The New York herald., 1845-08-22


NEss.-On the retirement of MIR. Van Ness from III,
office of Collector of the Port of New York, larg
number Of the gentlemen connected with the Gus
toms, who had reason to admire his gentlemanl,
bearing as an officer, and his urbanity as man
determined to manifest their regard for him, b.
the presentation of a service of plate. Last even
ing at eight o'clock, about two hunded of the gen
tleman connected with the Custom House and others
as well as the ladies' in the house, met in the spaci
Gus dining room at Howards Hotel. for the purpose
Of presenting the plate. The service is solldsilver
and consists Of large salver, an urn, two embossed
pitchers, a tea kettle and tea pot cream pitcher, su
gar bowl and tongs and slop bowl. 1.-THE urn and all
excepting the salvsr bear the following inscription
ssPresened to Cornelius p Van Ness, on his retire
ment from the Collectorship OF the Port Of New
York. by the officers of lhls department" The sal
yer is inscribed as follows :-"To Cornelius p. Van
Ness, on his retirement from the Collectorship OF
the Port of New York, July lst, 1919 This salver
and service of plate are cordially presented by the
! officers of his department., as memorial OF thelI
respect for his high character and talents in that,
in every previous public statlon-of their esteem for
hisspatrotic character a democratic republican,
and their regard for his generous qualities as man.
The following letter of presentation was then read
by Gen. Arcularius, and old and wel-known demo-
New YoRK, August 2lst, lS45.
DEAR SIR-On your retirement from the Collectorshp
of the port of New York an earnest desire was very
generally evinced by the officers of your department.
avail themselves of that event appropriate occasion
which to offer you some expression Of their respect
for your official POLITICAL and personal character The
feeling being spontaneous the opportunity regarded
unequivocally significant Of its dsineresedness and
sincerity.
Whilst, as officers under your authority, had been
daily witnesses of your vigilance in supervision and
pertiracity in discipline at invaluable to
the public service and gratifying to all who partook of
the sense OF duty which inspired themour respect for
your official character unalloyed by the imposition
of any unreasonable or humating restraint upon
uncompromised privileges as citizens
Recognizing the claims Of no particular clique or
combination OF the party to special monopoly OF the
offices under jurisdiction you apparently strove to
uphold the sound principle Of freedom of opinion and
choice among all true democrats respecting the promi
nen and candidates of their party by ele
waited impartiality in appointments to office So far
was rejected and none prefarred on account Of his
having acted with the friends of either OF the public
who were popularity named as desirable nominees Of the
democratic party for the Presidency.
In taking this exalted ground you faithfully repre-
sented conceive the true, indeed the avowed
policy OF the present administration.
Such policy we deem essential to the dignity of the
government and the political freedom Of the party; else
might the influence OF official patronage be transmitted
from administration to another TO favor the aspra
ons and designs Of selected individual and his
zans by secret bargain and compact thus foresaling
the free and unbiased choice the people, and nsid
II,
mining influence could be aroused. The passive obe
dience and enforced by intoeran denun
citation and prescription which internal despotism of
party, thus erected might temporarily secure, would
not only invest the subordinate Offices Of the
with an mpuation Of political subservency and degre
daon but eventually terminate in party disruption, dis
organization and defeat. While, therefore, fully
adopt the maxim, just and practical general rule
that the civil offices of an administration framed by po
ltcal party should be occupied by its political friends
to the exclusion of its political foes and consider
air inference that in choosing executive principal
they also indirectly chose subordnates OF the same poll
tca faith hold it to be violation Of obvious
equity most disastrous in tendency that any exclusive
section Of the ascendant party should be allowed to
strument OF vindctveness for past dsappontments
Of dctation for prospective preferences As officers
der an administration placed in power by the aid of our
citizen surages and exerons insist upon exercis
ing as free and untrammeled an independence in
private Citizens merely And even if this ;ndefeas
ibe right be now, for the first tme thus boldly
asserted, we shall never, be induced to re
you firmly uphold this right, as a standard
bearer in our midst and was cut down by falsehood
our behalf that we deem il duty to ourselves as well
to the great principle ISSUE to present you with the
g meme1o o. our respect is the JOINT
cers of the department which you lately presded
and the Committee Of Presentation appointed by the
general body OF the doners requested to assure
you that is tribute of respect and regard for
the high qualities OF mind and heart which their late rela
they doubt not you have displayed in each Of the
previous public stations that you have held.
We are dear sir your feowcitizens, and brother de
mocrats
JOHN HILLYER, HENRY ARcvLARIus, Sen.
VIM. l.. VAN ZANpr, DONALD FRASER,
TARLToN B. EARL, CHARLES DAxToR,
r. B. CONNOLLY, JAMES +. HYDE.
B. NJ VAN BEUREv, WILLIAM FRAScIs,
GRIFFIN TOMPKISs, D. DENYsE, Committee.
Mr.. VAN NESS then replied as folows-hs re-
marks being often interrupted by hearty cheers -
GENTLEMEN I'll have listened to what is contained in
the commune alton which has Just been read to me-
n he hp of tho
toms who have been pleased to present to the beau
tfu articles now standing before u.s. as testimonial of
ting from those who have been associated with in
important public duties but over whom have longer
any official control, and who, moreover, expect
further official protection from me, must, indeed be
viewed, when consider how little there is, in this
world Of true friendship or Of good faith as the offspring
ofthe most generous and noble sentiments In this light
appreciate it, and to express by words the feelings of
pleasure and of gratitude with which has inspired me,
would be impossible. But beg of you to believe me,
when declare that what cannot in this case be utter
ed by the lips is deeply felt in the heart.-(Applause
donors like the articles themselves will be most faith
fully preserved and that frequent to them
will am sure be among the most pleasing acts Of my
sincerely do for their kind and unequivoca express
sions Of appreciation Of my official and political conduct
| deem it proper TO submit few remarks upon some
of the topics to which they have referred Applause
In the summer OF the last year President without
any solicitation or expectation my part appointed
to the important and responsible station of Collector OF
this por and alter having performed the duties OF the
Office for about six months my appointment confirm
ed by the Senate OF the United States without dissent
ing voice. So far as the political
patronage and influence of the Office ned the
difficulties by which was surrounded were such as can
scarcely be appreciated The peculiar state Of the dem
ocratc party and the approach of most important Pre-
sidental election, among the principal Of
those difficulties That exerted myself to bring bout
cordial uyion in the democratic party and to bring the
whole strength of it into the contest, in favor OF Mr.
Polk, facts too well known to be disputed by any
honest and disinterested person. loud appause) And
that my efforts not without effect has, trust,
been in the result OF the two great elections in this
city, whick took place while was in office.
But notw twhsandng all this it is true that violent
y assailed and grossly msrepresented by profess
ing to be democrats 1t is, however equally true that
it was the work exclusively Of section of our party,
which is composed Of men who had but unwillingy
concurred the nomination Of Mr. Polk for the Prcsi
dency, and at heart actually desired his decattap.
plause)-men who were opposed to the annexation of
Texas-(cries of yes, yes')-the great issue upon
which the battle last fall fought and won; and who
at this moment plotting opposition to be carried
on indirectly if not directly against the present admin