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

Colonel Collier, late Collector or San Francis
co, and the Governme nj mt Washington.

Colonel Collier, late Collector of San Francisco
California, called upon US q day or two since, for
the purpose of getting US to correct misstatement
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
that, in his accounts with the government several
items, amounting to considerable sum in the az
gregase, have not, as yet, been allowed by the
government-that their allowance has been sus-
pended; but he has doabt that in due time, when
the Secretary of the Treasury shall be informed of
all the circumstances connected with the admins
tration Of the Coectorship Of San Francisco all of
these suspended items, as he termed them, will be
allowed.
Colonel Collier was appointed Collector Of Cali
'orna, at salary of fifteen hundred dollars year.
As soon as 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 duties, and what had not In this dilemma
he exercised his best judg ment, and the government
accuses him of having collected twenty 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
as Collector, but Marshal, Judge, Examiner, APP
praiser, and in almost every other capacity.
Much blame is attached to Col Collier, for having
forfeited a 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, q
copy Of the 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 him-with q number of letters addressed to
him by the American merchants, calling upon him
to enforce the law, and with copies of protests issued
by American Consuls at the places from which these
goods were shipped, Col. Collier seized large
quantity of these goods which he declared forfeited
to the United States, but allowed the vessels to
escape. In November Of tho 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 ication
of the treaty between the two countries. The re-
sponsblity 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 cx-
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 six dollars
ton for landing thcm and fifteen dollars per month
for each ton for storage. Under this of things
he did not hesitate to dsobey the practice In ordi
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 Sc sretary OF the
Treasury to rent a building for custom house,
giving preference to one that was fre-proof lie
solicited proposals for such building as was re-
quired. lie was offered one at $1,000 a month,
and another at $4,000 per month. He leased the
$1,000 one for one year, subject to the approval Of
the Secretary Of the Treasury. The Secretary
disapproved Of it at the end Of four months and he
left it. building which was offered to him at
100000 year was then finished, and he leased it
at s3, 600 month, subject to the Sccrctary's ap.
prevail OF the rent for this building, So, 900 is
among the suspended items.
Another suspended item IL 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 as a spe-
cial agent Of the government insisted that the
merchants of San Francisco ought to have the same
facilities extended to them as were 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 1t, he was
obliged to build a wharf for the purpose. BY some
means or other the wharf sank into the bay, and
with il six or seven hundred tons weight Of lumber
What was he to do under these circumstances lie
could not awaitinstructions from Washington. lie
accordingly built another wharf, as rapidly as pos
sible, and had the lumber taken out Of 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 oficc, and submit them to the Secretary Of the
Treasury. Under the circumstances which existed
at the time in California il 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, or he would not be able to
keep men in his Office, they Obliged, at that
time, to pay their board morey in advance.
These are the circumstances under which Col.
Collier Discharged his duties Collector and the
above some Of the charges tina. have been made
against him
Col. Collier went to California with a salary Of
fifteen hundred dollars a year. and had NO assist.