The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-01-23

Union itself.
Every thing, therefore, looks and ints to the
disorganzaticn of all the old partie towards
scrub-race for the next Presidency, nd TO the
election of General Taylors successor by the
House<of Representatives, which is to be voted for
by the people in the coming year.
The CUSTOM HOUSE, AND THE MERCHANTS
Messrs. Meredith and Maxwell are raising per-
feet tempest among our mercantile community
The circular of the Secretary of the Treasury,
which looked so well cursory perusal, has, II
seems, been carried into effect at the Custom
House, in such way as to multiply difficulties,
complicate all operations, and even increase the
tariff, without act of Congress authorizing such
proceeding. The storm will undoubtedly reach
the Senate chamber, and no one can tell what ef-
feet such operations may have on many of those
names that are now trembling between life and
death in the recesses of that body
No two men ever entered public office with
more virgin popularity naturally around them, than
did Messrs Meredith and Maxwell-the the
Secretary OF the Treasury at Washington, and the
other the Collector of the port of New York.
They were not politicians but unfortunately they
are lawyers, and nothing but lawyers. Hence the
difficulties which they have caused 10 the CONNER
cal community, by their want of that business
spirit which slmpIes forms, reaches its purpose in
the readiest way, and smoothes all difficulties in
the transaction Of business between the govern
ment and the mercantile community. The general
sweep of the old officers in the Custom House, here
and elsewhere, has undoubtedly contributed TO d-
mnsh the revenue, multiply difficulties, and
caused the issuing of so many of those circulars
that have emanated, one after the other, from the
department. at Washington.
But the expense of collecting the revenue had to
be diminished. And how was that to be done
The natural way would have been to dismiss all
idle, incompetent, and improper persons in the en-
ploy Of The government-such persons as are unne-
cessary and useless appendages to this department
In this city, Mr.. Maxwell, the Collector, has, we
believe, instead of diminishing the expenses of the
government, pursued policy calculated to increase
them, by substituting ignorant persons for compe-
tent officers, thus Increasing In every way the di-
culties and perplexites Of his department and that
arm Of the government. number of sluecurIsts
have been CHARTERED on the government in this col
lection district, many of whom are connected with
The party journals, and some of whom are idlng
away their time at the expense OF the government,
lobbying at Washington for other purposes than
those for which they were appointed. Another
mode by which the expenses have been increased,
is throwing away the advertising of the department
various journals having little or no circulation
thus wasting the funds of the department without
any benefit TO the government or the revenue.
On the whole, we believe that the Treasury De-
paitment, and the principal officers of collection
connected with 1t, have neverbeen in such disor-
dered and dilaPIdated condition as they at this
moment. Complaints pouring in from all quar-
tiers; the merchants grumbng in every direction
and those the head of AFFAIRS instead of listening
to those complaints, seem only to be bent on devils
ing new difficulties, new perplexties, and more un-
just and illegal proceedings.