The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1853-10-29
CAUGHT TAR1AR.-The extraordinary cir

CAUGHT A TARrAR-The extraordinary cir
cular which we gave in our columns last week
from Secretary Guthrie to the Collector of New
York. has called out from that officer, and also
from Hon. Chas. O'Conner, U. S. District At
torney in New York, replies in which the Sec
rotary and the President are most justly rebu-
ked for meddling with the family jars Of the New
York democracy. Mr.. O'Conner is one of the
ablest lawyers in the Empire State, was in the
Convention that formed the new State Consti-
tuition in 1916, and candidate for Lieutenant
Governor on the Cass ticket in ls48. Mr..
O'Conner gives history of the trials of the
Democratic party in New York, in which the
Softs are made to appear as reckless disorgan-
izers and factionists, being intent only on rul-
ing or running the Democratic party. We can
not better show the spirit of Collector Bron-
sons reply than by giving few paragraphs Of
the concluding portion of it, 1t looks as though
the Secretary had walked up the wrong passen-
ger:
Let me now notice the time, manner and mo-
tive of your letter.
AS to time 1t was after the rupture and
| Vi tWO tiChctS III syracuse, ana the
two ratification meetings in this city: after the
Collector had been denounced by the Free Soil
leaders and presses, and the President had been
called upon to remove him; after hungry office
seekers and bitter politicians had visited Wash
ington to msrepresent and traduce that officer,
and to whose clamors. as you well know, he
never made any reply; after The Union had
taken ground against the ticket of the National
Democrats and in favor of the ticket of their
n. Al,-A
ed cause for complaint of any kind against the
Collector. You had approved all his appoint
ments with single exception, and in that case
the Office was abolished. Down to the receipt
of your letter on the Sd instant you had never
intimated to the Collector, in any form, that
you dsapproved of his appointments. or of the
manner in which they had been distributed
As to the manner. You did not pursue the
usual course, and issue circular laying down
a rule for the government of all Custom House
officers having patronage to bestow; but confn-
ed your Instructions to the port of New York
alone. II the doctrine of the letter is a sound
one. it is obviously proper thatit should be ap-
piled in other places rs we'll as here: and it
should regulate the conduct of all officers hav-
ing patronage to bestOw. Marshals, Postmas-
tiers, District Attorneys and others, should act
upon it in the selection of their deputies, clerks,
and other agents.
| will here mention another fact of no little
insignifcance The next day after the letter
was written, it was followed by another requir-
ing me to submit for your approval the names
of all clerks proposed to be employed in the
Bonded Warehouses and Public Stores In
this matter you not only departed from the
from the practice of all former Secretaries of
the Treasury--whO had left those appointments
to the sole discretion of the CollectOr--but. so
far as have learned, you again depart from the
usual course of issuing circular to all the
Collectors at our great ports, singled out the
Collector at New York. and prescribed a new
rule for him alone. These facts need no COM
mcnt--they speak for themselves.
As to the motive Of this movement let others
Judge.
This is, believe, the first instance in which
a member of the Cabinet has interfered with the
discretion of a collector marshal postmaster,
or any other government officer having patron
age to bestOw. and laid down a rule for his gov
ernment in the selection of his deputies, clerks.
or other agents; and it is the first instance in
which public officer has been instructed to
60 into an inquiry about sections. and see that
just distribution of Offices was made between
them. You have right, by law, to give in
structiOns on many subjects connected with the
collection of the revenue, and such instructions
it will be my duty to follow. But when you
go beyond that, and undertake to direct in
matters WHICH the law mas cOnHucQ TO my Ills
erection. no such obligation exists.
As to some officers of the Customs, the Col
lector has the right of nomination, and the Sec
rotary the right of approval or rejection; and.
as to the other offices, the power of appoint
ment is invested in the Collector alone / shall
not interfere with the exercise of your powers.
and trust you will render the like justice to
me. IfyOu. or any other high officer of the
Government, desired the appointment of par
ticular individual, need not say that it would
give me great pleasure to comply with the wish.
But respectfully deny that you have any right
to issue instructions for the government of my
conduct in making selections for office.
So far as relates to the mere dispensation of
patronage, without regard to my responsibility
for the acts of the persons appointed. ] would
gladly transfer the trust to another. / have no
taste for such matters. and my cOmfort--aspi-
rations have nOne-would be greatly promo
ted if some one else would perform the service
for me. But the law and my commission have
cast the burden upon me, and cannot surren-
der it to another without a dereliction of duty.
AS you have given your letter to the press.
saying the subject is a public oue,' shall give
the same direction to the answer.
am, very respectfully,
Your Obcdient servant,
GREENE c. BRONSON.
Hon. JAMES GUTHRIE, Secretary of Treasury.
About twenty miles of the Northwestern
Railroad have been opened from Chicago.and it
will be through to Fox river this winter This
road is to go through GAINESVILLE. Madison, and
thence in northwesterly direction to st.
Paul.
The Adamantines and Barnburners of New
York have made separate nominations in near
ly every county and district of the State, SO far
as heard from.
INDIAN TRorBIEs.-The dispatches this morn
ing from Washington City, announce an appre-
h"nded difficulty between the United States
Government and the Cherokee Indians. The
Fort Smith Herald, of the lst October. rccev-
ed to-day, makes quite light of the affair. That
paper says:
I'VE have been informed that the Superin-
tcndent of Indian Affairs on this frontier has
become alarmed and inagines that the Indians
are going to play the very devil. Now we ven
,tn,I