The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-09-20
From The PkiiudsipAss Am. Sentinel.
THE LATE COLLECTOR.

We yesterday read with some little surprise, the
paper of Mr. Roberts, late Collector OF the Port Of
Philadelphia, on the subject Of his removal from
Office. We say with surprise, because he details
private conversation that he alleges took place be-
tween himself and the President. We had hardly
expected that he would have resorted To this mode Of
Defence when il Is known that the President cannot
make reply Ii is also Objectionable in another light
MIR. Roberts pressed for interview, and then
publishes his version Of the conversation.
Upon dispassionale examination Of the case, we
nnd that Mr. Roberts was requested by the secretary
Of the Treasury 10 make the removals IN question,
which he refused to do. Thir refusal IN our Judg-
ment necessarily led 10 his removal. There was no
other s.ep that could be taken. Mr.. Roberts had no
right To inquire into the why he was requested
TO remove the persons named it his business to
comply or resign. Nor has he any right TO complain
of the course of lne Executive under the circum.
stances of his We admit, that Mr. Roberts had
light 10 decline complying with The request OF the
Secretary OF the Treasury but then he certainly had
no right 10 complain If dismissed from office. As to
the prfroie letters of the President they written
TO Mr. Roberts before he had refused 10 obey the re-
quest OF the Secretary Of the Treasury and ought new
err under any circumstances 10 have been published.
The scorn Of the public rests upon the publication
Of this exparte paper necessarily expare where the
President is one OF the parties; for he cannot soop
to the publication of private letters. just notion
OF proprlety will make communication confidential
from the nature of its contents, without being mark
ed "priyate and confdential'' by the writer. The
letters paraded this occasion from the President
are of this character A high minded community
justly condemn the of gentlemen who spread
before the public letters written exclusively for the
eye Of the individual ID whom they addressed.
There is not a in the nation who will not say
that Mr. ROBERTS, in publishing the letters Of the
President addressed TO him. did violate the conf
dence of the President Their contents show that
Mr.. Tyler formerly thought highly Of Mr.. ROBERTS,
but they also show that he thought Mr. Roberts
would refuse to comply with the wishes of his supe
rior..
From the outcry made about this matter, it might
be supposed that this is the first time in the history of
our Government that the administration at Wash
ington nerfered with the subordinate appoint
ments in the Custom House. Such is not the fact.
More than example has occurred within
collection. memorable instance is the of the
order TO take the Custom House printing from
the widow Bailey to give it to Mr.. Binns the editor
Of the Democratic Press, which was then the able
Quincy Adams, which order obeyed by the then
collector and the only objection that was made
at the time that it was taken from female.
The legality Of the order not questioned. 1t
might be added that in this Mr.. Roberts admits
that the President told him, in his interview with
him, that it was only request, not an order Upon
the whole, we satisfied that this attempt to ex-
cite public sympathy will fail The people care but
little about the complaints of public officers Expe-
rience has shown that few take the trouble to read
their complaints and fewer STILL after having glanced
over them pay any attention to them afterwards.
They little talk for few days, and are then
forgotten.