The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-04-18
THE COLLECTORSHIp.

Appointments or Henry A. smythe as
Collector-GossfP About tho Custom
Housewife Owns tho New Collsctor.-
Contest Among tho Cliques and Fac
lions to Obtain Control or the Patron
agc-bfographical Sketch or the New
Incumbent, &c.
The excitement in reference In the Colecorsbn has
suddenly been in a great measure transferred from
Washington to New York The announcement of
che appointment of Henry A. smythe to that posi- i.
ton, over the heads Of those recommended by
the politicians, at first caused quite a consterna-
uon among the several cliques and factions The
idea that the recommendations Of all the politicians
should be disregarded by the President seemed to have
been beyond their contemplation and as a matter of
course took many Of the wire pulers by surprise But
all that feeling soon gave way to the practical
consideration, who would the new Collector2 Who
would control the disposal Of the patronage under
bin, was therefore yesterday the great absorbing theme
When II is considered that have two great parties
and two factions in each of those parties all of whom
pretend to have special claims upon the administration
and therefore entitled 10 share in the patronage either
by foul fair means, 1t will at once be that
have the material for very extensive commoon and
small amount Of man9uvring to who shall capture
the prize, II prize the new Collector be called.
One faction Of the democrats claim that they prevented
the appointment OF both Judge Davies and Depew, and
that this act they entitled to consideration from
Mr. Smythe when he takes charge of the Office and
insisting that the heads Of large portion Of the
present radical incumbents shall be cut or
instanter They have long list Of names Of
subordnates in the Custom House, who, they
assert, have been recently denouncing the President
after the style of Stevens Sumner and Wade and whose
places they for Johnson democrats The opponents
Tatn ualt tIo
very positive Of their power and influence in that
quarter and are basing their calculations being able
10 regain their lost prestige through the of the
Custom House under Smythe. This may sound very
singular, when Is claimed and known that Mr. Smythe
lis and has been republican; but il must be remembered
that he krows nothing Of the tricks Of the politicians,
of the motives which control them Being novice In
that line lie is just the man for them to work upon
Since some of the above class of have been
working for his appointment and have been associated
with him in business they consider their claims second
to no other class, especially when nearly all the
republican politicians have been arraved against
him The movements and the luttering of this class
yesterday were exceedingly amusing Their anxiety lest
Mr.. Smythe by remaining in Washington to look after
his confirmation will be obliged to make such pledges to
the radical Senators the ratification OF his APP
poinment by that body will cut them of from all
share in the spols decidedly interesting
The real turmoil, however, is in the republican camp.
There is the real excitement There exists the great
struggle for his capture The engineers in both factions
of the republican camp laying siege and preparing
for grand assault upon the Collector the moment that
he from Washington. The patronage OF the Gus
tom House. skully handled, Is considered the strong
hold and In fact, the citadel for the faction which
Is able TO WELD it, It Is prize, there
fore, that is bone Of contention In
a novel FORM While the appointment was pending ut
Washington each side directed their fire against the can
ddae who appeared DO the strongest opponent to lis
favore the President having settled that point by
taking man who is supposed to be outside OF all poti
cal factions the question comes, Who shall capture
him rs.Y and this Just now overshadows the Fenlans
and all other question: The nine days wonder Is not
whether OMahony or Swceny will capture Canada but
what faction will capture the Collector The arrival OF
Henry A. Smythe looked for to decide which fac
ton in the republican party shall rule just the arrival
OF Stephens is anxlously awaited decide between the
two rival Head Centres OF the Fcnians in this country
THE BASIS OF THE RADICALS AND C0NsERvA-
rIvEs' CLAIMS.
Chief Justice Chase who is in town, has been In
consultation with Barney aud Parsons, well ms with
the representatives of Jay Cookies bank In this city
and by what transpred II that they claim his ap
pointment But It seems that later intelligence from
washington was such as leave in their minds great
doubt about their being able after all TO control the
political patronage for they got wind Of the fact
that Mr. smyhe placed himself exclusively in the hands
of Johnsons friends and that 1t this move on his
part that finally settled tho question and secured the
appointment Thus. although they were at first quite
cheerful over the announcement OF the appointment,
they were very much dsheartened when they learned
certain secret facts which supposed to have taken
place on Saturday and Sunday last at the national
capital
Thurlow Weed srived from Washington yesterday
morning and bis room the Aston House was overrun
Yesterday with the faithful that side of the question:
20 ascertain how the land lay His being a: Washington
when It was settled It supposed at least that he
knew who made Collector, what influence brought
about and who would own him he Is made. The
,whisperipg and wlnking between the knowing ones
soon satisfied everybody around the Aston House that
Weed by being the ground, had accomplished the
feat and captured Smythe and made him all right for
his wing OF the party His adhercns in the best OF
sprils and TO all appearances greatly catod over the
ncws which Weed brought on this point II was
given out that the radicals were badly sold, and
that the tables were turned against them.
This would seem 20 corroborate the surmscs
and fears Of tho radicals and lead the conclusion that
the conservatives have captured him, bag and baggage
At any rate they planning for the removal Of the rad
icals connected with the Custom House, and tho appoint
OF conservatives In their places. This fact makes
the affair all the interesting and increases The
interest in the contest for Is evident tina, the radicals
arc not intending give up the eight easily or TO lei
20 their grip until they certain. II Il known that
Weed opposed both Depew and Davies, the latter 10 de
cdd HIS opposition to the former, being based
on personal grounds purely somewhat toned dowr
by the fact that both Morgan and Raymond favored h
appointment, and IL Ia claimed by Weeds friends
that he brought smyihc forward at tho last hour
rs tho compromise candidate, and by that &C
has secured hold in that quarter which tho radical
cannot shake of. Whether this Is true or no, few
DAYS viii tell With all the and confidence OF
bosh sides, the ownership Of the new Collector IL un
doubleday still an open question: although Weed II .
confident that all Is right that he left last evening 70
Albany TO look after hts interests in the Albany lobby