The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-01-23
COLLECTOR MURPHY.
What He Has 10 Say About the
C0llectOrship.
HIS Views Regarding the Republican Party and
Senator Fenton-The Boss and Tammany
Hall in Connection With the Re-
ception Of the Irish Exiles.

custom House HERALD reporter calleu on SaIur-
day evening at ms private residence in order to
ascertain whether the report was founded on fact.
Mr.. Murphy is a gentleman of genial presence and
arabic manners, but he is usually bound by Official
proprety 10 retcence. SIN there are occasions
when for an hour or so casts or the restraint en-
forced 10y his position ard thaws into verbal uency.
The writer on Saturday night was fortunate enough
20 ind him In one OF these fsa
y !. - coMMuNIcATIvE MOODS,
and the interview ranged over q wide field OF pot.
cal and social topics including the past and present
prospects or the republican party, the stability OF
the administration, the brilliant record OF General
Grant, the disastrous effects of the Fenton revolt,
the strenuous efforts OF Tammany politicians to
reduce the Irish eyiles degrading captivity
than that from which they have been released.
and the merits, from Custom House standpoint, OF
Hennesseys Three-Star Battle-Axe Brandy.
lis there any truth, MI. Murphy" began the re.
porter, 'in your rumored resgnation'v
..None that know OFF, responded the Collector,
with q complacent smile. 'The first intimaton
have had Of 1t Is In what you just said. suppose
man can't very well resign without knowing 1t him.
self That is not the only misrepresentation that
my friends with bitter SMILEY have circulated about
me during the past few days. Boss Tweed, Hank
Smith and their crowd must feel pretty badly hurt at
what have lately done, or they wouldn't try 80
hardto
DRIVE ME FROM THE coLLEcToRsHIP.
As my friend Tom Creamer said once on a similar
occasion They must have got fits, or they wouldn't
There Is no difficulty, then, between you and the
Treasury Departmental
s.N0ne whatever
Tnere Is no fear, either that these people will sue
coed IN driving you from o1lcer'
..Of course they can DO 1t after they have elected
John 7. HOFFMAN President OF the United States.
But their stock just now IA not at high premium at
the white House and though the prospects OF the
pave been. am going 10 do oil can to promote the
best interests OF the country. which can only be
Done by keeping the republican party in power"
party is as strong as IL wasp
'Well, not IN this State, at rate. I'll tell you
what. believe the organization of the republican
party has been denoralized and debased by
DEMOCRATIC MONEY.
Tammany greenbacks have corrupted some OF cur
leaders and have sown treacnery IN ranks. JUST
State for the past three four years Ii bears The
Impress on It's face OF internal treason II Is plain
by purchased faction, What is vitality necessary
20 insure the success of the party especially in THIS
city, ls to have change OF men-that the men who
are growing fat on Tanlmany pay should he laid
aside and new and pure men brought TO the front.n
..But how about this attempt to displace you Z"
III tell you what kknow that there Is an
ORGANIZED CONSPIRACY
To-day to drive me from my present post tel ron
that's so, warming up with the suDecn. .'Tam-
many Han IS giving money 10 Tammany republicans
to work against me In Washington; and ! am not
AFRAID to tell you also the names or the men who
according to my information, head this plot The
leading traitor Is john V. Grldley, and he s aided
and allotted by the discharged postmaster OF Albany
together with some others OF equal standing in the
party. OF course while
THEY STRIKE AT NE,
their real object fs 10 weaken the existing admin.
straton and defeat the reelection OF the noble SOL
der who is at It's head.'
..po you think, Mr.. Murphy that Fenton has
guilty Know edge OF this conspiracy against YOUR
Il wouldn't Ike to say that he has. And / want
TO say tins, too have no personal feelings what
against Senator Fenton. am true to the party
and win march shoulder to shoulder even with
In fighting In the republican ranks. The interests
OF the party are superior with me any private
FEELINGS and personalities. But do know, from the
best authority, that the leading OF the demo.
cratic party have SAID that they intended to place
can party OF the State and further that l should
not be where am three months longer. / don't
personally care If they succeed In removing me- 1
only remain where am
TO SERVE MY COUNTRY
through nv party. Personally and pecuniarlly the
CoectorsnIp Is a disadvantage TO me. have been
brought up business man and ] feel that have
House-changes which have promoted the best in
ieress OF the mercantile community. An eminent
me the other day that the Custom House has never
been before SO We'll administered"
Fenton is playing into the hands OF the democratic
party"
though is that his republican friends keep very
bad company
.wnat do you think, Mr.. Murphy, about the reso-
luton introduced by Sheo-ny Cox in Congress- re-
Rarding the transfer OF the general order business
TO me iorelan steamship companies2'
''Such a resolution can only emanate from man
VINO - the author OF the book entitled Buckeye
Abroad"
There has been an article IN one OF the daily
papers about your connection with the Fenian re
ception-about your spollng the whole demonstra-
uOnr'
.'well, I'll tell you just what my connection with
this reception has been. A gentleman, who had
been fellow sufferer OF these exiles-you know HIM,
.oh, yes, know who you mean. BE has the air
OF a disappointed patriotf'
.ENActly. Well. this M
whether could render any facilities to some per-
sona friends and Fellow sufferers In order to enable
them 10 meet the exles In convenient manner ON
their arrival at this port. asked him to explain
what he would like to have me do. He said ne
wished that should take them down in one OF my
come The exes to this land Of liberty, and 10 cor.
graduate them on their happy deirerance from the
YOKE or BRITISH TYRANNY
In fact the young man waXed quite eloquent on the
know but what might accompany them myself
TINS young man also stated that the son OF O'DonO-
van kossa was in the adjoining room. and asked
whether he could be sent down on the cutter to
meet MS father and mother. he mennoned'-
young Rosa ~
.No. the disappointed patriot. That gentleman
named Burke, brother OF one OF the exiles, asked
for the same favor and that the different organiza
nons OF the Irish people In this City were anXlous 10
nave the privilege OF sending delegates-most OF
whom were personal friends OF he exles. ] oecld-
Cd 10 crafty their wish. The conversation which
Is stated IN one Of the daily papers to have
between Richard o'Gorman ana myself was OF very
short duration aud has been entirely mIsrepresenL.
cd
what her occurred, Mr.. CollectorW
81 Will explain matters TO you. When my cutter
Approached the Cuba discovered two boats on the
SIDE opposite 10 my own. Under tue circumstances
lelt Il my duty as officer TO run along.
Side at once. | went on board and was received
with marked courtesy by the captain, VINO invited
me TO retire with him TO his own private room. 1
did So aud told him that had discovered two boats
on The other side OF the ship full OF people who had
no business 10 come on board, anu that thought it
proper that lie should issue order forui dpg every
person excepting the Health 0icer and ms assistants
10 board his ship. stated at the same time that
ppr-pD lu p1Vca
revenue officers 10 leave my cutter. THIS was
strictly earned out on my part The captain imme-
dfately Issued the order suggested o. myself. In
going from the upper to ttne lower deck, a few
minutes afterwards, however perceived that the
saloon OF the steamer was filed with people who
acted IN obedience 20 the usual instincts OF MOB I
was then Informed that the men who attempted to
address the exiies were Mr. 0iGorman JOnn Mitchell
aud a enileman who is wei known under the appel
iaLian of Ei.heInn RaAn...n ....aa