The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-11-11
TIE NEW YORK CUSTOM HOUSE.

meat-sssfate Rights, Rcviyed-The Patr0n-
are Of New York Controlled by Other
sfates-Vhe Drawback Frnuds-Tho True
Origin az the Dlafchford Scandal.
New York republican politicians are by no means
satisfied with the manner In which the patronage OF
the New York custom House has been disposed or
The dissatisfaction 1t Ii said, arises not Collector
Grinnell. but at o custom for which he is not re-
sponsibe and which mas grow n up under previous
republican administrations. IL commenced under
Lincoln but was then practised only to very
limited extent Under Johnson It became quite
common, through the necessity for conciliating
doubtful Senators while the impeachment nuinbur
was in progress. 1t Is said that some half dozen
Senators were thus "securedn to vote, IN ease Of
necessity" tOr Andy Johnson's acqumta.
The present dissatisfaction grows out Of the prae-
tice OF dividing the patronage OF the New YORK
Custom House not merely among the Senators and
Representatives of that STATE, but among the Sena
tors and Representatives Of all the States in the
Union. In the good old times the federarpatronage
OF each state belonged to the Senator'S and Repre-
sentatves OF each state, no matter how large or
how small such patronage might be. Each State
was given Its share-no moro ana no less. No
Senator or Representative ever thought OF going
beyond the sovereign limits OF his own State to
demand patronage and II he did think or such
thing 1t would do hrm little good. for 1t would not
be allowed for an instant by tho Senators or
Representatives, OF any other State The theory then
held was that the patronage Of each state fairly
represented its power influence and population
among the family OF States. and therefore. that the
Senators and Representatives of each statc were
entitled to control ts pa tronaye and nothing more.
Now, however. 1t seems 10 have become quite
common thing for Senator away Off in California,
Nevada or Oregon to claim for Of lis political
retainer5 o slice OF the sp0s belonging to New
York. At the same time these Pacific soDers enjoy
all their local patronage, to the exclusion OF sll
other States. Tney have tho choice Of Territorial
governors secretaries OF state, internal reveaue
Officers. custom mouse officers and persons ap-
polnted under The Land Oiilce--a rich "pIacerh-
together win Indian agents, superintendent. DC.
II New YORK Senator were 10 put III Claim Tor
tain appointments IN California custom house the
California senator's would open their eyes IN holy
horror and protest with oil their might ana main
against the enorniity OF such preteusion ia New
ork representative should take II into his head 10
ask revenue appointments IN oregon or Nevada for
some OF his New York constituents tac honorable
gentlemen from oregon or Nevada would shoat out
very cnpnaicaliy "yego rle,o," and laugh TO de-
rsion The lnpudent aud RIDICULOUS claim. And yet
these very gentlemen, who are so jealous apu care
full OF the rights OF their own states, appear 10 ne
the most encroachlpg upon the rights OF others.
Not alone the Pacific slopers however are
charged with doing TINS. The Ea5tern West
ern and Southern Senator'S and representa-
tyes arc complained OF also, though NOT
to tins extent Massachusetts, Connecticut,
New hampshire Alabama. South Carolina, ono ih
regard New York as Sc subject FOR gpoliation.
The Custom House OF the Empire City they are
als ged to look upon as an institution created for sae
special purpose Of providing. for all the political
vampires Oh the Union. And, what Is more they
generally obtain los the story goes what they ASK.
Such IS the force OF CUSTOM zen or even siX years
| ago New DIRK Senator would have made Rome
| howln had Senator or Representative from aay
other State demanded the smallest grain OF patron
age per aiming TO the New York Custom House.
