The New York herald., 1866-05-17
THE NEW COLLECTOR.

His Installati0n and Ina ~kwss Ao"
dress-strict Adherence TO tS6 PHesi-
Dental Policy Proposed-ExeIusI6a On
tho Radicals from the Departments
The Plague OF ONCE seekc rs-Resigns-
tion OF an Old Employe. Sc.
Mr. Henry A. smythe was yesterday personally in
stalled in Office Collector Of the Port OF New York. and
the Assistant Collector and Deputy having been
H. entered upon the discharge of his duties
The proceedings conducted very quietly and there
was little excitement among the employees Of the
department. whose interest in the matter has long since
become extinct owing 10 tho much delayed appointment
Of Collector.
At nine o'clock precisely twenty OF tho principal
officers of the Custom House assembled In the Collectors
office, where they were received by Mr. Smythe
few minutes later, the gentlemen present having
been introduced TO the Collector elect, the
Acting Collector, Mr., Clinch, mado few re-
marks. He said that, collectively and individually,
those assembled bade Mr. Smythe cordial welcome as
the head Of the institution OF which, he trusted and
believed, they had all been faithful funconares for
years past The speaker surrendered into Mr. smythes
hands the authorities and powers which had devolved
upon him by the uutimely death of their esteemed
friend, the Hon Preston King and that with feelings Of
the liveliest satisfaction He trusted that the Col.
ecor might hong continue To administer the office with
the APPRECIATION Of the government and with the con-
tnucd commended. .ons of the commercial community,
with whose business interests the incumbent was
70 intimately connected In conclusion Mr. Clinch
said that they hailed him and proclaimed him by ap-
poinment of the President and with the unanimous
approval OF the Senate of the United States Collector Of
the district OF the city OF New York "As you shall
discharge yoir functions, sir with integrity and justice
50 help you God"
REMARKS OF COLLECTOR sMYTHE.
The Deputy Collectors having been sworn, the Coec-
tor addressed the asscmblage in substance follows
He said that he thanked his friends heartily for
their kind reception and believed that a few words
of aff not
be Inappropriate He entered upon his duties with
considerable anxiety but with desire and nrm
determination to make his administration acceptable,
and he would look to those around him for aid sup
port The institutions which he received Wash
ngton brief and To tho point The President sug-
gested that he should be surrounded by loyal
and those true TO the Union and to the government On
tho other hand the Secretary OF the Treasury required
that he should employ competent and reliable only
and both these views he proposed TO carry to the
letter The speaker Intended TO devote his individual
TO tho business OF the office during Office hours While
he would not overlook the interests of the government
in their minuest details Furnishing attempts at frauds
and checking Irregularities OF all kinds he felt that
every facility courtesy ought TO be extended to the
business community. Great complaints had been made
to the authorities at Washington Of delay and rreulary
in the workings OF the department Mr. Smythe could
not say whether these complaints we're not well
founded II they were true, the causes Of complaint
would demand and receive immediate attention. Poll.
tcally the speaker had little say, for be no
politician He proposed TO be true and loyal and he
a pepuo'isan. can He ne would Of course Ike TO have
tcal creed The words "loyal persons" uttered
by the President could be easily understood The Exc.
cutve frowned secession from the first and from the
earliest days Of the struggle denounced the rebels who
have since been brought to their The President
denounced the radicals-those OF the ultra cast
least-rcgardng them, rs he did those whose opinions
In the other extreme unfriendy 10 him and TO
the Union which he had cndeavured preserve and
The speaker did not however propose to bring
for discussion the subject Of politics He dklikcd
extremes; had been made to suffer them and only
advised all to take the broad and middle track Mr.
Smyhe brought his address 10 close bv thanking hts
associates and friends for thor encouragement and
stated that he relied upon them and especially upon
Mr. Cnch, the experienced and efficient Deputy Colcc-
tor 10 enable him TO familiar with the de
tails OF the department
Mr. Smvtle having concluded, the deput ies withdrew
icft the Collector To the congratulations OF his
friends.
THE RIGHTS OF OFFICE SEEKERS
will receive particular attention at the hands of Mr.
Smythe Although removals appointments have
yet been decided upon, there several
capces which must be filled and many drones In the
department whose services easily be dispensed with
For the few positions which already require occupants
ther, hundreds Of applicants The tocctor
yesterday bcsieged BY office seckors but the publication
Of tfe announcement that he VIII receive the visits Of
posnants between the hours three and four O'Clock every
an moon VIII check their movements In the future.
While the adoption ~ this will define the rights
OF m rnbes Of the place. hunting fraternity Will enable
the Collector to besow his undivided aticn' ion rpon
the Affairs OF the Departms OF whose workings he Ia
not ye, wholly aa fai,
A REsiGSArrOS
An Incident Of exceed ngly among the
items ga hercd the Custom House recently
handed In. The retiring empoyc the red man,
Henry Fletcher the ~ Indian oheif whose face
for the past fifteen twenty years has been familiar
all business who have visited the Collectors Office,
to which he attached doorman Mr.. Fletcher rs
about 10 proc acd TO Nicaragua for the benefit OF his
health, which the composition Of many highiy imagi.
native rhymes and the assaults Of Office seekers have
seriously impaired