The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-09-03

doing that work, and Mr. Curtis conld not in fair
res, take II away from them. whether that car
cumstance had any connection with the conspiracy
to reject Mr.. c. was then, as now, matter OF con
lecture. =
1t is scarcely necessary to say that Mr.. Brooks
"pay' was not entrusted TO us Differing IN that,
as in other respects from this "arful dodger" while
we cheerfuly went to Washington to serve friend
we paid our own expenses.
TIE CASE OF COLLECTOR CURrIs-xa. rARNELsns
STATEMENT.
from the Buffalo Advertiser, Aag. 81
The opposition to the confirmation of Mr.. Curtis
was wholly personal in its character and had sa ts
an invincible dislike to Mr.. Curtis, growing on. Of
the supposed fundamentally of the latter in pro-
curing the nomination of General Harrison in 1889.
| nomination Of Mr.. G. as Collector, over Mr. Cay's
| candidate, r. G. WetmOre. There was no consp-
racy against Curtis-no investigation demanded
no committee Notwithstanding to investigate
Mr.. Clay made no secret of his hostility He avow
ed it without reserve, both in the Senate and out
| and his strong will and great force of character
communi ,ated his hostility to several whig Sena
tors who at one time were inclined to vote agains.
| the confirmation. The nomination was referred
to the Finance Committee, according to the uni
form practice Of the Senate, and that committee
| made favorable report, after due consultation.
| There were no official charges against Mr.. Curtis,
for he had been but few weeks In office when
| the President sent his name in. Mr.. Evans was
q member of that committee, warm friend Of
|
| that the nomination was to be rejected. And there
is not another person in the United States besides
Weed who doubts that George Evans understood the
temper and purposes OF the Senate of the United
States as we'll as 1hurlow Weed. OF the Fourth ward
| of Albany Mr. Clay could have defeated Curtis if
he had pressed his resistance, for he was almost
preme Ia the Senate during the session Of l84l. But
on an appeal to his magnanimity, he waived his OPP
position, and Curtis was confirmed. Weed had no
more agency in producing that result than in the
negotiation OF the treaty of Tist. Those who recol-
Nan+ hot Will
which Mr.. Clay uniformly spoke OF him. will need no
| proof on that point.
The commission, which Weed persists in calling
committee, was appointed by the President some
time in the spring Of 1871, not many weeks after
Mr. Curtis was insngurated as Collector of the port
Of New York. There were allegations Of frauds and
abuses in the Custom House, under the admiDistra-
ton Of Jesse Hoyt, and ON application from New
| York, representing that the public interest de-
manded q perquisition; the Executive constituted
Commission, consisting of Governor Poindexter, Mr..
| Kelly, of Ohio and, we think, David Russell Of this
| State, to look generally into the manner in which
the affairs OF the establishment had been conducted.
Whether Mr.. Russell acted at ell with the commits
| sion, we do not now recollect. IT. he did, it was
only for short time, as VIM. M. Stuart Of Nary
land, named in his stead in the Of the sum-
mer autumn. The commission entered on its duties
not great while after the appointment; battormany
months no progress was made in the investigation.
There was authority conferred upon the Board TO
take cognizance Of the conduct Of Collector Curtis and
nothing was heard officially from the body, on that
u
frmation. On the 18th of January, 1912, some five
months after the nomination Of Curtis had been con.
CURED in by the Senate Messrs. Kelly and Stuart
made rep0rt, and Gov. Poindexter made maori
| ty report on the goth OF the following April These
reports made TO the President, or the Secreta
/ ry OF the Treasury. The commission never re-
/ ported to the Senate or the House at all. Why
should t2 Congress had no control over the Board,
nor was i: in any way responsible to that body. In
the month Of January ls42 Mr.. Pierce now Presi.
