New Orleans Republican., 1877-05-23
"A @6 q [oemmunicstsa.l
Ex-CoIiecter Casey and bis Administra-


tiOH.
"Death, says the philosopher Bacon,
after enumersting its terrors, real and
imaginary, ''hath this also, that it
openeth the gate to good fame, and ex-
tinguish envy" ErtinctlS dn1dbitur idenl.
In like manner, after an official head has
been chopped of, and severed from the
umbilicus, one may review the departed
servants official conduct, and award him
merited praise, without mourning the
charge of fawning to patronage and power.
Mr.. Casey came into Office as collector
of the port eight years ago, and, like
President Grant himself, was before ac-
cession to Office, much better known az
loyal, or Union Democrat, than as Re-
publican; but both, it may be said, "6lled
the bill" and never went back on their
party and friends
Against Mr.. Casey, personally, we have
never heard word of complaint He was q
gentleman who could support the dignity
of collector of the port in q becoming
manner, and personally his good nature
and his native and natural Kentuckian
ease and freedom of manners made him
an agreeable officer and man socially
much liked by all who knew him. Not so
with Mr.. Herwig. He soon became the
object of vile and vindictive attacks on all
sides; notably on the part of War
moth, who attributed Casey's stubborn
ness in appointments to the incantations
Of Rerwig, whom he regarded as the real
Mephistophiles in the prompter's box.
Next to the troubles with this high
political nagnate, much personal malice,
arising from sheer envy and the dissp-
pointment of cfice seekers, subjected Mr..
Herwig to annoyance and vexation with
out stint; tor every disappointed candi-
date spent his time and ingenuity in pour
ing his vials of wrath on Mr.. Herwig's
head, Casey, soon after accession to Office,
having (wisely for his personal tranquil
lity) transferred the appointing power TO
his special deputy, Mr.. HerwIg. A de-
termined attempt to injure Mr.. Casey's
administration was made by some Office
hunters, not appointed, and by lngrates
whom he had appointed but not pro-
NOTED, when the Congressional commit
tee was here with General Gibson as chair
man. 1t is needless to say that after
careful and lengthy examinations of each
and every witness and charge, the record
proved the accusers to be ealumniators
and falsiiers, and not scintilla of evil
dence could be found or brought to SUBJ
buhAhlhbC q duNdACONs
Envy also accused Mr.. Herwig of being
epgrossed with schemes OF personal am
bitlon to oaggrandize and enrich himself at
the expense of the public purse and to the
neglect of his official duties The investi-
cation alluded to gives substantial proof
that his official conduct is above oil such
reproach. Inattention to official duties
was charge made by men who came to
occupy his time to buzz and importune
him 1Cr places, and from whose importu-
mites there is neither safety nor escape
except behind brick walls and locked
doors. Those who did not come to worry
the life out Of the collector were always
welcome and had ready access to both MIR.
Casey and Mr.. Herwig, and much public
business belonging TO the collectors Office
was transacted in the private Office, and
needf0ly tor the obvious reasons stated,
with closed and barricaded doors and SEN
tinels stationed at the entrances.
Let calumny say what it may, the Sec
retary OF the Treasury has had a watch on
them for eight years, and thus far no fault
has been found with the administration of
the Customhouse under Mr.. Casey and
Mr.. Herwig, while, as far as our CONNER
cial. community is concerned, we are sure
they will unite cheerfully in their testimo-
ny that if Mr.. Casey and Mr.. Herwig did
not personally appear on the gapg-plank
to bow every customer in they always had
efficient officers in charge, who understood
how to transact the customs business with
promptness, intelligence and dispatch, and
with whom it was personally pleasant and
agreeable to have business Intercourse.
The best proof of this fact is the retention
by the new collector of the chief officers
so long in charge.
The new collector, in some respects,
may be welcomed as an improvement.
| (The worshipers of the ''rising sun" are
before his doors in large numbers.) He
can clean the stable of some Of the obiec-
tional rubbish that may have crept in
under his tolerant predecessor. Bat, alto
gether, the business community can only
view with regret that party exigencies re-
quire the displacement of officers who do
their duty to the government, and who
are liked by the business community as
men Of intelligence with whom it is pleas
ant to have official relations and inter-
course.