Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-11-03

Nuty ana inc Dtsl lHleTtSls oil my country. a uc-
kHorfdge ing obligations TO The MASSES Of my eonn-
fry0aen, and 10 them alone. Higher objects than
personal ACKNOWLEDGEMENT gave direction and ener-
gy 10 their exertions in the late canvass, and they
shall not be disappointed"
Is there one word in this noble passage, which
does not indicate scorn and contempt for any
proposition to make his election the opportunity
for a new division of plumber! Where is the
recognition of the title Of the scfs5 Where is
the implied engagement, for which the secreta-
ry argues, so TO distribute as TO give mo Just
cause of offence to any one section p The in
augural repudiates, scorns, tramples upon all
such ideas. Is the motive so TO divide the spoils,
and to participate in such a miserable scheme
of partition of plumber on the part of the Pres
ident " worthy of his character or position or
does it contemplate an efficient discharge of
public duty, and the best interests of his coun.
try?' When the secretary stoops to the defle.
ment of such a disgraceful scramble, resulting
from implied engagements entered into at Balti-
more, which the inaugural disclaims, can the
President leave his high eminence, and soil his
fair fame in this pleasing employment, rithout
disappointing the expectations of those masses,
to whom he owes, and processes obligations, and
whose exertions in the canvass were prompted
by higher objects than mere personal aggran-
dizement.
We are the true friends of the President, and
would diselaim for him the unworthy position
to which the course of Secretary Guthrie would
lower him. That letter was written by the Score
tary. 1t could not have been dictated by the
manly spirit which prompted the utterance of
the noble passage we have quoted from the in
augnral. The country applauded the latter!
All parties united in a general acclaim to its
high merits! But who has applauded, who can
approve, who can fail to condemn the spirit, the
temper, the sentiment of that circular?
The two are as far apart as the antipodes,
upon the points we have already touched. And
yet Mr.. Guthrie, in his letter to the naval Off
Ger, enclosing the circular, says it will show him
"what the President expects Q} in relation to
the distribution of patronage in the respective
offices of the New York custom-house," &c.
1t is idle to say the President noao endorses
the secretary by the removal of Judge Bron-
son. Unhappy as was that step, the secretary's
course made it inevitable, unless the secretary's
course was directed homeca,d, by order of the
President. This he could not nop do. Matters
of moment now forbid it. The future will speak
for itself.
!, But strangely different as are the inaugural,
and the circular, upon the points already ad.
verted to, another aspect of contrast remains,
to which we will now direct attention.
Mr.. Secretary asserts a claim in behalf Of
the excluded section of the New York party,
against Judge Bronson; against no one else.
He suggested a text, from which the learned
expounder of platforms breaches to the officers
at the port of New York.
We do not desire to do injustice to the head
of the treasury-but we scarcely think any one
can read the letter addressed to Collector Bron-
son, and that addressed to the Naval officer, and
not conclude that the policy indicated to the
former was retrospective, and to the latter only
prospective. No complaint is made against the
latter heavy charges against the former. The
latter is requested "in any future nomina-
TONS" to conform himself to the Presidential
expectation-the former is told that the other
portion Of the party feel that they hare not been
fully recognised, and an expectation is express,
ed that he wiU so recognise them as to carry
conviction.
Did the secretary mean to urge Judge Bron-
son to turn out the "hards' and put in the
"Softs?" No direction to the naval officer is
given, based upon his past action, nor any COM
plant of such action offered. Nothing is to
be rectifed-no wrong to be set right in the
course pursued by the naval officer. Bronson
alone, has pursued a course which has given
offence to the sensitive "%sots,' and conviction
of a non-participation by the President and cabi.
net in the wrong done to their recognized claim
and title to Office, is to be conveyed to their
wounded spirits, by fair and Just division Of
the spoils upon the principles settled in the
Guthrie plank of the Baltimore platform!
viii any one tell us if this view of the cir.
cular is sanctioned by that passage Of the in.
eaSeAoA WhiSh ahhOuuCtS tUdt lmDOTJunlty
can confer no claim, and that appointments are
to be considered with sole reference to the
duties to be performed? If there was defect in
this latter respect, why did not the Secretary
suggest and change it? or, if it was his pur.
pose to enforce removals, could he not find OBJ.
jects of prescription more agreeable to his
southern taste, than those who had stood BY
Dickinson, and objects of reward less offensive
than the confederates of Van Buren,.
For who composed "the other portion Of the
party to which Mr.. Guthrie refers? Upon this
point we might refer to their leaders, to the
fact that the mass Of those who opposed the
national democratic organization at Syracuse,
were Of the Buffalo men of l84S, or to the re.
cent declaration to the New York True Demo.
crdt of the brilliant prospects of the 'free
democracy" But upon this point we prefer
Mr.. Guthrie as authority.
In his circular, he refers to the reunion of
IL