2008-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/31/2008
President Grant appointed Arthur to his post on Nov. 9, 1871. While Arthur ran the post efficiently, as Roscoe Conkling's crony he developed two major flaws: filling its coveted positions with those owed gratitude for political support, and overstaffing the custom house with more than two hundred extra employees. In 1878, President Hayes ousted Arthur by presidential decree, hoping to put an end to the corruption and dampen Conkling's political influence. A great political content letter group written to future President Chester A. Arthur while he was collector of New York City's Customhouse. First is an interesting group of eleven historically important letters dated between 1873 and 1878, addressed to Chester A. Arthur while he was collector of New York City's Custom House. Included are letters dealing with varied business matters by notable government officials such as; HAMILTON FISH, JR. (1808-1893) Grant's Secretary of State, five letters; ROSCOE CONKLIN (1829-1888) New York Senator and U. S. Grant supporter, two letters; as well as several professionals in the private sector desiring that Arthur pass merchandise unimpeded, or that he show special favor in appointing individuals to the custom house. Each contains some content of note…PLUS; A great political content letter by Vice President of the American Geographical Society, Francis A. Stout, 7pp. 8vo., Arlington House, June 24, 1877, to New York Governor Edwin D. Morgan concerning his belief that Chester A. Arthur was headed for public service disaster. In part: "...I...spent a pleasant evening yesterday at the White House with the President, Mrs. Hayes and the Misses Foote and Platt...today I called on [Secretary of State] Mr. [William M.] Evarts and told him that I found myself obliged to decide...in regard to the leasing of a piece of property...in New York...I have become satisfied that Arthur made a grave mistake in not weeding the Custom House openly and publicly two weeks ago. His political opponents are working like beavers against him. And if he be retained and Sharpe reappointed they will both be charged directly to your account, as Arthur has lost strength thro' delaying carrying out reforms. I enclose some newspaper clippings which are worth attending to [included]. If Arthur will avail himself of this opportunity to clear the Van Cott gang out of the Custom House. I can get the 7th Assembly Dist. of N. Y. City into first rate trim...he [Arthur] must keep his friends...I want to go to the next state convention in order to converse with the delegates from the interior and show them that the typical disinterested, well-off, New York republican reformers are not Evarts men. So long as the Van Cott gang is retained in the Custom House so long will Conkling men, and none others, [will] go to conventions from the 7th Dist...when that 'reformer' Murtagh (!) takes such a stand it shows the way the wind is believed to blow...". PLUS; the original newspaper clipping from the Washington Republican, June 23, 1877 condemning Arthur for corruption in New York's custom house and the original transmittal cover in which Governor Morgan forwarded the letter to Arthur. A rare group indeed as Arthur ordered all his personal papers burned upon his death. Usual wear and some chipping, else very good.
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