| Considering the experience and political aaIll Of
the Two present Senatorial representatives oil tue
/ EmDlre
| that this carpet oag' system OF patron
age Is sim tolerated In New York: II Is
| their full 'pound OF fiesh." The only reason may,
perhaps, be the fear that the casom Of dividing th9
| liked and well established that II an cilort were
made to revert 10 the Old anerebeIlion status such
| q rumpus might be produced rs would make IL I'M
pleasant Tor all parties concerned 10 Is not to be
denied, nevertheless that The dissatisfaction at the
custom Is becoming greater ana greater among New
York republicans and that movements are 1t Is SAID,
about TO be inangurated TO remedy the evil AS mat
tiers stand Collector Grinnell himself VIII not
be expected to inau2uraie q change IL The custom
| II the senators and Representatives oil the state
don't think It worth then While certainly tAey eau
| not expect the Collector to throw himself into no
water thankiessiy. tne only thing Collector Grin
nell has looked to In the appointment of his suoor
d,pates was atness and honesty These assured and
liberal share OF the patronage given to Sew lork
he did not trouble himself further.
! TIE DRAWBACK iRAuDs-oRiGis OF THE BLATca-
FORD sCA,DAL-
Speaking thus OF the general system prevailing in
the distribution OF tue patronage OF the Custom
among New FORK republican politicians. IL may be
| Is wen to say few words Of the drawback
iralds' aud or the true origin cl what ~ Lnown
| as che 'Blatchiord scanda.n Runors about 1t Aave
been nyng thlca ana last and found admission Into
! Bohemian journals. which live aud thrive ouly on
sensational scandal. THESE rumors were 10 the
eject that frauds by means OF the drawback system
| had been perpetgated upon the government Co tne
Mr. Blatchford, Of the he Drawback bureau. was
or the parties. If not the principal IL the cen
| splracy thus 10 deraud the revenue, and that rs
= lk.E IN
| ford had secretly lett the city-a somewhat more
| polite expression than to say that he had 'ab-
| scoDaedn that the government deesiye3EeTe out
on the hunt ior nin put were unable TO discover MS
whereabouts, aad thas IN general the people OF the
whole county would be aSoni3hed, astounded
! dunfounded, terror-snitten could they but Know
the extent and enoi NIFTY OF the frauds peipettatel
| By thar gentleman. later report even had u that
/ Secretary Boutwell, had for some TINE busted himself
win the anr: taat the ''secret AGENT OF ne Urea
sury department. could not fna the absentee, and
| that com. alitee OF 'sx OF tue most Trustworthy
and efficient cierSs nj once 10 be sent TO tins
city from Washington TO uy Investigate the matter.
In the fst place, II Is bus proper 10 say that Ar.
| Blatchord was out OF the city on leave " absence
| Tor one week, WHICH expired on Monday, when he
| returned nnd yesterday no was aga 4 at lls desk
| attending to his oaiciai duties Asaa. Furtaeg,
| during MS late VISIT 10 Washington Collector GRIN
nell had many long aud Important conferences with
tue secretary and ether h,gh officers OF the Treasury
Department. anu there - the highest authority Tor
asserting that up to Monday evening. at wncn time
the visit terminated, In no manner Whatever,
neither officially nor otherwise, was the rumor
thought OF sufficient importance 10 be eygl
mentioned, nor mad the Collector aug notice,
III any shape or manner whatG err that
the department at Washington contemp laied any
action IN the affair, much less such rowing
committee OF subordinate CLERKS. waigh would, &c
Is sale TO assume, not only be below the dignity OF
the department., but also contrary to established
usage Tne assurance has been given out thai there
is nothing whatever in those ruuiors ana that tho
Collector Is ever ready 10 open The Custom House
and every one OF Its branches under hs control to
the fullest and most thorough Inspection and exami
nation by any competent and awlui authority.
But how could such q rumor arses People arc
avn w rNsaf.N
there must be some IRE. And since tina ave
rage OF human nature Is addicted To the habit
OF always believing q bad and aiwaTs doubt
ing o good report Of man, the sensational
journals were counting upon TINS trait OF humanity
and blew up to tho size OF elephant what dld not
even merit the name Of fly. Yer truth requires TO
be told, and though lie may travel seven leagues
before truth puts on her boots yet Ii ia wen to rely
upen the apethegm that ''error IS powericss where
truth Is lett Tree 10 combat IT. The orQln OF ths
rumor is therefore given as ioows:--
About two and a hair years ago two men were