The New York herald., 1866-05-18
THE NEW COLLECTOR.

A New Phase in tho Excitement About
tho Custom House Head Centre-The
DisaPPointment and Rage OF the Weed
Men-Thc Basis OF Their Claims ON the
New Collcctor-Ths Omciai ststement
I'm Detail Made BY Weed and Raymond
OF Their Capture OF smythe-They are
Repudiated BY the Collector and an
Ohio Man Appointed ~ Private Sccre-
tsry-His Antecede nts-Ru mOrs and
Gossip, Sc.
The commoton In reference TO the Head Centre OF the
Custom House was the increase yesterday. Tho de-
velopments were OF somewhat amusing character and
are proof Of the uncertainty Of politics. The Weed fac
tion endeavored to the last to make tho politicians be-
eve that the occupant Of No. IL Ast0r House
the real Head Centre. morning paper In order TO
keep up the dclusion. made effort at denial Of tho
statements in the HERALD showing that Mr. Connolly
was the man who secured tho appointment Of
Smythe, but the DENIAL was followed by a
paragraph which refuted the pretensons to
Weed being the Head Centre. II showed that
both Weed and Raymond ruled out, and that all
who had applied 10 No IL Asior House for POSI-
tons In the Custom House will have to withdraw their
applications aud file them elsewhere. It's to be re.
fetted that the osce seekers are placed this
nience but then thsre is alternative now; for Weed
is only not the Head Centre, but Mr. smythc docs
not ask his advice anything in connection with the
Custom House. nor has he exchanged word with him
since his confirmation. This matter Of course is far
different from what Supposed when Mr. smythe was
rs appointed. those looking for positions fail TO se
them by the fact that their applications wcro on ic
at No II, when they should have been somewhere
else. they must lay the blame Weed and for
the notice made the Herald that applicants must a
ply at room No. IL were all based the statements
made by those gentlemen to their confidential friends
which were at that me in the absence OF evidence to
the contrary, considered reliable But II appears, now
that they put TO the test that they have just about
much bottom TO them as the speeches Of certain pre-
tended conservative republicans In Congress who TAX on
one side and vote on the other
THE STORY OF WEED AND RAYMOND.
The most amusing part OF this Custom House affair Is
now exists among the Weed politicians. Those who
train with that wing OF the party who gathered ut the
Asto House yesterday afternoon, all wore an expression
their countenances that would Indicate they were
attending funeral. We're It not for the occasional
oahs of character that Is not put down In the ritual
for burial ceremonies stranger would infer that there
State funeral on their hands, so gloomy were
all about there. This being great change from the
appearance in that quarter Immediately after Mr..
smythe's nomination by tho President It will not be
amss the facts which gave the parties
great confidence at that time which will better than
other explain the or the great change in
the political barometer in that quarter When the In
telligencc was first received that Mr. smythes name
had been sent into the Senate Collector the friends OF
Weed here, and OF Raymond In Washington, called
upon both OF these gentlemen to see how they
TO be so badly fOld on that appointment,
and Complained that they had fooled away their time
such weak candidates. and now found themselves out In
the cold Both Of those gentlemen insisted in the most
positive that they were all right with Mr.
Smythc, that President johnson had assured them
that Smythc would be instructed TO consult with his
Mr Johnsons) friends In Now York in the distribution
Of the patronage. Aside from this the statement was
authoravely circulated among the privileged few that
Weed called al the White House to press Mr. wakemans
appointment and found that President johnson was in
clincd TO appoint Mr.. Smythc Some objections being
raised by Weed the President replied that wished his
IN IN Mr. Smv.hA.
