The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-09-30
RnieOtIon OF $. j. Peters by the senate.


We learn from Geographic dispatch, which will
be found in another column, that our fellow-citi-
zen, Samuel ]. Peters, Esq, who was nominated
by President Taylor to the office of Collector of this
Port, has been rejected by the U. S. Senate. We
are also informed by private dispatch from re-
liable source, that it was carried by strict party
vote. One of the senators from this State, we I'M
derstand after causing the report on the nomination
to be postponed by the Committee on Commerce
till late period of the session, without assigning
any reason whatever, made the charge against Mr..
Peters that he was an importer of foreign merchan-
disc, and pledged his word as senator that he
knew the charge to be true. This charge was no
sooner made known to Mr.. Peters than it was
proved to be false and without the shadow OF
foundation, by the oaths of gentlemen Of unlm'
peachable character, who have been in position
to know positively for years past. No other charge
or objection was urged, so far as we know ana De-
eve. 1t is therefore evident that he has been re-
jected on purely party grounds
Regarding it in this light, it may be ialry ana
properly considered by the party to which ne ne
longs, rather as a mark of honorable and envlaole
distinction, than rejecting upon him the sIlght'
| est dseredit or disparagement He alone, among
| all the men nominated by the lamented layIor to
important offices of trust in our country, has been
| thought worthy to be inundated on the altar of
party magnity in the Senate OF this great nation.
So far as we remember, the case is without pre-
cedent, and certainly it. without excuse 1t may be
asserted, without the fear of contradiction, that nc
Collector in the Union has given greater satjsfac
ton, Transceudent abilities, answering intsgri.
". and the highest excellence of moral character
are conceded to him by his most bitter enemies
and no man will be bold enough to deny the fac
that he has devoted himself indefatigaby and un
ceasingy to the performance of his official duties
We venture also to assert that he has removed {
smaller number Of democrats from office, in pro
portion to the number he found in the Customhouse
than any Collector in the United States has done
under any administration, in the last twenty years
In this, however, We have understood he has dis
leased the demucr tic party very much, and W
have very little doubt if he had made a cles
sweep of every democrat in office, he would hav
been confirmed.
This announcement, as may well be imagine
| by friends at a distance, has produced dee
sensation throughout the city. 1t has been receive
| by our whole community of all parties, with the eJ
cepton Of a few Ishmaeltes, whose "hands al
| against any man." such as are to be found ever
where, with the deepest displeasure and DISCUS
| 1t is generally regarded so far as we have heal
| dn expression, an instance of the most acrim
niuus and unrelenting persecution for party reveng
| 10 be found in the annals of political warfar
Many very sagacious men have predicted in OF
presence, that it would be the means of elevatn
Mr. Peters to a position worthy of his high chara
ter and great abilities. We repeat that no publ
officer has given greater satisfaction than has M
Peters, and that it must be apparent to all that
means of falsehood and detractlon on the part
certain Honorable Senators q who are his person
enemies he has been made the victim of me,
and assassin-lke revenge. But he received i
vote of every Senator of his own party, and tn
fact will go far to reconcile him with the resu
painful it must be to the feelings of an honorat
nd high minded man to be rejected by i
American Senate, under any circumstances.
1t is well known here, that the appointment W
rendered to Mr.. Peters by General Taylor, wit
out solicitation on his part, either directly or inc
Iectly and that he accepted it much more in deie
ence to the wishes and urgent solicitations of
friends, than from his own inclination.
We have had, all our life, greater respect for Il
| American Senate, than for any body of men on Il
face of the earth but it must be frankly coniessse
hat such an act as the one under consideration
calculated TO bring it into disgrace and contempt
the eyes of all good men,
| How we are amazed to behold such men as Gas
| Dickinson, Douglass Houston, Foote and Downs
coming down from their transcendently exalte
positions, and lending themselves to dirty DEM
| gogues and party scavengers, to do an act th
| would disgrace pettifogger But still perhal
such an occurrence affords us useful lesson.
gives us Il just conception of human frailty and L
depravity of our nature. We ale reminded that t
: greatest OF our race are but men, and are tn
guarded against very common species Of dolatr
Should il not humble human pride Shouldit l
lower our ideas of human greatness, and check o
aspirations for distinction, when we see such IN
rs those we have named, one day ascending to Il
highest summit ofmans ambition, and commando
the admiration, applause and gratitude of a who
nation, for their patriotic course in saving the
country from disunon and civil war, and the next d
degrading themselves to level with the meant
demagogues and party hacks, and voting to rejt
one ofthe best men, and one of the most capai
and faithful officers in the Government, merely
f crafty the cowardly revenge Of these political va
pyres Such circumstance affords most str
ing and humiliating proof that this is a degener
i, age. No such thing was ever done in the days
>. Washington, Adams, Jefferson and Madison.