Memoirs of John Adams Dix; comp. by his son, Morgan Dix.

1860-1861.] TRINITY CHURCH: ITS SURPLICED CHOIR. 331
so deep a stake in the maintenance of good government, will not consent
to pay the legitimate expenses of our elections, we may as well abandon
all hope of keeping up our organizations by money.
" 'Let me add that my contributions are made by me as a private citizen, and that I do not recognize the right of any committee to assess me
as a Federal officer for political purposes.'
" I must refer you to these extracts for an answer to your letter.
"I deem it proper to add that I know nothing more degrading to our
public offices and those who fill them than the practice which has existed of sending political tax-gatherers to the doors of the pay-room, to
levy contributions on the clerks as they emerge with their hard-earned
stipends. I cannot allow this office to be so dishonored. I intend, if I
can, to restore it to the respectability which belonged to the earlier and
better days of the Republic. I shall be pleased to have my subordinates
contribute voluntarily whatever they think they can afford to the support of the Democratic cause. But I cannot permit any forced contribution to be laid on them. On the contrary, I shall regard it as my duty
to protect them from a system of political extortion disgraceful alike to
the government and the country."
The administration of the New York Post - office was
brought to the highest state of efficiency yet reached under
the management of Colonel Thomas L. James, now deservedly
promoted to the place of a Cabinet Minister. I have it from
himself that many of the improvements introduced by him
had their origin in the policy and suggestions of his predecessor, General Dix.
I ask the indulgence of the reader for introducing at this
point an episode of a totally different character. In the autumn of this year Trinity Church saw for the first time a
surpliced choir within its walls. For a long while the singers
-men and boys-transferred from the organ-gallery over the
front-door, had occupied benches in the chancel; but we could
not obtain the Rector's consent to put them into the proper
cathedral dress. It was a motley band of spirits, black, blue,
and gray, with garments of divers patterns and variegated
neck-ties, that the congregation beheld, Sunday after Sunday,
between themselves and the altar. A generous layman had
presented us with a full set of vestments, to be used when the