Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1853-10-28
WASHINGTON, Oct. %, 1853,

w ASHINGION, Oct ", 1898.
SIR: have received your letter of the 18th inst
1t IS not my purpose TO respond to the many posi-
tons of that letter, because most of them bear their
contradiction upon its face, and others are too unim-
portant TO require refuation and also because while
in several phrases of it, admitting your implied obi
CATION, as man of honor, TO act in accordance with
the known policy of the Administration, and more
over, recognising the propTiey and Justice of that
policy by declaring that you yourself deprecated and
endeavoret to prevent the divisions existing in
the Democratic party in your State, you nevertheless
INDUCED in tenor of remark, to various relations
of the sub ect, which not only impugns my motives
but indicates an attitude on your part wholly incom
patibe with harmonious cooperation between u.s. and
the proper conduct of the business of the Government
One suggestion appears in your letter which de-
mands animadverson. You aege, by implication,
that have desired you to appoint free-soilers to Of
hce, and IN doing you strangely misunderstood or
misnterpret my letter of the Sd instant neither en-
ertained nor expressed any such DESIRE 1t has been
my pleasure and my duty, not to inquire into the
opinions which may have been held by yourself and
others as far back as the year 1S4S, but to regard
the claims to consideration of all who have acted with
fidelity to the prnc pies and organization of the demo-
cratic party since the convention at Baltimore in 1852,
and those only. And with these views must con.
denim your course when in this letter you inform me
that you have selected free. soilers for office without
having given me the notice of the fact, which would
have enabled me TO withhold my appreciation from
any such appointments | will add, that the impua-
ton that have required you act with reference to
controversies OF local Stale character is wholly
gratuitous My letter was intended TO guard Won
against distinctions between democrats founded uDon
local politics and local divisions
The concluding portion of your letter has left me
no alternative but TO lay the whole matter before the
President, and take his direction concerning it.
You assume that in relation 10 certain things YOU
are to receive instructions from this Department. and
IN others that you to proceed without or contrary
TO, such instructions. This cannot be admitted in any
branch OF the public service =; for where the DEPART
ment is not expressly empowered to give instructions
10 subordInates, it has the authority TO do So as in
herent IN the power to remove a refractory officer
You also assume that you are 10 appoint the vari
! Gus persons employed in the custom house-some as
you admit, subject to my approval, and Others as
you seem TO conceive, on your sole authority ] can
not but regard it as singular that gentleman of YOU
legal requirements and experience should have faer
INTO such error. The constitution of the United States
has empowered Congress to confer the appointment
OF inferior officers 8 in the President alone, in tn,
courts OF law, orfn the heads of departments" Con
gress has not attempted, Tor, if it had could it hay
effected any modification of thsprovison of the con
stitulion
Those who employed under you in the Custom
douse do both by the Constitution and the laws de
rive their appointment and their authority as publi
officers from the Secretary of the Treasury alone.
"nat Inc language and temper of your ,etler woul
nave rendered embarrassing, these unwarrantabe as
SYMPTOMS marked as they are By manifest spirit @
; INSTRUMENTATION, render mpossble-namely. Won
continuance In the office of Collector of the Disric
OF New York. am, therefore. directed by the Pres
ldent 10 say that your successor in the Office will
promptly appointed.
have the honor to be, very respectfully
JAMES GUTHRIE
GREENE {. Bronson. Esq New York.