The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-06-27

Colonel Collier, late Collector or San Francis
and the emf M Nas

California, called upon us . day or two since, fol
the purpose Of getting to correct ms-stateA enl
which has been extensively circulated in the news
papers, to the effect that he is defaulter to the
government in . large amount. Colonel Collier
denies the imputstion in toto, and says that the
only foundation for the mis- statement is the fact
thn: in his accounts with the government, several
items, amounting to considerable sum in the ag-
gregase. have not, as get, been allowed by the
government-that their allowance has been sas-
pended; but he has no doabt that in due time, when
the Secretary Of the Treasury shall be informed of
al the circumstances connected with the admins
traion Of the Collectorshp Of San Francisco, all of
these suspended items, as he termed them will be
allowed.
Colonel Collier was appointed Collector Of Cali
'ornia, at salary of fifteen hundred dollars year
As soon ms he received his commission he proceeded
to San Francisco. and his arrival there he found
three hundred and twelve vessels in port, on board
OF which were goods to very large amount. His
predecessor, who acted under military authority,
having left no books records Of his doings, Colo
mel Collier could not ascertain what cargoes had
paid dutiss, and what had not. In this dilemma
he exercised his best judgment, and the government
accuses him Of having collected twenty seven thou
sand dollars too much. This was an error which
was inseparabe from the situation in which he was
placed, having no books, having no assistance of
any kind, and consequently, having to act not only
asCollector, but as Marshal, Judge, Examiner, APP
praiser, and in almost every other capacity.
Much blame is attached to Col Collier, for having
forfeited quantity Of brandy which had been
taken to San Francisco. The following are the
circumstances under which the forfeiture was made.
When he left Washington for San Francisco, o
copy Of tho treaty Of commerce between France and
the United States was put into his hands By that
treaty, French merchants were not allowed to carry
on any indirect trade with the United States or to
import into the United States the products of any
country but their own Soon after his arrival in
San Francisco, several French vessels reached
there with goods and produce from Brazil, Chill,
and other places He inquired of his predecessor if
he had heard Of any change having been made in
the treaty Of commerce between the two Countries
and was answered in the negative. With the treaty
before hin-with number of letters addressed to
him by the American merchants, calling upon him
to enforce the law and with copies Of protests
by American Consuls at the places from which these
goods were shipped, Col. Collier seized a large
quantity Of these goods, which he declared forfeited
to the United States, but allowed the vessels to
escape In November Of the same year, he wrote
to the Secretary Of the Treasury OF the subject.
and in the following April he received a reply to
the effect that, in the month of July, an arrange
ment had been entered into with France, whi,h
allowed Of the importation Of goods in the manner
in which they had been imported. OF course, Col.
Collier could not have known of this modi dcation
Of the treaty between the two countries. The re-
sponsbility Of the proceeding, therefore, rests on
the government, for not making him acquainted
with the altered state Of things at the earliest mo-
ment possible.
COL Collier is also accused Of not literally follow
ing the rules Of the department in certain respects
lie did not insist that cargoes should be landed
within fifteen days after their arrival, as the law
requires. Under the state Of things which then OK
listed in San Francisco Col Collier says he did not
hesitate TO say to the merchants that they might
bond their goods on board Of their own ships, so
that they might not incur the expense of dollars
ton for landing them, aud fifteen dollars per month
for each ton for storage Under this state Of things
he did not hesitate to disobey the practice in ord
nary cases.
Among the suspended items Of his account, is one
for large sum which was expended for rent Col.
Collier was authorized by the Secretary Of the
Treasury to rent n building for . custom house,
giving preference to one that was hre-proof lie
solicited proposals for such building as was re-
quired. lie was offered one at 1900 month,
and another at $4,000 per month. lie leased the
$1,000 one for one year, subject to the approval of
the Secretary Of the Treasury. The Secretary
disapproved Of 1t at the end Of four months and he
left it. A building which was offered to him at
100000 year was then finished, and he leased il
at So goo month, subject to the Secretary's ap-
prevail. OF the rent for this building, $4,000 is
among the suspended items.
Another suspended item is for money expended in
building wharf. Col. Collier, as Collector, re-
fused to receive large quantity of unclaimed lum-
Der; but Mr.. Rodman, who was sent out MS a spe-
cial agent Of the government, insisted that the
merchants Of San Francisco ought to have the same
facilities extended to them as we're enjoyed by mer-
chants in other parts Of the United States. lie was
obliged, therefore, to assume the keeping Of this
lumber, and having no place to store IL. he was
obliged to build wharf for the purpose. ny some
means or other the wharf sank into the bay, and
with II six or seven hundred tons weight Of lumber.
What was he to do under these circumstances lie
could not await instructions from Washington lie
accordingly built another wharf. n rapidly as pos
sible, and had the lumber taken out ~ the water,
and piled up safely The cost Of this second wharf
is not allowed.
Another charge against Col. Collier Il, that he
did not make quarterly returns Of the expenses Of
his Office, and submit them to the Secretary Of the
Treasury. Under the circumstances which existed
at the time in California, Il was impossible to COM
ply with this rule Of the department. lie paid his
officers at the end Of every month, and wrote to the
Secretary Of the Treasury that he would be obliged
to continue TO do 20, he would not be able to
keep men in his Office, they obliged, Mt that
time. to pay their board motey in advance.
These are the circumstances under which Col.
Collier discharged his duties Collector, and the
above are some Of the charges thsthavc been made
against him.
Col Collier went to California with a salary Of
fifteen hundred dollars year, and had assist
ants at all. As Collector, be had to collect the