The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-06-05
KING TO STAMPS.
AN OPEN LETTER IN WHICH THE COL.
uEayTOR MAPS OUT HIS POLICY.
And Tells what he VIII DO for the
Negroes.


Negroes.
| The following letter, referred TO in another
column, 10 Collector Kings reply TO the "bul dog
ing" document addressed TO him by stapaps, Of
Csrrollton, % the head Of the ''oolored commit.
tee" who seek Federal pap:
| NEW ORLEANS, June 8. 1877.
To Hon, T, d, Stamps, President OF the Repre-
| sentative Oolored Mems Union.
Dear Sir-Your communication OF the I'd inst.
| was handed to me on that day by Col. Lewis
| when the business OF my Office prevented me
from making suitable reply.
You begin by stating thas yog have failed 70
| think was not intended). reflects upon my cour-
tesy ~ gentleman, 70 say nothing Of my duty
| ~ q public officer. You have made mistake.
have been in Office less than three weeks.
| During that period have been ieterviewed by
several thousand persons in quest of positions.
| not osy IL the Custom House. but on the streets
aud nj my private residence. superadded 10 this,
| / have received daily visits from the reporters
| and members OF the press, and from some OF the
leading men OF both political parties. all OF whom
| will testify that they have been courtsously re-
etsived.
II has sometimes happened that interviews
have been delayed or deferred, owing to the
pressure Of official business. Besides this, /
have opened carefully read, and indorsed some
fifteen hundred or two thousand written applios-
tons for offioe. large proportion OF which are
from men of your race.
TO examine, classify and tabulate these for
convenient reference, would occupy the time Of
an accomplished secretary for at least one week.
From the rate at which applications are daily
may IL may be reasonably estimated that they
will Increase TO the number Of three thousand
before the Oustom-House appointments will be
generally made.
THESE FACTS
will suggest TO you that large portion OF my
time has been devoted TO. personal interviews,
and to consideration Of the question of the
patronage of this Office,
To keep pace with the popular demand upon
my attention, out OF the six hours intended ex-
clusively for the business OF the office, two Of
them, from to p. m, have generally been set
apart by me for the reception OF persons inter-
ested ia the appointments expected to be made.
fear that there will be much disappointment
on this subject Assuming that there will be
about one hundred places tmany of them far
from luoratve) at my disposal, and that there
will be three thousand applicants, one only out
OF every thirty can succeed. Assuming, further,
that about half the applicants are oolored men,
and that the Offices will be equally divided be-
tween the two races, there will be about fifty
places to distribute among them.
You will not fail to perceive from this estimate
how comparatively insignificant is the patronage
OF the Custom House, and how far short 1t will
fall OF the popular demand, particularly when IL
Ia considered that the compensation, In many
instances, is lees than may be earned by the
honest laborer In the city, or on the plantations
ia the country.
Having called your attention to the subject OF
applications and patronage generally, / now pro-
coed to notice the main points of oommunioa-
ton.
liz UNDERSTAND
10 correctly, IL has two objects. fret, TO know
what intend to do for the colored men who de-
sire office, and, secondly, to urge me to delay no
longer, but to make my appointments immedi-
ately.
L.
are well known, and have been often public
ly enunoated. The President in regard for the
rights OF your race, would, | am certain, never
have appointed me to the Office hold ii he had
this subject. The oolored people have my warm
est sympathies and ltheir conduct during the
late war enlisted my attachments In their behalf.
am disposed to aid in protecting them in all
their rights rs citizens. recognize the civil and
Political equality between them and the whites.
l entertain due regard for every right and
privilege accorded to them by the amendments
to the constitution and the laws Of the country.
For the distribution OF the patronage OF the
Custom-House 1 shall act according to these
views, and see that the colored element 10 proper
ly recognized and represented. I have stated
this so often, not only
IN CASUAL CONFIRMATION,
but suthoritatively to the reporters Of the PRESS
that ] was naturally surprised at the doubts inn
piled In your communication.
You urge me to make my appointments mme-
dstely. / am certain you would not do 80 IL you |
knew You were asking me to disregard my duty, |
that found the Office completely organized and |
in working order.
Many OF the subordinate Offices were filled by |
experienced, competent and honest men. in q
partisan point Of view, many OF the incumbents
were as good Republicans as those who desire to
take their places. / thought, under the crcum-
Stances IL would be but simple act of Justice
on my part, to examine carefully into the per-
sonnet Of the establishment, in order to ascertain
first who should 20 out before determining who
should come in. thought 1t required no great
attitude or capacity to perceive that such plan
was the only just and feasible one, under the
civil service policy Of the President.
In this view j think / am sustained by the
Treasury Department at Washington. You are
aware that commission has been organized to
examine into the affairs OF the Custom House,
particularly as to the reduction Of the force,
pending which
PRUDENCE WOULD DICTATE
that no changes should be generally made. The
creation Of this commission added to the other
reasons have given, justify me, you must con-
cede, In pursuing the course / have adopted.
am compelled therefore to disregard your appeal |
and must decline to act precipitately and without
You may probably not DO aware Of the fact that
did not seek the Office OF collector, but that it
was conferred upon me without any solicitation
on my part, upon my established character and
which disconnected me from any
mere partisan rings.
This has placed me in q position that enables
me to look for the interests OF all, and to have
no special favoites 80 far as the administration
of my Office is concerned. My first duty will be
10 administer it in the interests of the business
The commerce and the revenue OF the country.
But while endeavortng to accomplish this,
shall incidentally look to the interests Of the
party Of which the President il the honored
head; 1t is needless to add, in conclusion, that I
,ha not lose sight Of the interests of the colored
people, portion OF whom you represent.
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
JOHN E. KING.
MUNICIPAL MATTERS.