Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-09-22

at Philadelphia and the Office Of District Attorney OF the
United States in the place. cited because Of
the Presidents immediate connection with It. Joseph
B. Baker collector Of customs in that city, George
G. Baker is his brother, and married the Presidenfs
niece. James c. Vandyke for much of the same
time District Attorney for the United States in the
district II is stated by Secretary Cobb in to
letter Of inquiry by the committee, March oath, 1867
that this George w. Baker, was appointed clerk at
salary Of 81 200 per annum, the 18th Of November,
1885, vice John Goodyear promoted; and that he has
continued to- and does now occupy that position, a the
rate Of salary" And Baker himself being before
the committee deposed that he regularly drew his salary
aud made affidavit that the services Of HI. Office were
rendered.
Yet he did nothing in his Office and he himself all
the time engaged ia editing The yiUdnian the Presi-
dsafs home organ in ylvdnid, heh hcUe SEEM
uos also supported By the profits Of printing The Post
Office Blanks, patronage procured for through Wen
de By the President That he performed duty In his
Office the witness admitted that he engaged, while
holding it. in editing the sylUaniaH, was proved by
Vandyke aud indeed was not controverted But Baker
excuses himself because he detailed for other dues
such services as confidential clerk his brother the
collector though he says he was not believe entitled
to the services Of clerk" and he 1.-THE colector wrote
to the Department asking permission to appoint me to
the Office With p0oer 10 detail me for The purpose
he desired" His duties he says CONSISTED principally
as sort Of law adviser" "ie went out Of the city to
hunt up testimony in New York, in regard to cases,
and attended to cases in Court" and assisted bis
brother in his correspondence. But Vandyke, the
attorney, being asked what services Baker had
dered to litigation, answers "as professional man,
none" "Mr. Baker never, TO my knowledge rendered
any service in any matter in court and he says that
10 single case Baker collected some testimony
out Of doors for him. for whose service $50 would have
been fair compensation Theophilus Fiske, editor Of
the Argus for some time held the place Of second clerk
under the naval store keeper, but rendered services
Charles Cummings also succeeded him in the Office
rendered service and Charles Clement who succeed
ed him was equally as useful In the time the col
ector makes it understood to all his employees, as
CARDS FoIney's opposition to the President, and the
propriey of Mr. Buchanans Lecompton doctrines that
the President is going to make test Of it." Yes,
says the collector TO one OF them, I'VE all entertained
these views that Forney correct but the President
has settled upon another view Of the case and Gov
ernment officers all bound TO support the Presi
dent" In the time vandyde had quarrelled with
the collector for his tyrannous abuse OF his official pow
err and he reminds the President in letter of the 10th
OF March, 1861 Shortly preceding his own removal from
olce that my relations with the collector, as have
frequently informed YOU in conversation and by letter.
are the result OF my unwingness TO approve the con-
duct of the collector in his yrannca abuse OF the pat
ronage of the Federal Government with view to con-
troll the wishes Of the people in their primary local cleo
tons. This in conformity with your own just views as
expressed in times past, when in lS3940, 1884, and
prevent your political Advancement have always dis
approved and dscountenanced to the extent OF my ab
ty The banding together by collector Of customs OF
the entire force of subordinate federal officers the me-
cesstes OF many OF whom may compel them to yield
their convictions to his threats Of removal and the
Of the political preferences OF other persons
under promises Of appointment are nrDgemens OF the
rights of the people. violation OF the democratic spirit
OF our institutions aud all times dangerous to the pu-
rity aud perpetuity of elective government. And in
justification Of my course have to say, in spirit OF
the utmost kindness and good feeling yourself per-
sonay that no desire Of office fear Of removal could
induce far to forget my sefrespect or orego my
rights citizen to yield even silent acquescence
the conduct OF the gentleman who in this respect has
so grossly abused the federal patronage in this State
He had previously deposed TO the committee thus -
"Queston. Do you know of any effort made on the
part of federal officers control State politics II So
state in detail all particulars ?" Answer In my opin
ion there has been in the city Of Philadelphia general
combination among all the federal officers with very
few exceptions TO control the internal party politics OF
the city" Question. Anything 10 do with the poll
ties of the State outside Of the city," ANSWER. think
that that influence has been attempted by the federal Of
fcers to be extended hey ond Philadelphia.
