The Hillsborough Recorder

ment officer, whom he shall appoint in office under him, and that, therefore, in ordering Mr. Roberts to make the change in the Custom House created by him last spring, he did no more than he had a right to do.

This is an entire mistake.

Mr. Tyler has no more business to interfere with appointments by the Collector in the Custom House than you have, gentle reader.

The law requires the Collector of the Customs to appoint them, subject to the approval, however, of the Secretary of the Treasury—not the President, or acting President, mind ye.

And just as well might he undertake to dictate to a Marshal, whom he should appoint as his deputies, or even summon as jurors; and any attempt on his part to interfere with, or dictate in these matters, is a just cause for impeachment.

It is bringing the patronage and power of the Federal Government not only into conflict with the freedom of elections, but with the freedom of thought and action—the freedom of individuals.

Not only is the assumption of Mr. Tyler, to dictate in these matters, unwarranted by the Constitution and laws of the country, but it is unwarranted by usage.

When was it known before that the Executive of the United States interfered with the appointment of a tide-waiter or a watchman?

During the administration of Mr. Monroe, General Steele, the Collector of this Port, received from the President a request that he would appoint a certain person named, an Inspector of the Customs.

General Steele replied that he would be very glad to oblige the President, but that there was no vacancy, and he had it not in his power.

He was inquired of whether he could not make a vacancy? His reply was such an one as an independent, upright, honest man would make—he could not, and would not.

And moreover, if there were a vacancy, he would not, after what had taken place, appoint the person named.

Did the President remove him for his firm and indignant reply? By no means: 'modern degeneracy had not reached him.'

This government had not then become a monarchy, nor the President of the United States an arbitrary, irresponsible officer, to order any number of heads to be chopped off whenever he pleased, either for his own amusement, or to gratify the malice of a minion.

But 'new lords, new laws.' Times change, and we change with the times.

Mr. Tyler, and the Collector of the Port of Philadelphia.

We publish to-day the communication of Jonathan Roberts, esq., late Collector of the Customs for the Port of Philadelphia, from which office he has recently been removed by the President.

From this statement our readers will see how well the actions of Mr. Tyler correspond with the fair promises which he made in his address to the people, issued immediately after the death of Gen. Harrison.

In that address he said: 'I will remove no incumbent from office who has faithfully and honestly acquitted himself of his duties.'

Yet here no want of honesty, no neglect of duty is charged.

Mr. Roberts is spoken of by those who know him, as a man whose name is synonymous with honesty and purity of purpose—'as Cato firm, as Aristides just;' a man, indeed, who was selected and appointed by Mr. Tyler himself, because of the possession of these estimable qualities.

From the spirit here disclosed, we may expect a season of proscription and tyranny never before equalled, at least in this country.