New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-11-06
THE pgFF GUBERNATORIAL

Although Sheridan in his matchless farce
classified most branches of the Art OF Pu1iery'
he omitted tho Puff Official, perhaps because 1t
was not then invented, and Legislators VINO
could not spell did not then give new dc
tionaries the sanction of their sign manuals
We have improved in this matter, as in most
things human and divine, in America Here
for instance, is q General Commission Merchant
in New York, by name - - dong busl-
ness at No. i'm street, and who wants to
establish commercial connections with far-of
Florida. So he refers all inquirng minds
anxious to be sure of his mercantile integrity
and tho first-rate quality of his wares, to the
u. S. Senator from Florida, TO the Collector OF
Customs at Savannah, and TO the Hon. Horatio
Seymour. All these dignifed personages are
supposed to know whether this enterprislng
trader with whom they probably never traded
to tho value of brass farthing, is honest or
dishonest, shrewd or simple, trustworthy or
otherwise. This might be well enough II they
had ever transacted business with him in their
official capacity but upon looking over TINS
gentlemans list of gOods-cheese, baking pow
der, amalgam polish, etc.-we can discover
nothing which a Senator IA Senator, Col
lector as Collector, or Clergyman Uhe Rev.
p p Bishop, Pilatka, Fla), would be likely
to purchase, or. if purchased, to put to 'prac-
teal test. Yet all these are paraded by name
as guarantOrs of Mr.. IS fidelity, prompt
ness, sagacity, and general superiority, as the
most famous and faithful factor in America.
There is an ancient maxim to the effect that
"eoOd wine needs no bush " but when good
wine has such perfect thicket of bushes as
this, we are driven TO the conclusion that it
must be green seal at the very least.
But Mr. - also deals in the superior arti-
cles of "cottOn and cotton-seed," upon the
receipt whereof he "pays CASH. and this being
the most solemn and important branch of his
business, he produces to promote it his great
gun, so to speak, of testimonial; and this
we believe, we must fire off for him in full:
EXECUTIVE OFFICE. TALLAHASSEE Fla, July. 1862
To All, CONCERNED: hereby commend my brother,
20 tho confidence OF all persons who may
ntrust him with Cotton Produce. Co. for sale in the
New York market He is thoroughly honest and compe.
tent and will guarantee faithful and prompt attention
to all business inrusted 20 him. and an honest account
for all proceeds 10 the ast dollar.
HARRISON REED. Governor Of Florida
There is an official document for you
There is a State Paper worth having! We
suppose that to the original the broad seal of
tersigned by his Excellencys Secretary Of State.
Mark. if you please, the redtape accuracy of
this sublime appeal to all concerned" in
whatever part of the world they may have
their being Observe that this fraternal GER
ti6cate is dated from the Executive 0flice!"
| Consider how the brotherly love therein
expressed with gushing abandon vouches for
"tho faithfuness" and "the promptness' of
Mr.. of - street New-York, and see
the rounded amplitude of the final
phrases-"an honest account for all the pro-
leeds 10 the last dollarw Here is a commits
sion merchant who is vouched for by authority,
raised to the dignity OF public character, and
made to represent, in some sort, the State OF
Florida itself Alas! how many merchants
are there in this great city not so fortunate rs
to have Governor for brother, with or
without "the mark of q strawberry upon his
fright arm" Gov Reed we venture TO affirm,
has that fruty symbol of consanguinity very
fully developed upon some prominent part of
his person.
We may be mistaken; we may have studied
the Constitution too carelessly; We may mad
equatey comprehend the moral dignity Of
family ties and never having been q Gov
ernOr wo may not understand the whole duty
of that office but our carefully considered
opinion is that Governors arc not appointed to
help their brothers to sell cotton, or even cot
n-sced. We trust that the Governor of
Florida, presiding with ineIpressible dignity
in his Executive Chamber" has no personal
and pecunary interest in the New-York bust
ness To tho least sensitive nOstril such an
arran cement wOuld exude the tincture of a
job. But we will not believe that Gov. Reed
is shaken by any wind of corruption. 1t must
be brotherly love, of tho real Philadelphia
kind, and nothing baser!