The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-09-01

| Of the party in Pennsylvania and Ohio, which
have shrong aroma of Vsllandigham and Blu
chanan's cardinal principles" In Maine,
Ohio, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, however,
and everywhere else, the musicians of both
parties fiddle very actively to get the soldiers
to dance for them; and In most of the States
| where they have taken the field for the coming
fall elections each side has put soldier at the
| head of it's ticket In Jersey the republicans,
| in their late convention of donkeys, selected
| for Governor an old defeated politician over
the head of one of the most distinguished SOL
diers of the war, and this old stay-at-home poll
tician will probably be defeated by the soldier
nominated by the democrats, though not so dis
tinguished as General Fitzpatrick.
In regard to the main questionable support
of the administration politicians ON both
sides are in muddle. Touching President
Johnson's Southern restoration programme,
the democrats everywhere endorse him, and
are almost persuaded to join him; but they are
bothered and halt upon certain distractions.
The republicans, on the other hand, in gene
raj and lukewarm fashion, decline their ad-
hesion to the Presidents policy. but qualify 1t
with certain warnings and imperative condt-
tons respecting negro suffrage in the South
ern States On both sides the party managers
are dubious and are hedging and lodging, so
that as they now stand it matters very little
which party is successful, East or West The
democracy of New York, however, are to hold
their convention on the 9th instant, and we
shall look to them for something, and they
must give us something, approaching the liv-
ing issues of the present crisis, fairly and
squarely, or they will not recover the ground
lost under Seymour.
The administration of President johnson,
meantime, stands out in the bold and clear re-
lief of Mont Blanc, above all surrounding OBJ
jects; and upon the policy of Andy johnson,
domestic and foreign, the two great political
parties for l868-yea or nay-will be gradu-
ally organized. For the present, though both
parties are hampered and muddled by short
sighted tnkering politicians, the administra-
ton, sustained by the intelligent masses of the
people, North and South, will 60 steadily on
with its great work. President johnson has
defined his policy, the country is with him, and
his course is clear; but the politicians are still
cropping in the dark.
| The CUSTOM HoUsE-THE New COLLECTOR
AND NAVAL OFrcER.-To-day Preston King and
Moses F. Odell take their respective positions
! as Collector and Naval Officer of this port, and
from their high standing and reputation for
ability and integrity it is to be expected that
there will be general overhauling and revi-
sion OF the system under which the business is
| now conducted.
The office of Collector Of Customs in this
great metropolis is one Of the most important
and honorable positions in the gift OF the
| President, and we think he has acted wisely
in the selection Of Mr.. King; yet time only
| can decide as to his fitness for the place
During the last few years the Custom House
of New York has had rather an unenviable re-
putation, and Mr.. King, on entering on bis
duties, will find the place no sinecure if he car
ries out the reforms necessary to be made in
order to once more put the establishment on q
footing where it will be recognized as an insti-
tuition belonging to and for the use Of the peo-
ple instead of receiving shop for plunderers.
He will find many filling important positions
who are entirely unified for them, many who
occupy positions of no earthly benefit to gov
solely for the benefit of the incumbent He
will find useless men, useless divisions, useless
bureaus and useless circumlocution in every
thing. He will find numberless bureaus on
which the old locks have become rusty, and he
will have to pick them. Bureaus of appoint
ment, bureaus Of bonding, bureaus Of drawback
and bureaus Of seizures will all need venilat-
ing, and the latter one will need q general and
thorough fiimigation. II has grown under the
fostering care Of its patrons to be such a mon
strosity, such a huge and immense affair."
that II has not only become a disgrace
but by-word among our merchants and ship
masters. Few have any idea Of the manner in
which this business Of seizing is carried on
under color Of government authority by which
the Collector, Naval Officer and Surveyor are
entitled TO one.half Of the proceeds Of all they
succeed in condemnng.
Outrages of the most grievous character have
been perpetrated on the persons Of those arriv
ing here from foreign ports, under the pretencs
Of searching for Struggled goods Rings have
been taken from their fingers, brooches from
their dresses and in one case the family jewels
of Mexican family who had been travelling
in Europe were seized and deposited in the ra
pacious nav Of this monster bureau, and II wat
compelled to disgorge only through the deter
mined aud persistent action Of the Assistan
Collector, for which, we think, he has not ye
been forgiven.
Mr.. King has the power in his own hands
and the public look to him TO remedy these
evils and bring about all needed reforms. Lee
him cut loose from oil politicians, and, guided
by the light which he has followed 80 success
fully from his youth until it placed him in Tho