Wilmington daily gazette., 1873-10-18
Th. c.n.l Do. plAenlsIss.
LErTER FROM pom CHARLES GIBBONS, TO THE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNTTKD STATES IN RKLA-
.rroNsa ia wuwa CANAL BOAT TROUBLES.

LErTER FROM pom CHARLES GIBBONS, TO THr
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES IN RKLA-
. gloN~Ros Tnns CANAL BOAT TROUBLES.
lion. CHARLES Gibbons, Of Philadelphia, Attor-
nsy iol the LchIgh Cosl and Navigation Company,
and Thomas DOYLE Michael u heT and the other
owners Of canal boats, which have recently been
teized for entering this port without license has
written letter 10 President Grant, in relation 10
the canal beat .dificnltles.
Tie letter reIeEs to previous cases where efforts
hRvs been made 10 compel canal boat to take out
the usual license required of vessels engaged In
the ccasling trade, aud their iaiure account OF
decisions excluding canal boats, on account of
4 their peculiar construction and the nature OF
their employment, frOmthe provisions OF the h-
Referring to The dinlenllies the canal boat own.
i ers experienced a. the port Of Wilmington, from
their inability TO obtain licenses, and tho enforce
mcnt of the law requiring them, the letter says -:
If the boats were entitled TO be enrolled and
licensed, Il could be done only by the Collector at
i philadelphia, because the law requires an enrol.
ments aud licenses 10 bd made and issued in the
district where the owners reside and they all re-
side in Pennsylvania But by the final decision
u and judgement OF the proper Court OF the Dis
Itrct the Collector has no more authority 10 enrol
and license boat of this class, than he has TO en-
rol aud license rail, or a wheelbarrow. 1t There
fore seems almost incredible that the Secretary Of
ihe Treasury should issue to the Collector at Will
mlngton the unreasonable, unjust and despotic
order TO seize all boats Of this description which
are not provided with what they cannot lawfully
obtain, namely, cnrolmcnts and licenses. II Is a
lquestion that demands an answer, why they are
mot seized at Philadelphia, within the district
II where the owners live, and where they have
friends TO call upon as their surcics, and where
they might mOre conveniently and al much less
cost and sacrifice defend their property Why
is it that under the instructions OF the Secretary
they are permitted TO pass out of this district un-
molested, aud are seized in another district for
libel in one OF the same courts whose decTecs,
vvffhnuk hfs apQuiagrancQ nulIiticg ~
II The effect OF these proceedings on the city OF
Wilmington are thus referred TO:
The seizures at Wilmington have now entire
ly stopped tho carrying OF coal 10 that city from
the Lehigh region by tugs and tows the bJatmen
having refused 90 risk the loss of their time and
money where Custom House flag is a symbol Of
arbitrary power. Thirteen boats have been cap
tuTed al that place, one OF them by the aid OF q
: Revenue Cutter whose officers, led by the COllec
tor said TO have behaved with great galiantry
having boarded the boat revolvers in hand, and
c scared the only man on board out OF his wits
n Pennsylvania dulchman, who did not know
what all the fuss was about until 1t was too latG
for efectual resistance. Eight Of these bOat'
were released BY the Collector for pecuniary con
r sideratiOns, extOrted from their owners. Anothe
boat has been seized twice for the same alleged
offence, by special Instructions from the Secretary
J. On the first selEnre, made few weeks ago, secu
Tity was given, and the boat released by order o
d the District Judge. 1t is now in custody again
with all the personal effects of boatman who hat
L II IN cnaTge, consisting OF MS DeO. DeO-ClOtnAul
6, and wearing apparel and the grand flag of on
country floats 10 majestic triumph over the prize
The letter concludes with the following direc
X and specific charges against Secretary Richardson
y for thus allowing and authorizing these seizures
which Mr.. Gibbons proposes to lay before the
b s. House OF Representatives, at the next sessio
y of Congress.
al /. l charge him with high misdemeanor
ht Office, in multiplying the final DEGREES of Courts
J, the United States, and instructing Collectors
On Customs to disregard them.
be- 2 1 charge him with suppression of the trutl
ia his published letter Of instructions TO the Co
lectOr OF Customs for the District Of Delaware,
" representing that an appeal has been taken to u
Is T. s. Circuit Court from the decree of the Dstri
i Court for the Eastern District Court for the Eal
lr District Of Pennsylvania in the case Teferr'
to in that letter.
zee g. charge him with an arbitrary and oppre
= sive exercise Of power not vested in him by Il
Constitution and Laws of the United States,
lcl sezing the private property OF citizens wltho
process of law 10 places distant from their hon
and haTassing them with vexatious and unnect
sary suits without probable cause.
no 4. charge him with q high misdemeanor
le Off &c, his instructions TO officers Of the reVenT
o. encouraging them to disregard and violate .
&C acts Of Congress for the protection OF the peoI
ine against extOfIiOn and Wilful oppression, und
NJ. color of law.
:. stand ready 10 maintain these charges, by I
lth production Of competent evidence, before
eT- proper Court of Impeachment, whenever 1t N
heI be called upOR 70 do 80.