The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-07-31
CITY INTELLIGENCE.
EFor Additional Local Rems see Fia p.

LETTER FROM COLONEL WILLIAM b.
THoMAs-CUsToN HoUsE, PHILADELPHIA, July
80, le66.--To Charles II. Cummings Esq, Presi-
dent of Meeting of Merchants etc Dear Sir:-
/ have read in the public papers, with q deep
sense Of my own unworthlness, your resolutions
and proceedings III reference TO my removal
from the office have filled during the last five
years. Will not attempt to express the graft
tude feel for the confidence you reDose in me-
nor the great satisfaction the complinentar
terms in which you have been pleased to speak
OF my humble efforts to serve my country as
well as the merchants OF Philadelphia, has gwen
me.
However much l shall regret the severance of
the bhsiness relations which have subssted
between us for so long period, and anxious as
/ am to protect the true men l have called
around me IN the administration OF my duties as
Collector of Customs at this port, cannot
consent TO hold the office by the grace or tavor
of the present incumbent of the Presidential
chair for single hour after my successor shall
have been legally appointed.
l am conselentiouSly and unalterably opposed
to the policy OF conterring political rights upon
the men who have been engaged for four long
years in the work of making widows of the wives
and orphans of the children OF our lamented
dead, except on such conditions as the enlght.
ened judgment OF the patriotic men who have
preserved the Union by their wisdom in council
and valor in the field may dictate. The Presi-
dent, 1t seems, in order to build up political
party OF his own, has determined to make
opinion upon this subject test OF fitness tor
office.
The traitors of the rebellious States having
forsworn their allegiance to the United States
Government, occupy by their own act the posi-
ton OF aliens to that Government and should
never again be permitted to enjoy political
rights under it, until regularly naturalIzed ac-
cordLg to law; much less should they be
allowed an increase of political power as the
result OF theiriwork in attempting to break up
the Union.
In the inscrutable workings of Divine Provi-
dence, by which the wrath of man is made to
praise Him." the abolition of the barbarous
institution of slavery, Tor the preservation of
which the Rebellion was instituted, was brought
about The effect of the abolition of slavery
thus produced by shareholders and their North
ern allies, is the destruction of one of the foun-
dation stones upon which the Constitution rests,
viz. the basis OF representation; and hold it to
be the first duty of Congress TO see that that
basis is properly readiusted before they confer
political rights upon those who by their treason
have forfeited every right except that of being
punished according to our Constitution and laws.
This is the only OCtdt question which now
agltates the nation. On one side are arrayed,
with President johnson at their head, the Val
landighams and Reeds of the North, the Davises
and Stephenses of the South, together with a
small retmue of anxious office eXpectants. On
the other slde in as solid DhaanX as when they
brought victory to the Stars and Stripes of the
Union ON the battlefield are the loyal men of
both sections of our common country, ready as
ever to sustain, with their intelects and lives, q
Congress upon which they rely as the bulwark
OF the liberties of the people.
Having refused to ''bow the knee to Baal"
have long known the intention of the President
10 remove me at the earliest moment in his
power; and it has only been because he could
not find protessed Republican of sufficient
prominence TO secure the Endorsement of the
Senate (whose confirmation was a necessary
preliminary to my removaD and at the same
time base enough to sacrifice his principles for
office, that have renamed to the present time
/ may not agree with some of the gentlemen
who have honored me by their presence at the
meeting at the Board OF Trades rooms, on the
subject OF rotation in Office. Whilst | freely
admit that experience is in many cases neces-
sary to IN intelligent administration of official
duty, still hold that change is a characteristic
of our republican form Of government and it
may be one of It's evils; and am not disposed to
claim for myself an exception to the practical
application OF this democratic principle.
Governments are based upon the theory Of
rotation in Office, or upon that OF life tenure.
Ours is a democratic Republic, in which the
will OF the people IS supposed to be reflected by
their acts at the polls-when, therefore, they
change the appointing power in any department
OF the Government hold it to be an expression
OF their will that general change should take
place in all offices in that department, except
where such changes would be manifestly detr-
mental to the public good.
Let us apply thls principle to the present
policy of President johnson to remove all Otfi-
GERS who do not agree with him on the question
of reconstruction, question purely legislative
in its character. Did the people signify a
desire for change by eIecting him to the Pres-
Dental chair? Did they constitute him the
appointing power? or did they not rather
express themselves opposed to change by re-
electing our lamented Lincoln
Tbark king you, gentlemen, for your kind
interposltion in nay behalf, l have only to say
that shall continue in Office so long as can
do So in disregard Of the arbitrary will which
now demands my removal against the wishes of
the Senate of the United States, whose pre-
r0eative is wantOnly invaded and the mercantile
community, whose interests / have always
endeavored TO promote.
WILLIAM B. THOMAS Collector.
UNSAFE BUILDINGs.-The attention of the
Building Inspectors having been called to the