Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1872-01-03
THE PRESIDENT AND COLLECTOR MURPHY


Certain newspapers personally hostile to
the President and many Others politically
opposed to him, have harped long and loud
about the corruption of his appointee, Col
lector Murphy, of New York. The charges
made against Mr.. Murphy have been re-
peatedly denied and official Investigations
have exonerated him. The official records
of the Treasury Department show that UNI
der his administration the public revenues
were collected at a lower per cent. than
ever before. Notwithstanding all this,
when the President, in accepting Mr.. Muir
phys resignation, endorsed his administra-
ton of the office as honest, the press re-
ferred TO, were dreadfully shocked and
cited it as proof of the Presidents
corruption. Like every other charge of
the kind, time only is needed to prove it
false. On Tuesday night last, a large
meeting of prominent citizens of New
York rendered the eX-Collector q public
serenade. Among the number partici
pating was ex-Mayor Geo. Opdyke, known
the word over as an honest and wealthy
man of irreproachable character. In any
business enterprise, if the projectors in
publishing it to the world secure the name
of Mr.. Opdyke to their papers, they feel
certain that it will be everywhere received
az guaranty of solvency and good faith
His word is as good as his bond.
If business men, the world over, have
confidence enough in his endorsement of
an enterprise to invest upon the strength
of ii their thousands of dollars, ought not
his guaranty of the honesty of public
man, where he has no personal interest,
to be of great weight to honest people
everywhere? This highly honored citizen
was one of the speakers at the reception
referred to. In his remarks we find this
strong endorsement of the much abused
Collector, reported in the press:
Ex-Mayor Opdyke, after referring to the ad-
ministration of the Office lately held by Mr..
Murphy as being, TO his o1on personal knoicl-
edge-what is too rare in this city at the present
time-one rejecting honor on the Republican
party and the country, introduced ex-Collector
Murphy.
The remaining proceedings were as fol-
lows: .......
After thanking his fellow-citizens, Mr. Muir
ply adverted TO his official course as collector,
and to his voluntary resignation of that office.
He said nc had received many warm commen-
dations from the President and other Govern
ment officials as testimony to the honest admin
istration of his office, notwithstanding many un-
just aspersions had been made on his character,
WHICH ne cOnSluereu were manly lnIenueu 10
initiate against the President and to injure the
prestige of the Republican party, upon whose
success, he said, depended the whole being Of
our country.
Some 10000 people were present and the
streets were ablaze with fireworks. Among
those present were Hon. William Orion, jack
son S. Schultz, Henry Clews, f. p. Hooper,
Isaac II. Bailey Levi Q. Morton, Charles w.
Grswold and other drominent citizens. 1t was
| the largest gathering at a serenade in this cit
for many years.
We know that serenades and fireworks
are easily purchased, but when such men
as Messrs. Opdyke, Henry Clews, Isaac II.
Bailey and Charles w. Griswold partici-
pate in demonstration to a public man
arraigned before the country upon serious
| charges, it has peculiar significance. We
regard it in this case as a complete vindi-
cation of the President and Collector Muir
| ply.
One by one the charges against the Presi-
dent are thus refuted He is quiet man,
who says but. little and pays no attention
to the assaults upon him, but the people
are more than ever fairly convinced of his
honesty and ability TO discharge his re-
spOnsible duties-noisy politicians, per-
sonally and politically hostile, to the con-
trary Notwithstanding.