The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-09-27

From the New York Globe.
Mr. Bogardus, the assistant collector If the port,
| sends us the following communication about the
Mackenzie papers; which, in Justice TO that gentle
! man, we lay before our readers. After the who Q
matter Is solved, VIC think that the infamy of pur-
loining MIR. Hoyt's private papers will rest where
II properly belongs--upon the shoulders Of VIM L.
Mackenzie exclusively. To that unpdnciplcd man
| he all the honor,
To The Editor Of the Duily Globe.
The Evening Pos, on Tuesday contained the fol-
wing statement:
Mackenzie, about two years ago, was apr ointed
to clerkship under collector Van Ness and put in
the exclusive use Of the room in which Mr.. Hoyts
private and legal papers were deposited Il is said
that other clerks were removed from the room, at
Mackenzie's instance, that he might indulge his
searching propcnsities unmoesed and TO the full.'
l do not know from whom the editors of the Post
got their information; but do know that the above
stateme nj is false and unfounded and that the nsn-
uation conveyed by il reflects but little credit on
the authors. Mackenzie did not have the exclusive
occupation of any room. The clerks removed
from the room were removed from Office at the
same time, and other clerks were Immediately an
pointed to supply the places OF the clerks 50 re-
moved, and placed in the same room. Mackenzie
subordinate clerk in the rooms where the ar.
chives Of the COLLECTORS Office were kept, and sub
ect to the directions Of the keeper Of the archives
Mr. Webber. When Mr.. Webber was removed,
Mr. 0oidson was appointed keeper.
As MackcnEie's book has caused some talk and
much comment, consider il proper to state that in
the attic Of the custom house building were large
number Of boxes containing the accumulated papers
of the custom-housc from 1898 to 1886. To these
papers reference was required occasionally in the
business of the Office; and owing to the want of reg
ularity in filing them, frequently papers required
could not be found after searching box after box for
days in succession. requested The keeper of the
urrhivea In havp all al IN
FORM in pigeon-hols cases and the clerks in tina, dc
partment are yet engaged at that work. Many Of
the boxes were locked and the keys lost or mislaid
such boxes authorized the clerks 70 open by force,
and to arrange the contents in the pgcon-hoes pro-
vidcd Whilst distributing these papers, was in
formed that they found some letters applications,
DC, TO Mcssrs Swartwout and Hoyt, late coec-
tors, to be appointed to Office. These papers !
requested the keeper to secure, and not TO allow
them to be examined or disturbed. In May last,
Mr.. Van Ness informed me that il had been intima-
ted to him by gentleman not connected with the
custom-house, that among the archives Of the office,
were some important letters addressed to Jesse
Hoyt es? and supposed to have been left there by
him accidentally. At his suggestion, asked the
Keeper what he knew Of the natter He showed
me a oox, which, on a casual examination, found
to contain old law papers and some private cores
pondence, apparently of character not worth the
expense Of taking away. ! told him TO lock il up,
and mark u mn. Hoyi's private papers, and let il
remain. sThat box, l am induced to believe, had
not been opeRmuny days when saw il, and pre-
sumo that the applications for offcen must have
been found elsewhere, and possibly Mackenzie may
have discovered letters elsewhere in the building.
There are few hundred tons of old books, LISTERS,
and papers in the building, which have probably es-
capped even the searching propensties Of Mr.. Mac
kenzie and other antIquaries. Whether all the let
ters in Mackenzie's book were found among the
public papers Of the custom-house, am unable to
say; but have reason to believe that some OF the
papers were found there, and copied by him. Hhe
took them from the custom ouse, he did so without
The knowledge, suspicion, or appreciation of Mr..
Van Ness-the editors Of the aPost's' insinuations
to the contrary, Notwithstanding. Aft -
Your very obcdient servant. a
G. s. BOGARDUS.