. NJ charge of official misconduct has been
preferred against those whom retained in office.
Of the inteaions Of the President, since we parted
in May last, have had no information. On the
morning of the 18th of September, Mr. Thomas ).
Smith called upon me at the Custom House, and
informed me that was superseded and that the
President had appointed him in my place
submit this plain statement of facts without
comment TO my felow-citizens
Philadelphia, September 49, 1912.
p S.-Since the above was in type, the follow
ing letter has been received by me. Though dated
the 10Th of September, l842, it was not mailed IN.
ill the 18th and did reach me until twenty
four hours after Mr.. Smith had in person informed
me, that had been removed from Office
"TREAsUaY DEPARTMENT. 10th september 1872
S-I am directed by the President to inform you that he
has appointed Thona, Smith be Collector OF the Gus
toms for the District OF Phlad 'phia in yonr place
am worry respectfully, your obd't servt
W. FORWARD, Secretary OF ll- treasury.
JoSArHAY RoEGRrs Esq late Collector, thiladelphia"
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