The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1885-07-11
WASHINGTON LETTER.
from our regular Core spondent.l

mission of the Republican collector
at the port of New York had ex
pired a Democrat had been appoint
ed in his place. The appointment
came nearly three days before 1t
was expected, and created consider
able surprise in political circles here.
The quid nuncs and politicians have
now had time to pull themselves to
gether, and stare at the situation,
and their comments are as diverse
as their political biases. The Re
publicans take a William Walter
Phelps view of the selection, and
say it is good for the country but
bad for the Democratic party.
They are unable to see how much
wiser a politician President Cleve
land is than was President Garfield.
when he created a schism in his
party by appointing Mr.. Robertson
to this same Office four years ago.
The manner of man Mr.. Hedden
the new Collector is cannot be bet
ter stated than bv quoting from
the letters of those who most intim
ately know him. In a letter to the
President, Bates, Reed and Cooley
prominent New York merchants
said 1--WE take pleasure in testi
flying to the excellent business
qualities, integrity of character, and
high commercial standing of Mr..
Hedden among the business men
of this city, and to say that we are
sure his appointment as Collector
of the Port will give great satisfac
ton to the best business interests
of the city. We believe Mr.. He'd
den to be thoroughly competent
liz every direction, a man of the
thorough-going system. and order
in the dispatch of business, and a
gentleman who will do honor to the
appointment if he is so fortunate as
to receive this favor at your hands.
Daniel Drake Smith one OF the
modest merchants in New York
wrote, "His father a lawyer, stud
led in the Office OF Alexander Ham
ilton, and filled an honorable, and
distinguished civic office in this city
more than a half a century ago, and
was a representative OF the city on
the opening of the Erie canal. 1 do
not hesitate to say that from perso
nal knowledge of Collectors of this
port since 1882, but one incumbent
was as we'll and not Il single one
better qualified, in my opinion to
fill the place than is Mr.. Hedden.
MIR. Hedden has always acted with
the Democratic party"
MI. Edwin r. Livermorc, throws
this light on Mr. Hedden's political
faith, and other characteristics :
"He is an unassuming man, a genu
inc New Yorker, II thorough Demo
crat through all the tune l have
known him, calmly waiting for a
return to constitutional principles
of government. He has been re
spected and admired by those ever
in authority who differed with him
politically. His expert testimony
has always been sought and ap
proved in mercantile applaisement,
and other Custom House matters.
There are few merchants better
qualified by taste and education
than he for the Office"
Gen. John B. Woodward's letter
adds this "Mr. Hadden was born
in this city in 1920, and entered the
employ of Wetmore, Cryder & Co.,
in 1S47. He was employed at once
to attend to their Custom House
work, and had general supervision
thereof during the whole of his bus
mess career, The firm never EN-
ployed Custom House brokers, ow