for he thought that was the best that they could do
much to say he would appoint him anyway To this
Weed replied, 'Hod dny Two and perhaps 10 can
be ranged 10 be satisfactsry to us Iwl consult
with our friends and see you again" THIS took place
cIoseted, as the story goes, some two hours
with Mr. Smythe; tho result WINS that he visited The
white House on tnc afternoon o. IN he same osy anu
all objections 10 Mr. smythe and would be sstislad xh
his appointment. The nomination was sent into the
Senate the next day. asd u was claimed by Weed and
Raymond that they secured H. But the Developments
since look very much tholgh what they had to say
did not make particle VI difference Ia the action of the
President But IL rs Sufficient for the present that both
Of these gentlemen claimed that II did and what ~
more, accompanied With the same statement was the
Smythe Sunday, full stipulation W. regard TO the
distribution q the patronage was agreed upon ss~een
tary or Preston King and the present Clerk OF tho State
Senate should be retained private secretary and that
sppontmsnts except Il may be fsw where u was ne.
cessary select for their bus capacity solely
In other word that Weed, Raymond Waterman q ana ana
Office and have their way far ~ tho political part
was concerned smythe connning himself TO the busi
This WAS very nice arrangement, and they all
in great gec the triumph Never were there a
SspSs WssS esas ~ h Sy Taey pictured to them
the picknes and happy hosIs they we're To have
under this arrangement Bni the brightest hopes
are sometimes blasted As 20 the truth Of this state.
mens there s but little proof outside of the word Of
Weed and Raymond That they made Il to their friends,
to iustify their assertion thai ihey we're all right with
Mr. smythc there three or Tour competent witnesses
ready 10 20 the stand and testify Is upon the
above facts circulated upon authority a, the time
that the applicants for onice were notls.d "a
call at room No. IA The arrangement Ia regard
to Tcrwill.cr remaining a. private secretary was was
man. and Immediately upon the announcencnt oi
the appointment OF Mr. Smythc. Tcrwger sent in HI.
resignation ss private secretary but MT smy'he reinsea
was taken additional evidence that Weed was IN b
the Head Centre ot the Custom House Az through tue
entire contest up "Wednesday morning. Raymond has
insisted that thcy all right and would have Their
own way beyond any doubt spec al pains was taken "a
deny In the Tm> all the statements about other ariic,
being the Head Centre bu, cs are stubborn things and
Il Il cerain that neither Weed nor Raymond II Head
Centre 10 the Custom House. while The eydente IA very
conclusive that Connolly the chief organizer aud ths
mnn who manipulated the sppointmcnl OF this there
is no doubt Tie constornston among the Tainfnnny
Hall politicians during the last three days b very
conclusive that they consder Connolly the power behind
4 nlc throne, the Head Centre In rcaiay.
THE NEW rnivATE SECRETARY.
Mr. Smythc has finally assumed the dut es OF his once
He has commenced work, aud OF his FIRST acs af,c
making speech declsr ng that he would have none bu
loyal men In oHice under him, and giving bis definition
Of loyalty In such manner as ~ giye tho impression
that he considered all who held views like Tad stevens
and Sumner 10 be dsloya was 10 accept the rcsgnaton
! OF Mr. Terwiliiger through whom Weed, Raymond and
Company TO the political portion OF the ofhco
and appoint Mt Brown to that position, formerly from
| tho Western Reserve, Ohio. Mr. Brown was one o.
Chass Treasury agents sent on special duty
70 California and the time Of the Palmer arrest tbs
Custom House he was sent here 10 Investigate affair
under Barney His endorsements for tbs present pot
ton are mostly Ohio men, and the impression is. ths
the selection has been brought abont through the nnu
| cncc Of Jay Cooke and Chase, and perhaps senaio
/ sprague, who M one tune interested With Mr.
4 smythe IN business In this city.
THIS appointment hss In the slang phfsre or tho poll
tcians been syc-opencr 10 the Weed men and they
arc swearing vengeance the idea Of Importing
man from Ohio 70 oil the place They ao declare tina
Connolly has been spcrseded Head Centre by Chie
Justice Chasc. Az the matter now stands Weed stocs
" ccra My down A. between Chase aud Connolly a.
the Head Centre the facts and crcuntance- all The way
up 10 the appointment Of the private secretary, are
favor Of Connolly but that sct indicates Chase es th'