The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-05-14
From the Harrisburg hteihgeneer.
THE PHILADELPHIA COLLECTOR-THE
CRISIS

IL seems that the Administration, aroused 70 Jus'
sense OF It's own dignity and sefrespec'' oe
TO see that the appointment and contnuanoe Vi pun.
Officers who are opposed 70 Inc e. sssnds s,sn
courage to its opponents, and Is now embarrassing
every Department oflhe Government The situation
OF the Philadelphia Custom House is Just what we
expected il would be- when the appointments were
made President Tyler, succeeding Gen. Harrison
as he did, surrounded by the retired Cabinet and the
faction that controlled them, deceived and be-
rrayed in making his first appointments. We very
well remember The astonlshment, shame and dlsap
pointment which was depicted In the face OF the whole
party in Pennsy vania that supported Iippecanoe
and Tyler too" when Jonathan Roberts was appoint
cd Collector of the Port of Philadelphia. He was
known 10 be an Incorporating opponent OF Gen
Harrison, and an unpopular, worn out and broken
down politician. No denied that he had been
clever and respectable man. in bis day and generation,
but that day and generation had passed and the
young talented and ardent politicians that achieved
the great political revolution OF $40 had neither sym
pathy with his prejudces or confidence in his political
wisdom or sagacity They foresaw that he would be
governed by political faction in Philadelphia, which
had ever been unpopular throughout the State. IL
was remarked also, that the whole patronage OF the
General Government was bestowed upon persons Inv
ing in small district of this State lying east OF the
Schuylklll, comprising only few miles in circuit,
while the great State of Pennsy vanla from the Della
ware to the Ohio, and from the Chesapeake to Lake
Erie, was entirely overlooked, with the exception OF
the city of Piitsburg.
That active ardent, and influential body of young
men, in the centre of the State, who first nomina-
ted General Harrison in 1894, planned and gave en-
ergy to the campan of 1886, and which IN 1910,
with whrlwnd of public opinion, engendered in
the mountains plains, and valleys IN the interior Of
Pennsylvania, compelled the city faction which is
embarrassing the Government, to take refuge
under the victorious banner were particularly the
marked objects of the "retired Cabinet" As proof
of this refer to the fact that the old county of
I t1ao Af nh,
Lebanon, and Lancaster, inhabited by more than
1901 900 people, and which gave about 5000 majority
for Harrison and Tyler, was deemed unworthy OF a
single office worth penny; not even the post Offices OF
their own counties. And yet the President has not
found the people of the nteror-of the capitol Of
Pennsylvania-plotting against his Administration or
condemning it in advance while those upon whom he
conferred office, and the faction OF which they are
the representatives. stepped to the elbows in in
trigue, and, Judas-like, betrayng him TO his enc
mics. The first public meeting in the United
States, to sustain him in his Veto on the Bank,
was holden at Harrisburg-the first to condemn
him was the faction in Philadelphia upon whom he
too conhdlngy entrusted patronage and power. In
gratitude is worse than the sin of wi!ch-craft, says
Holy Writ-treachery the crime of Judas and
Benedict Arnold and ngrattude and treacheIy are
now practised by portion of those who received and
still hold Office under the President, is evnced by
their opposition to this administration.
From indications at Washington the President can
be deceived longer If the public journals tell the
truth, Jonathan Roberts has been ordered to dismiss
his host Of factious subordnates, and appoint those
who will give his administration fair support is
also stated IN the Madisonian that caucus has been
held among certain members oil Congress, and the
Collector has been advised by it, neither to obey the
President nor resign. If this is the case the crisis
has arrived when the Administration must either act
or be dishonored If it succumbs-it will be consi-
dered imbece, weak, and wanting in self respect If
it asserts its constitutional prerogatves supports its
dignity, adandons the miserable doctrine of proscrp
ton OF the conductors of the public press-magna-
nmity TO enemies-and punishment of friends, it will
then command the respect OF all partes-banish
treacheiy and faction and rally great and rium-
plant party in support Of itself and lis measures.