The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-11-01
COL. F. A. CONKLING SPEAKS
LETTING OUT TRUTHS ABOtT TIE
NEW YoRK Custom MOUSE.


Mechanics Hall at 70 Avenue ID was
packed last night on tho occasion OF the meet
ing 81 the Eleventh Ward Tilden and Hendricks
Club, ana the multitude extended down the
stairs and into the street, and as the orator OF
the evening, Col. Frede rick A. Conkling, entered
| the hall, enthusiastic cheers for Tilden and
Hendricks were given. In conversation before
| the beginning OF the meeting Col. ConklnR said
| thit he had noticed that the conduct OF tho
canvass on the part Of the Grant and Hayes men
was marked by an eff TT to revive the dying en-
| bera OF sectional hate and by wholesale def ma
| tion OF tho personal reputation OF the reform
Candidates; but that, although he had made
many spec ches since the opening OF the canvass,
he has, like his cole CUES, avoided the use OF
such tactics. This immunity from retaliation
seems to have emboldened the stump speakers
to utter more reckless calumnies. Under this
provocation the speech OF the evening was writ
ten, and Ia bitterness of invective none OF its
many Predecessors has cqua'led It.
| Col Conkling was introduced by Mr. John
McAllis,er, the President Of the association.
He received with burst OF applause. lie
spoke Of the war record OF Samuel ]. Tilden.
and OF the good Governors private life as he
had seen II In personal acquaintance dating
from youth. In both Of these particulars he ex-
posed the lies that have been set lfloat by Re
publican speakers, LAYING especial stress upon
the assertion OF Gov. DIX that Gov. rilden did
not attend the great Union mass meeting that
! followed the nring upon Fort sumter. aud gave
EXPRESSION 20 the war feeling Of the city Of New
! York. OF his own knowledge, the speaker said
Samuel j. Ttdcn attended that meeting. and
was accompanied by members OF his family. In
his address the Colonel was frequently inter-
rupted oy prolonged applause. He said
Thomas jefferson, the illustrious founder Of
the Democratic party, in defining the essential
principles Of the government, and consequently
those which ought TO shape It's administration.
"A IN tha ft,ll Inc
| encouragement OF agriculture and Of COM
| mcrcc "a Its handmade The importance Of
| fostering commerce early engaged the attention
| OF the trainers Of the Constitution, who remen-
| bcrcd the shackles which the mother country
| had imposed upon the colonies. by prohibiting
manufactures, and by hampering trade with
arbitrary restrictions. One Of the counts. in the
indictment 81 the King Of Great britain, set
that he had combined with others. and given
assent to their acts Of pretended legislation
world"
The mon who fought the battles Of the revolu-
tion were the champions OF freedom Of trade.
The first administrations, those Of Washington.
and the elder Adams, were devoted to its pro-
Patrick Henry; why should we fettcr com.
mercet lf man ts In chains he droops and
bows to the earth, for his spirits are broken
| he will stand erect. Fctter not commerce. but
let her be free A. air. She will range the whole
creation, and return ON the wings Of the four
wnds " heaven. To bless the land with plenty"
During conspicuous period in our national
! patriotic watchword. Possessing a territory Of
almost boundcss extent and soil Of unsur-
passed fertility, our abundant hnrvcsts AT an
early day furnished surplus for expiration.
and enabled ~ to enrich ourselves through the
reciprocal advantages afforded by commerce. In
TINS way we have become great as people.
within the hundred years just past We have in
creased the number Of our States from thirteen
half millions to fort -fye million sous Al III the
period Of the outbreak Of the war for the preser
walton 81 the Union. we had become the leading
Irlt fb.a
events OF that unhappy struggle swept n large
part Of our commerce from the high
ton Of peace, we would speedily recover our
former ascendency But when our prosperity
began to revive, and commerce was once more
bringing to US the wealth Of the nations. a new
peril was encountered. our merchants were as
sailed by the officials Of the Government whose
duty y was To promote and protect their inter-
ests. The humiliation and persecution. the ter
constitute one Of the most damning chapters In
mlnistration. A shameless rspacIty has 'eSefS-
where prevailed. A system OF espionage has
been established for the purpose Of harrying and
extortlng money from our men Of business.
our merchants are at the mercy Of all army
OF spies and informers eagerly bent upon the
exactiun Of enormous booty from their victims
These bandits are restrained by no consldera-
tionsof justice, or even ofintelgent sef-interest
! their rapacity exceeds that Of a fainishsd wolf
| Commercial houses Of worldwide reputation
| have thus been nssailed and compelled To pay an
almost fabulous levy Of blackmall. Nor Ia this
all. The endeavor to establish new industries
| pulsed by the harpies whom the Government has
/ let loose upon the country.
II cargo reaches port invoiced At its cost
price. the brigands hasten to detain II till II can
| be valued by an appraiser The goods are placed
| In public storehouses aud frequently detained on
! that preteXt from sixty to ninety days. The oh
| ject II not To save revenue to the Government,
| hut to eNtort n bonus from the importer for per-
hitting him to have his property In sea-
| ments. II he will not submit To this robbery he
/ If worried by trunlped-up charges OF fraud. by
fl.4f limo la ham
! has become deprecated In value. because the
u.e for which il was designed NO longer exists
perpetratcd is the rule Of levving duties al M
Utm. The Interpretation which the AGENTS of
the Gorernment iut upon the Law II 20 recog
nile no fall of the prices since the purchase, hu,
a. add To the cost price all the advance which
cases, a. Will hc seen. the application 81 the law
h against the merchant. lie must always pay
for levvinV. II the market price goes down he
has no benefit Of reduction; whereas, II I'm the
Interval hctwccn the time 81 purchase aud III,
IL" date oi shipment the market has advanced
the amount of that advance must bc added. and
the duty paid upon the increase. Unfair and
onesided IA this proceeding T., II T. OF small ~"
count compared with the Use which has hcer
made of II. Under the pretcxt Of having "a re-
! nppraiscment, the goods OF merchant are
locked up IN the public stores often To the yalu,
OF hundreds Of thousands of dollars, there {,
wait the convenience Of the light nnge red
agents Of the circumlucution office. Every
business man understands the Annoyanccs and
sacrifices which this often occasions. These lie
tentions are among the most effective devices
for lcVYing hlackmail. one instance has come td
my knowledge where goods To the value of
S4'1uD were kept ia the public store for An en-
tire year by the Custom House officials. IN
another case two carcues Of sugar were held
under seizure uhti there mad been 80 great q
decline ia the market As to bankrupt two die
serving houses. Whether the pcr-ecut ed
merchant succeeds or Is worsted in litigation
matters little, ne he IL alike ruined I'm either case
Al a meeting of the Chamber II Commerce ~
the state Of New York, prominent member OF
that body wa, not long since congratulated fol
his courage and success In resisting ihe eXar.