The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-01-27

incapacitated from public Office than would
be Ben Wood, who wrote against the Ad-
ministrasion, or Vallandig ham, who made
speeches against it."
8. Collector Smythe AYERS that he ere.
moved y me from office in consequence Of
having learned of my political antecedents.
Here the falsehood Of the paragraph accu-
mulates. A curious history attaches here,
and must now be given in some detail. The
main fact is that Collector Smythe, instead
of removing me, procured me to "resign,"
on the distinct and emphatic agreement
that / might continue to draw my salary :;
that as / was without fault, and that as he
merely wished to disencumber himself OF
some clamor about my appointment, he
wished me TO relieve him by reslgning, and
ON nuttiug in a substitute | could secure
nv salarv. or. ut least, good part Of it.
had returned lin last December) from
VIRGINIA where had been on leave Of
absence, when | was told at the custom
bouse that the collector wished to see me
in his private room. He greeted me with
great effusion, and with a cordiality | can
scarcely describe. He continued: "Have
you seen the New York Times ? 1t is
pitching into me for your appointment,
and do you know it is seriously embarrass-
ing nv confirmation AZ Minister to Rus
sin ?" replied =" Well, it is very hard
that the newspapers pursue me in such
mean way. | have right to live, and the
work pay for it is as good as that of any
one else. Besides, Mr.. Smythe, | really
think these things are beneath notice, and
YOU know very we'll the influence which
got me this appointment is not that likely
to 40 back upOn it's friends for mere
newspaper clamor." 81 know all that" he
replied 81 really wish you we'll, and it is
indeed ehame that you should, without
cause, be turned out of an Office which you
have not vet enjoy ed for two monthe." " But
have plan," he continued resign as
at my reouest-be particular to put it as ut
mn reQaest-and / shan't appoint any sue
cessor to your place, and your salary can go
on" / mentioned that / could put in
substitute to do the work, and was anxious
thus to provide for young friend in Rich
mond. "Just as you please" he rejoined
"but resign, then winking his eye (ais
manner is distinctly recollectcd), you see
the game l shall make on these fellows"
In FIVE minutes thereafter ! wrote at my
desk in the rotunda letter Of resignation,
and sent it into the collectors room.
The following night met some political
friends and related what had happened.
One of them remarked that | had acted
very foolishly to have resigned; that the
collector would not have dared to remove
me, considering what influence | had Mt my
back; that he was one Of the most artful
and unreliable of New York politicians,
and that now, as he had got my letter Of
resignation, had no claims to show on
him, and be might deceive me. was told,
"You have signed away your rights, and
you will get nothing-you stupid southern
people are go easily entrapped, and in this
case you have the keenest politician in New
York to deal with" Alarmed by these
suggestions, I went to the custom-housc
next morning to obtain clearer under
standing AS to how long my salary was to
continue. The collector "could not be
y; but was told that he had "gene-
rously decided that my salary should be
paid up to the lst January" allowing only
the four or fUe days which then remained
to complete the month
| saw at once the deception, and was
not slow to resent it. wrote to the col
lector in plain terms that he had cheated
me out Of my place; | suggested that he
had commenced his diplomatic career early
by "diplomatizing me out of my situa-
ton; that he had played false, and that
my self-respect compelled me to avow my
sense Of wrong to himself, if not to the pub
lie. Mr.. Smythe has never replied to this
letter. | now defy him to produce it. 1t
will give the sufficient history of the whole
affair; and it will show under what re-
proaches a man processing to be honorable
has been content to remain silent, and will
suggest how much ne has been constrained
by sense of guilt.
EDWARD A. POLLARD.