Year: 1877

~ NEW ORLEANS COLLECTOR


sHIP.


from Speech at Toledo.1


In discussing the question of civil
service reform, George Sheridan con .


pulsed the house by the following
statement of his effort to secure an Of
nee II did not see how it was pos
I Hble land tried very hard to see) for
Mr. Hayes to make a success of his
ADMINISTRATION, especially in his
/ southern policy, unless l was appoin-
/ ted Collector of Customs at New Or
1 Nans. | knew there would be new
ss9stor printed because Rresf-
dent Hayes told me so. Pe did me
the further honor of asking who, in
my judgement, would be the best
man for the place. To me this was
somewhat delicate question, and l
asked time for reflection, which he
very cheerfully gave me land by the
way that is the only thing he has
given me up to date. Uproarious
laughter.


IL knew how important the col
lector Of New Orleans was to the bus
iness interests of the city. l felt the
government must have a man of in
tegrity in the place, who should also
be of good moral character, as well as
of more than average ability. l knew
the collector should be man and
Republican. l spent two or three
days in prayerful deliberation on the
question, and at asst reluctantly came
to the conclusion that perhaps, all
things considered, came nearer fill
ing the bill than any other man in
the State who was likely to be ap-
pointed. Shouts and cheers. | was
deeply anxious for the business in
terests'of the city. 1 had no doubt
OF my integrity. Laughter. My
moral character was-Well it was as
far a moral character as a somewhat
tropical man could develop in a very
tropical country. AS for ability,
knew L possessed that; upon this
point | was unanimous. | might
possibly have had shadow of doubt
upon some other questions, but upon
this point | was solid. Great laugh
sstiaa, Tor L had once served in Con-
gress with great satisfaction to my
constituents. 1t is true | did not
serve long, but that was not my
fault. | would have been serving the
State yet if the people would have
elected me. Cheers and laughter.
| was elected for two years L had a
hard contest for my seat; it was final
ly awarded me about four hours be-
fore the adjournment of the Congress
to which | had been accredited. |
hadn't much time to make up my
record, but worked hard; l voted
on both sides Of every bill that came
up: l yelled Mr.. Speaker y every
chance had; L called one member
liar, and told another he was a fool
| put my boots on my desk, spit to-
bacco juice on the floor. ogled the
ladies in the galleries, went into in
Vulnerable committee rooms to take
a look at the documents, borrowed
some money and went home. Long
continued laughter. Considering
the time had, made pretty good
average member record Several
people told me they actually took me
foran old member. Great laughter.


Considering all things, l think
you will agree with me that l was
but doing my duty to my country in
consenting to take the collectorship
of New Orleans. | stated the result
of my reflection to the President.
The manner in which he received
my suggestions was happy and cor
dial, (he is a very cordial man He
promised to make out at once the
commission of the collector at New
Orleans. He did so, but by some
strange oversight he commissioned
man had never thought of in con-
nection with the office. Loud laugh
ter. Do you blame me tor thinking
the administration failure? The
solid earth seemed to slip from under
me. felt the Republic was gone
clean gone. In the distress of my
soul | cried out, els this what |
made l27 Republican speeches for in
the last campaign ?" Or to state it
more correcrly, the same speech l27
times. Immense laughter. Can
this government go on if / am left
outr Alas poor country, who will
care for you now that / am banished
by the edict Ola tyrant, and can have
no chance to sustain you, to say
nothing of sustaining myself. l stat
ed something of this kind to Mr..
Hayes; my words moved him, mov-
ed him to console me, moved HIM TO
advise me. He advised me either to
| 'pull down nv vest or to go west