New-York tribune., 1867-03-16
cotIrcrOR SvyrHE on THE PICK.

Collector Smythc has none but himself to
blame for the rough treatment he received
from Mr. Hulbuid in the House yesterday. If,
after the Committee OH Public Expenditures
had made their report upon our Custom
House frauds, Mr. Smythe had accepted
the exposure IA one of the ordinary incon'
venicnccs of office he would not have had
the pleasure of reading Mr. Hulburd's able
speech in our columns to-day. But he chose to
consider his innocence injured, accused the
Committee of acting in spite. and raised
question of fact which it was Mr.. Hulburd's
duty 10 settle We think he has settled the
question of fact. and Mr.. Smythe with it.
Mr.. Smythc in his letter (soncbody clse's let
ter which hc signcd) complained that his tcst-
mony had been suppressed and distorted. Mr.
lIulburd replies, and can prove his assertion,
that Mr.. Smythe revised his own testimony,
striking out and inserting what he chose. SO
the suppression and distortion were Mr..
Smythe's and not Mr. Hulburd's. It is true
that the Committee said to Mr.. Smythe; {" Did
You ever make presents 10 the families OF
Senators ~ and that his reply, "Ies, Sir; L
"once gave Senator Patterson's lady forty
cents wssIh q q s2Iqd!;,' gss8 R9t T.sGeiTcd.
IL
pertinent, trivial, and mean but over this
suppression Mr.. Smythe will scarcely
make his moan. 1t il shown, too, that
the denial of Senators Patterson and DoOlittle
that they ever received any money from Mr..
Smythc does not Jisproyo the evidence that
fe intended to pay those gentlemen $1,000
each. Why did Mr.. Smythe intend TO pay
Mcssrs D0oiittle and Patterson $1,000 each ?
Out of whose money did he intend to pay
these sums' If out of his own pocket, was it
pure good will and philanthropy on DIR.
Smythe's part toward slessrs. Doolttle and
Patterson, that dictated the henefaction? Or
did Messrs. Doolittle and Patterson do
on intend, any service 10 Mr. Smythe
worth $4,000 of his own or other peoples
money! And If so. whatP These and other
ously inquirins mind; but of answer to
them we have. as yet, nothing. Mr..
questions suggest themselves to tho ingcnu-
IIuburd also quoted from the evidence
to show that while Mr.. Smythc took every
month an oath that he received no
money illegally. he received every month
from Corlage L. CO., $3.50. This money was
handed to his secretary, who kept it till Mr..
Smythe had taken his littlo oath. and afterward
transferred it to him-an arrangement which
recalls Ccrvantes's story Of the debtor who,
concealing in cane tho sum he owed, gave
the cane to his creditor to hold in court,
and then swore he had returned tho
money into his creditors own hands.
What Mr. Smythe meant when ne said-if he
said as it is sworn | am damned sorry that
81 ever undertook to carry the Presidents
" daughters" we do not exactly know, but have
no doubt that the explanation would DO inter
esting. Nor do we understand what
Mrs. Perry did to secure one-thirl of
the profits of the general order business, or
why the President read the written agreement
to that effect. All these are mysteries which
make advisable the further investigation Mr..
lluIburds resolution directs. We can better COM
prehcnd why "solt words" were spoken to
Mrs. Perry i'll the Executive Chamber, for Mrs.