dent Of the United States, moved resolution in the
Senate, calling upon the Secretary Of the Treasury
| for the report OF the commission This resolution
was laid on the table on the 10th of February. Sub
seguenty It was taken mp and considered; ana finally
| on tae 2sth of that mouth, amended and adopted
| On the 10th OF May following, the President sent
message to Congress covering the two reports above
! alluded to. Thus, some eight months after Mr.. Cur
| tiss confirmation, was tie commission heard from
by Compress for the first time. And this was Weeds
committee Of the Senate, of which Coy. Poindexter
was chairman, and before which the charges against
Mr.. Curtis were dispf0yed
We have said that the comuissiol-Thieh Weed
afirns was committes-had no authority to ex.
anime into the conduct of Collector Curtis In sup
port OF that assertion may state that during the
winter following his confirm ation resolution was
] offered IN the Houee-by Richard w. Thompson, OF
Indiana, If our memory is correct-asking the Presi
dent to modify the authority under which the COM
mission vas actingextend its jurisdiction in fact
so as 10 embrace for the purposes Of its scrutiny
! the period during which Mr.. Curtis had filed the
Office Of collector. The disposition of this resolution
We do not now recollect. Bat i il WIS adopted, we
1
/ the request contained IN IT,
But enough on this tonic. So far as Weeds story
about this transaction is concerned, we submit TIA,
We have stripped him as bare as Shanghae chicken
l tso hours ont Of the she'll
na EvERETT's COZ FIEsArIov.
| From the Buffalo Advertiser
Ia the Albany Journal Of Wednesday, NJ. Weed
reSurs to the matter Of Mr. Everett's confirmation
and makes feeble attempt 10 break the force of The
plain narrative Of the facts in the case, which we
presented in correction of his cock-and bull story
about having changed TIE predetermined course Of
the Senate, by parcel oftrumpeTy letters published
! IN different newspapers. We might well afford to
| let the case stand as it Is left by Mr.. Weeds rep
cation the facts, which incontestible that The
termination was GonGulTed IN By vote oftwenty-three
! 70 nineteen, and that seven Senators who were
known 10 be opposed 10 il we're absent at the time
the vote was taken, cannot but be regarded as con.
elusive a. to the inaccuracy OF his statement M.
We repeat vllh emphasis TIA. the coalition In the
senate - reject ~ Everett would bays been sac,ess
ard aansd1n The element 81 success wm is secrecy.
Ar enlightere d or the fjasce ard the 5sngsr 81
sucn rejection ior such clu's prompted those Saa.
ors - remit 81 aisrn TO DC sounded strong popular
sentiment, awakened through the vhig pro Of Rsn
2ond alexandria Wilmington. Baltimore Phsjel lha.
New 1o;h, and Boston, put the SsnGte rsht Most 81
tic Wigs who rad sgleed 70 20 assins. II. gTere.
either l.t tAe senate or voted FOR his confirmation
All tbs Is The merast trash imaginable. The fact
tina. Mr Everett in great dan ger Of rejection was
notorious in Washington for weeks before the nomi-
patton was acted upon. There no secrecy about
II. The purpose Of certain Southern wings to vote
against Inn was us: public as TIC fact Of bis no
pinat9n. His name was sent in al an early day Of
the session, ard the question Lad been repeatedly
aud earnestly discussed. There vas DO moment
during t!at whole period when he would have been
confirmed by full Senate. OF this his friends were
convinced, ape they All along despsirel Of favor
able result, unless an opportunity should arise foI
taking the question in the absence 81 some OF bis OPP
ponents. II is sHurd ard presump.uous to tie last
deelee for any msn to talk OF putting the Senate
right " such means as Mr.. Weed describes. There
IS not member u that body alive who would no.
repe az personal stfont an inpuaton 50 gross
end degrading. VIII the editor OF the Journal PIE
tend that the able, emil xhtened and patriotic gentle
cien Who composed the Senate Of the United States
il 1871, needed instruction from any source, All
pccally from a meddling political n.riguer, upon
question Of such grave import as that now under
confederation. Mr. Weeds implication u, that such
men as Barrow, Bayard, Henderson, &C.. were in.
capable Of acting honestly and iuteigently, until