have myself all such occasions refused to follow the
lead Of other federal office holders in Philadelphia prn
epay controlled by the collector OF the port and have
ed with those outside Of the federal Offices than
with those in. This had created bad feeling between
dictation, aud shall continue TO refuse"
Question. Do you know, OF your own knowledge,
whether the interference of the collector any other
federal officer in Philadelphia with their employees for
political PURPOSES was with the knowledge OF the PTesi
for the purposes of controlling their
conduct in reference TO clectiousg" ANSWER. l have
complained TO the President about it, and my opinion IS
that other persons acting with me have done the same
Question. Did you resist those efforts of Collector Ba
ker and other federal officers and So you threat
ened with removal from Office unless you yielded to this
combination! 2" ANSWER. have always resisted these
efforts, from 1889 up to the present time, whenever
they have been attempted in the party The President
never threatened me with removal but have been in
formed by the mutual friends Of the collector and other
federal officers aud myse that they had been making
efforts for the laet years to have me removed and
that the President would do unless modified my hos
tty to the collector have dsregarded such threats"
Question. Had your resistance, in your judgment, any
thing 10 do with your Temoyaly' ANSWER. In my
Judgment it is the cause ofmy removal"
The President Rugged to his bosom his servceabe col
lector aud let his conscientious attorney 60 adrt Very
shortly after this evidence given the formal disns
sal of the attorney followed The President tries in his
letters to vandyke to put his dismissal upon the nmical
relations between him and the collector which he pro-
fesed TO regard prCudcia 10 the public service But
the attorney March 10Th, 1860 reminds him that such
a change (meaning his remova) is not CONTROL
led by these considerations Is fairly nferabe from tie
ent exist between the collector of the port and myself
are precisely the they at the time Of my APP
when at your personal solicitation accep
ed the Office aud the as they had been with
the full knowledge Of the Administration for nearly ore
year previous to that appointment He adds an addis
tiona cause of his opposition to the collector, "hs
paving to persons proiessedy employed in the
service large salaries Of the public treasury when il
is said such persons VIGOROUSLY do not discharge the
duties of their appointments but either devote their
time 10 other business callings or are engaged in the
discharge Of other public duties properly compensated
at a lower rate of salary"
81 have also that about October 1882 frank
" informed you that if my in all matters of party
issues though hostile the dctaon of the collector Of
the port, no. approved by you, could no longer
con nue in office. You ut that time informed me that
there was nothing which had occurred to lesson your
confidence or to cause you to desire change but on
the contrary, that your wish was would continue in
my position, at the same time expressing desire that
should be friendly personal and political relations with
the collector, which said was impossible. IL is also for
this reason that the given for my removal is
to me the unaccouDtbe since then nothing has
change my official rea ions with the officers
Philadelphia except it be that arising from my official
notice Of the report of the improper payment OF salaries
by the collector which have alluded and in regard
which have expressed my opinion that upon Informs
ton properly laid District Attorney could refuse to
entertain prosecution"
After the dismissal of Vandyke, the President writes
him sort of deprecatory and apologize letter. reitera
ting the for turning him out, that be
fued with the collector to which Vandyke after repeat
ing that these relations with the collector had at time
been permitted by himself TO stand In the way Of that
official intercourse which the public interest requir-
ed he concludes the correspondence follows, and
what he says prof able for doctrine" to
all Presidents and olIice-holders, well people:
"Your conversations with me, well your letters
to me on thi subject have invariably referred to the
subject in i's political aspects, and aEecog the
ngcmen of internal party politics in which have always
considered every citizen fully competent to Judge Of his