The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-03-26
Cumberland Centre, March, 1867.
Impo-i,ion-why submitted to.

Thomas Jefferson recognized the fact. in
penning the Declaration of Independence.
that men are slow to rebel against existing
evils through fear ofevils that they know not
of 1t seems that it is partially, at least, on
this principal that the merchants of New
York have allowed stupendous evil to grow
up in the custom house regulations of that
port, but which has recently eliminated in
the case of Collector Smythe. The Erening
Post has shown that it has become a custom
to charge from six to eight dollars per month
for storage Of a case that, in an ordinary pri-
vate warehouse, would have been stored for
ftycents month, and from ten to twenty
dollars for labor where in private warehouse
the charge is at the most fifty cents to one
dollar. In other things, as in the carriage and
general order business, referred to in these
columns heretofore, similar abuses have grown
up, to which we need not more particularly
refer in this connection.
The Post says these evils have grown up
gradually, and have been tolerated by one set of
officials after another till they have become a
part of the customs of the port, until poor
Mr.. Smythe, not having the discretion of his
predecessors, openly put them up for sale to
the highest bidder, and was utterly uncon-
scious that this was not as legitimate as it
was in the days of his mercantile experience
to send a case of dry goods to auctionp
Why the imposition has been so long and
so uncomplainingly submitted to, is accounted
for in part on the ground Of the characteristic
hurry and godhedd spirit Of the times. Men
in business will not stop for small bar thrown
across theirpathway to investigate their rights,
but submit as the traveller does to the "stand
and deliver order of the highwayman, rather
than lose the time necessary for self-protec-
ton. Says the Post: -...sH. .e..4s,1
Ii some enterprising empire club should put
gate across Broadway at Union Square and
levy toll ON passengers anxious to get to their
places of business, a good many in their haste
to attend to their individual concerns would
hand over moderate fee, if the demand was
well backed up, rather than wait to contest it.
This is precisely what our merchants have been
submitting to. Right in the the nip and press
of commerce these general order and carriage
robbers have planted themselves and have lev
led their tolls.
But additional explanation why the people
have so patiently submitted to the evils COM
planned of, is found in the principle involved
in the suggestion OF NJ. Jefferson, referred to
above. The Post well puts it in TIE follow
ing: .-.t .., l.l. .....i ..,..,......,r
But there is still another reason why the I'M
positions of the Custom House are submitted
to, namely, the unwillingness of the merchant
to excite the hostility of the petty officials in
terested in the petty steaings. We have fire.
quently asked merchants who have come to us
with complaints of these extortions why they
did not make personal issue on a particular
grievance, and have always been answered:
"Oh, if we do our entries viii not be passed
promptly, will not be Gquidated; our
goods at appraisers stores will not be passed
in time, or they will not be found readily in the
warehouses; or in some other of many wayss
merchant may be injured in his business by
Custom House officers.