The New York herald., 1849-06-05
The New Collector and his Movements.


Importance.
The New Collector and his Movements.
We understand that Mr.. Maxwell, the new Col
lector, is now very busily engaged in making up
his list of removals and appointments for the Gus
tom House, previous to his visit to Washington,
when he must submit it to the Secretary of the
Treasury, at head quarters, for inspection and con-
frmation. Accordingly this matter begins to be
of considerable Importance to the ofiice-holders
and office-beggars among u.s. Various surmise
and amusing conjectures are thrown out among
this class ofsaints relative to the policy which Mr..
Maxwell may pursue, and the influences which
may affect him in the distribution of those sugar
pums to the hungry and disappointed office-beg-
gars of the whig party.
Mr.. Maxwell's appointment was SO unexpected
that all the previous efforts of the and
their preparations of all kinds, thrown to the
winds. The position, history, and character Of
the new Collector indeed very little known to
the present race of ofice-beggars in general,
although 10 those who can date as far back as
quarter of a century, his historical character and
status, as public man, all known, and fully
remembered. We know him, and remember him
and his movements well. Let us tell his story.
About twenty years ago, terrible revulson
took place In Wall street, among certain portion
of the banks, bankers, and moneyed lnstitu-
tions 1t was not so wide spread a calamity as
that which broke out in '36-'37, and, therefore,
took different direction in relation to it's final ad-
justment among all the parties concerned. The
general revulsion OF 36-'37 was so wide spread
and overwhelming that 1t squalized its msfortunes
upon the whole moneyed and Wall street classes,
making them all candidates in bulk for the bless
ings to flow from the creation of bankrupt law,
and the payment of their debts by an exhibition Of
empty pockets. In the first revulsion to which We
we refer, the case was somewhat different.
terrible excitement was produced in Wall street.
. Indictments for fraud were brought against hume
rous individuals connected with those unhappy
institutions; but in consequence of their important
position, the accumulated vengeance of the law
was chiefly concentrated upon the late Henry Eek
ford, a most popular and accomplished mechanic
and shipbuder, then residing in the upper wards
of the city, and Jacob Barker, whose financial
talents were even then well known, and who
had been unfortunately connected with some
bank in Washington or Warren county, IN this
State In conducting the prosecutions then insti-
tuted, Mr.. Maxwell, who was then District After
new, accumulated the whole of his intellectual and
cob Barker The Goldfish aristocracy Of Wall street,
at that day, particularly hated these individuals
for some cause another, which Is not neces-
sary to mention and Mr.. Maxwell entered into
this codfsn feeling to a very remarkable extent,
and by the exercise of his indomitable energy,
great eloquence and powerful legal tale-ts, which
he then displayed, succeeded in procuring con-
yichons even beyond the letter and spirit OF the
law But it is well known that the Court of Err
rors the highest judicial power IN the State, re-
versed all the decisions OF the Court below, an
nulled all the indictments, and restored all the In
dividuas thus prosecuted by the Wall street cod
fish arlstocracy of that day. to their former posi-
ton in society and in business. Soon after these
events Jacob Barker removed to New OasAns,
where he has distinguished himself considerably,
as a first and leading friend of General Taylotf
and Henry Eckford emigrated to Constantlnope,
where he built ships for the Sultan and sut for his
sudden death, would have returned to this city
greater millionaire and bigger man than he had
ever previously been, even with all his natural
talents. Mr.. Maxwell, however, had different
fate. The position which he assumed, and the
course pursued by him on that memorable occa-
sion having been reversed by the highest legal au-
thorty in this State, he was consigned to
the obscurity of private life, and retreated to
a country residence in the village OF Nyack,
on the banks of the Hudson, where he has
since been living very quietly, reading his Bible,
studying history, and looking over the map OF
politics. until we happened to nominate General
Taylor as an independent candidate for the Presi-
dency, in May, 1916, at which time the door was
opened for the return of Mr.. Maxwell to public
life and for his re-appearance the stage OF pub
lie affairs, as strong and prominent supporter OF
the election Of the hero of Buena Vista.
This is brief history of the past public life OF
the new Collector. The great error of Mr.. Max
well, twenty years ago, was the warmth with which
he became the organ, beyond the necessity of the
case, Of the Goldfish arstocracy of that day, in the
crusade which they made against Henry Eckford
and Jacob Barker, whose chief misfortune was to
have been connected only by name, and severe per-
sonal losses too, with certain explosions which
took place in Wall street.
I'm the important position in which, through the
determination of General Taylor himself, the new
Collector has been placed, how will Mr.. Maxwell
manage his affairs, and what influences will ope-
rate upon him In the selection of candidates for
office Z Will the MOI ern Goldfish aristocracy of
Wall street have the sa ne influence over his bet
ter regulated and more natured mind at the pre-
sent day, which it exercised twenty years ago
We hope not. Mr. Maxwell has a great many
points of excellence, which no one knows better
than ourselves; for we have known him and his
personal character and his history for twenty years.
and although some part of his. career has called
for censure and disapprobation, yet we have al
ways been willing to give him credit for his manli-
ness, his smoralnepidity and his ugorousintellect
He has not mixed in the late three months scramble
for Office, or in those scontemptble scenes which
have disgraced the factions of the whg party, both
here and at Washington, conducted On one side by
foolish Mr.. Fillmore and the other by roguish Mr.
Seward He did not enter into tho scramble be-
tween Ex-Governor Young and ex-hayor Brady
for the principal Offices in this city; but, when
General Taylor himself had to take the matter out