The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-09-17
The Custom House ana the Barnburners-
The Prospect.

The barnburniHg office holders in the New
York Custom House, have not yet been removed,
notwithstanding the many applications that have
been made to Mr.. Lawrence and Mr.. Polk on the
subject and the measures that have been adopted
by Tammany Hall, and the outside democracy, at
their bidding, with the same view The knife of
the guillotine, however, poised their necks,
ready at any moment to descend and put them out
of pam, as the sword was suspended by hair
over the head of Damoces. The slender thread
which holds it, need but be slit, and the heads of
one hundred and seventy-five barnburners will
roll down the Custom House steps into the money
cellars and vaults OF Wall street. This is horrible
but il is so ofen the fate of political hangers on,
that they get used to it, as eels do to being
skinned.
From all we can learn, these amiable gentle
men may consider themselves safe until about the
first of next month. After that day. we would
not insure them the receipt of another dollar from
the sub-treasury Of that establishment, for a pre-
MUM of ninety per cent. The delay IN decap
itatnq these barnburneis, is IN the highest degree
displeasing TO the numerous gentlemen who have
been Impatently waiting to succeed them. The
expectants are out of pockets, and out of elbows.
They may be seen hanging around the corners
near the Custom House, every day, about lunch
time, and more pitiabe and detected set of
heroes, we have never seen. Come, Mr.. Lawrence,
hurry up that guillotlne, and we them mouth
fu of Custom House soup.
But Presto; we had got so far, when We heard
that tie tables were turned the old hunkers, and
the rownipg displeasure Of Mr.. Polk would not save
these who adhere to the bunker faction of the de-
mocracy Several were at a loss TO know what would
be the result, but now the true state ct political
preference with the principals OF that establish
ment, are either for Mr. Van Buren, or General
TAYLOR The work of the dismissal OF the old
hunkers has begun, as the following letter will
show $40
"SrR-Your services, under the appointment you
have held me- will not be required after this date
Your friend, c w LAWRENCE, Col.
"To Mr. John Scott. Custom House."
II seems that Mr.. Sect was one of the prominent
leaders in the bunker party, and organized the first
Cass and Butler Club in The city; and, 1t is said to be
through his instrumentaty the Collector was call
ed upon to dismiss the barnburners from the Gus
tom House.
We shall vet lock for some rare sport from this
ouarter Mr. Lawrence will most probably, il he
does not resign, receive friendly invitation from
Washington, TO yacate the office he now holds. 1t
also probable that he VIII dispense tne pressing
of dismissal 10 all under him. who still hold on TO
hunkerism.
The matter is now even. II is a very pretty
quarrel as II stands. The President removed
Mr. Butler, because he was barnbuner,
and Mr.. Scott is removed because Ct his prefer
ence for hunkerism. Would II not be well for
both these gentlemen to canvass the State, and
when one throws the sand in the eyes on Mr.. Cafs,
the other vent his spleen upon Mr.. V an Buren,
upon whose political preiudices he was ~ uncere'
moniously ousted from his post.
Whose turn nextl