The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-12-31

NJ 4oxWou, the COklo0G0T.t4AD ARpO10tD
nent and Prospects.
The confirmation of Mr.. Maxwell, a. the Collec-
tor ofths great port, bids fair to be very impor-
tait bone of contention at Washington, during the
present winter. Slngularly enough, most extra
ordinary and comprehensive opposition to his con-
fmstion by the Senate has sprung up all over the
country, within the last few months. When he
was appointed by the President, over the heads of
all other candidates, last summer, 1t hailed as
an act of great independence In the President, and
an evidence Of his possessing much good sense and
discrimination IN the selection. Mr.. Maxwell was
considered man Of high moral character, not
much connected with politics for many years, but,
IN point of talent and requirements, far beyond the
wants required in such department as the Collec-
torship of New York. His public reputation had
been made twenty years previously; and it seems
to have been nursed, and to have grown and In
creased, during that repose, in Nyack, and to have
become of considerable influence and importance
In the new administration.
But all these have been great mistakes, and great
errors 1t is now admitted, in every quarter, that
few collectors, possessing the good intentions and
well meaning of Mr.. Maxwell, could have commit
ted more egregious errors, more remarkable blum
as the present Collector has done. His appoint
ments have been of the most curious and obnoxious
character-some of them having been burglars or
thieves, and lots OF penny-a-liners. great many
of the active business men of the Custom House,
not rabld politicians, were removed, to make room
for persons without claims or capacity, some of
whom were utterly unfit for the places to which
they were appointed. Nepotsm, according to the
most reliable accounts, has been carried on to
most extraordinary extent, in the appointments in
the Custom House. Almost every journal in the
city has received its appointment in the person Of
some ataehf penny a-liner, or hangeron, to each
particular one. Many of the newspaper appoint
ments, too, are mere sinecures, and most of the
persons that fill them are utterly unqualified
In elucidation of this, In one instance, we have
received from respectable house in Broadway,
a curious communication, which was refused in
serion in the columns of the Tribune, unless a
sum of ten dollars black-mal accompanied 1t, des-
cribing the conduct of person who has received
one Of those slnecure appointments which has
made Mr.. Maxwell's administration of the Gus
tom House SO obnoxious to all the sensible and
leading portions of the wing party in this city.
Here il is: =
To The Editors Of the Tribune -
GErTLEMEN-The following 10 true statement Of the
matter which ready to prove by several compe
tent witnesses MANY months since we received from
Mr. GABRIELLE the celebrated sculptor the statuette Of
Mr.. Richard Grant white, which left with us, with
other works Of similar character for exhibition
sale A few weeks since, MIR. X. c. White TO the
store and requested as not to place his image near
that OF Mr James Gordon Bennett, using at the same
time some exceedingly ridiculous tuaras '..'
image to the other window. IL finally in the confusion
of Gle aiming the windows week or go afterwards got
when q second request was made to remove 1t, which
was complied with. although considered, at the
time 1t dictation on his part entirely unwarrant
able, rs it was our property, and we had perfect
right to exhibit It as we thought proper. After its
having been eolored but not rdicuously has been
stated IL placed Ia obscure position that
but the original could have discovered It, and he
would have had to search considerable length Of time
to have done so notwithstanding his assertion the
contrary Had he requested TO remove IL from the
store altogether would have done so but instead
of that he thrust the door violently open entered the
store and before any of the inmates had time to no
tce him. they being ut the extreme part OF the store
opened the glass overturnug several things in his
bury and with the most passi nate vehemsnce dashed
his image to atoms and rushed out Of the store.
One OF the firm vent immediately to the Police Court
and made the complaint, when warrant was issued
and given to the officer to aud reading your
article In Tuesdays paper he went to the clerk Of the
court who assured bim, before witness, that Me r.
q White was considered under arrest uatil our fur
Their action.
We have rot proceeded sgains. Mr.. wR.e from any
motives OF revenge or malice, but simply &, protect
Ourselves and rights. and to lind out whether
individual is Justified in violently trespsssinr upon
anotbers DR.. nses and destroying his property with
out receiving pupishmens adequate 70 the offence.
What tells most fatally sgs,nst Mr. r. q. White, Is
the fact that he solised Mr. Gsrbee the artist to
make mould for this very statuette OF himself aud
did actually sit for that purpose which can he proved
beyond doubt aud an agreement was entered into
bet ween them, that MIR GABRIELLE was TO receive
equivalent Tor his time aud labor tor this statuette
the privilege OF exhibiting ~ la public and to receive
the proceeds OF such taes as be might elect In so ex
hbitpg 1t
We have been compelled to make these remarks, in
order to efute the article in your paper Of Tuesday
ana to show the whole transaction la its trus light
which we contend has not been done.
Jacques y BROTHER, 3s5 Broadway.
NV YohE, Dec. 20, 1919.
We know very liule of the individual described
in this communication; but we understand he has
been, for some time past, occupying a position as
a sort OF penny.a-liner to some of the weekly jour
mails in this city, and may still be connected with
some 81 the newspapers THIS mode of remune-
rating an arts,, by exhibiting his own likeness,
is novel Many other Of the appointments con-
necled with the press, and made by Mr. Max
well, are of similar character. Yet those men,
without claims qualifications, but merely
from the accident of their beng connected with
the newspapers, have been taken up and appointed
by MIR. Maxwell, while he neglected all the lead
ing, sensible, and reputable wings ia the various
wards Of the city, and while M 0llover and
others like him, who have suffered in nc-o cause Of
their country, and whs possess every necessary
qualification for their business, and OF high and
reputable character besides, are thrust out, TO
make room for them, in opposition 10 the wishes
Of Gen. Taylor.
In another and very important point Of view, Mr..
Maxwell has failed to answer the purposes which
were intended in his appointment by the Presi-
dent. The early public life Of Mr.. Maxwell was
spent in the office of District Attorney, as pub
Inc prosecutor in the Court OF Sessions, IN this
city. lie acquired all his knowledge Of and expe-
rience in, public affairs, in that capacity. From
the period when he retired from that post, to the
day when he assumed the collectorship of New
York, he lived quietly, and studied the Gospel and