Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-07-31
To Gle Editors Of tie EnqTi'er:

NraP Tx, July 70, lofS.
Gentlemen: In your number VI The 24tn in
siart which reached me Yesterday, you are
pleased to associate my name with those Of Two
mos, worthy gentlemen, who have, like my.eli,
beer dismissed from office by The existing admins
isra,ion, and you ask "wcfe mol these gentle
men Amounted 10 till vacancies created by death
or resignation Was any Wing prescribed 10
put the IN III 2" Though The facts 10 which SHALL
presently refer, prove that no political proscrip
ticn 4 as used TO PIT me in .E;e, and The error
into which You have fallen may be in iIseif I'M
material, YET, on point essentially within my
personal knowledge, il would be improper 10 per-
mi, false impression to be made ON The pubic
mind, and 10 De apparently confirmed by my ST.
lence.
This consideration induces me TO depart from
the course prescribed Tor myself, when, in ODE
dicncc 10 the orders CT my { ii;ial superior,
transferred the Office had held Tor nearly 'wenly
YEAR,; which was TO keep myself ready TO TePel
any al,ack which might be made from any quar-
Ter, bal MOI 10 appear unnecessarily before Inc
public. This rule would still adhere TO-
were there no danger OF my silence being mis-.
construed. In making this present exception,
shall confne myself strictly 10 consideration OF
The remarks which have been the cause OF IT,
deem il proper, then, TO explain the circnm
stances under which was appointed to once;
but before doing soft is necessary 70 refer 20 the
incumbency Of my immediate predecessor, no"
Deceased. l shall do this with every possible
respecl for the memory Of gentleman, whose
reputation as an intelligent merchant, and USE
full, enterprizing citizen, stood, AMI still STANDS,
deserved;y high in this community. Inns gen.
tlemau succeeded 10 the collectorship OF this
port in June, 1927, in the recess of the Senate
and at the following session was nominated Tor
oil nodr e..
The case Of the nominee was referred for enquiry
az 10 the state Of bis accoun. with The govern
ment, as is the usual course, ard The committee
having learned that he was largely indebted 90
duty bonds, given while merchant, al the worry
Office OF which he had been placed 10 charge
hesi,ated TO recommend the confirmation. 10
remove tho objection, the committee were To-
formed that there was then on lie way to the
United States a sum sufficient to cover tho 10
debtedness, and which wa, 10 be applied TO that
purpose, aud on this assurance Inc requisite
Recommendation was made ! have received
this account from so many different sources thai
| cannot doubt il Unfortunately for the oiicer
| ca The arrival Of the expected fund in this coun
try, il was attached by individual creditors, ant
when released, it fell short Of tho required
amount same thousands Of dollars. The Trea
sury demanded that the deficiency should et
collected from The surety on the duty bonds, ant
after q long negotiation, twelve months were
granted for that purpose. Whether TINS az
rangemept was made under General Jackson
administration, or under that Of his predecessor
cannot say. II was certainly respected ant
carried out during his time, as my pre1ecesso
remained in Office upwards Of twelve MOON
after The Alb March, 1920. The debt sill re
naming unss,is6ed, the necessity Of a chang
was mace known in this community, and t"'
gentlemen. my seniors, were SUCCESSFULLY tender
ed Recommendation for the Office. They oct'
declined, on the ground OF the inadequaey OF IN
comp ,osatiou to the duties add liabilities I'm
posed 80 .,d :,
Ter some hesilancy, was accepted. The conside
ration, which decided one were, thar though 10