The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-04-06
The New York Collectorshfp.

The politicians are all agog in regard to the
Collectorship of this port. Every day the ru-
NOR is circulated that this or that man has
been appointed, and every other day all pre-
vious reports are contradicted by the announce
ment that no appointment has been made. The
President has done well to take long while to
carefully consider this subject. The commercial
and the political Importance Of the New York
Collectorship cannot be over estimated.
The Office requires first class business
man, who can properly appreciate and
take care Of the vast interests of the
merchants of this great emporium Of trade,
and also man so strong, so experienced and
so popular in political point of view that he
can hold the whole State firmly to the support
of the Presidents policy. We remember that
when Bronson held the Collectorship and Red
field was appointed in his stead the democratic
party in this State was cut in two and suffered
an ignominious defeat at the polls on account
of this quarrel. A bad appointment now
would affect the dominant party in precisely
the same way. The New York Collectorship
is the citadel Of our State politics.
Our interest in the appointment arises solely
from considerations Of public good and Of
the success of the Presidents policy. When
Collector is selected we hope that he will be
some man like Mr.. Littlejohn, who is prac-
tically acquainted with the details of business,
and who, at the same time, understands the
politics and the politicians Of New York
thoroughly. Nor should we object to such an
incumbent as General Slocum, If he were
chosen for his military services and his ad
ministrative ability, and if he were separated
political influences that defeated him when
he ran for Secretary of State. Mr..
Smythe, although he Is a merchant and
heightened gentleman, is altogether too
weak for The position, and his own friends
acknowledge this. But, above all, we beg
Of President johnson not TO give the
place to such person as Mr.. Depcw-a
man obnoxious to our citizens on account OF
his record in regard to the census, and in our
Judgment totally incapable of performing the
| duties Of the Collectorship. We cannot con-
ceive of more ill-advised, unpopular and i'm
polite act than an appointment like this OF
course we have nothing to say against Mr.. De-
pew's private character; but If any Of the state
ments in regard to the recent census are to be
credited he is VIGOROUSLY incompetent to deal
with facts and figures. There is not another
person named for the position-even including
Mr.. Dana-who would not be in some respect
preferable to Mr.. Depew, and most Of them
| would be preferable in every respect If Sena.
tor Morgan has been consulted in relation TO
this matter we hope that he has not been so
ignorant Of public sentiment here as to favor
Mr.. Depew's appointment, and If he has been
deludcd into so gross misrepresentation ofh.s
constituents we appeal to him to reconsider
the subject and retract his endorsement We
want to has the best possible man for tho
New York Collectorship, whoever he may be;
but, falling in that we want to have anybody
else rather than Mr.. Dcpew, the worst possible
man.