Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1853-10-21
Secretary Guthrie.

Secretary Guthrie.
If there was nothing to find fault with, the world
would feel lost and yawn itself to death Lock jaw
would inevitably supervene; rather than such a
thing that should happen. we would even consent
for comet to whisk its tail around, and make a
summary disposal of all our creditors, their heirs,
and assigns. Of course we should feel very sorry,
as in duty bound but we are willing make al
most any sacrifice for the benefit of suffering human
1y. Actuated by this enlarged sentiment of benev-
Olence, feel much reoiced to discover that Sec
rotary Guthries letter to Collector Bronson of New
York, upon the subject of the official patronage at
his disposal, promise to supply friends and CO.
temporares of the opposition press with food for
grumbling and denunciation for some time to come.
1t may save them from death or paralysis, and it
will hurt nobody, SINCE in fact, the Secretarys let
ter simply gives form and expression to what every
body knows is, and must be policy of the ad-
ministratio1 and permit US to say ought to be the
policy of any administration, under similar crcum-
stances. Everybody knows, that when new ad
ministration comes into power, it aims to commit
the execution Of its policy to subordinaes of the
the political views with itself, who may be
reasonably expected to feel more Jealous interest
in its successful working than those politically in
imical 10 it. Right wrong such the system,
and we presume will continue so to be. So much
may fairly be taken for granted, and of this, Col
lector Bronson was of course aware. Further: Ey-
erybody remembers the tremer dous sectional agta.
tcn, which, very few years ago disturbed the
country from end to the other threatening even
the perpetuity of the Union itself AT length, a
scheme of adjustment, known in the aggregate as
6 the compromise" was agreed upon and enacted
by Congress- This to be fnality. Upon it,,
such, the Baltimore Democratic Convention set
tied down, and upon the platform of that Conven-
tion, the Democratic party united and its nominee
Gen. Pierce was elected by the party united. 1t
was understood that this disracng question of Sla-
very Should not be re-opened. That in making ap-
pOintments, the compromise and the Baltimore
platform should be the test among Democrats, and
nobody looked to a Democratic administration to
appoint Wings. Such being the facts of the case,
it does certainly appear evident: that any attempt
10 go behind the record and institute distinctions
founded upon sectional feuds, which it is the inter.
est of the country at large to consider finally settled
could only have tendency to re-awaken danger
agitation, and seriously threaten, not simply
the party in power, but The peace and quiet and it
mig be, the very existence of the Union itself.
Regarded in this plain, common sense light, it
will be at once perceived that Secretary Guthrie's
letter to the Collector at New York simply presses
upon the attention of that funcionary the impro-
priey of allowing the action of Government officers,
in making appointments, TO be Influenced by Sec
tional difficulties which it is to the interest of the
country to consider settled by the compromise which
compromise the administration stands pledged to
recognize and support. In fact. what guarantee
could have for the sincerity of any professions in
favor of the Union and Of the com promise final
ity, if the admin tratiOn making such professions
allowed invidous distinctions to be made account
of matters anterior to the compromise, and said to
be finally settled by it!
The tone of Secretary Guthries letter, which we
published few days since, is certainly courteous
and mild. It's objects light and proper, and we
think it will be found much harder to attack it with
the weapons of reason and common sense than tc
indulge in grandiloquent denunciation, level at il
the shafts of pointless wit We like to please every
body, or rather, we like that everybody should be
pleased-should have some crumb of comfort, and
sorry to deprive our grumbling cotempora
ries Of the Wing, or " somewhat" Democratic
presses of the little consolation they might derive
from supposing that the Cabinet is divided in this
matter. General Davis, it was thought, was this
way and Mr.. Somebody else another. This is no
So Mr. Davis is just as national as any other mem
Der of the Cabinet
The Elections In Georgia, Pennsylvania and Ohio
The Grand Fuss.
The Washington Union, in a recent article, mad
remark which experience and reason alike Justify
namely-tkat the first six months of any new ad
mnstraon is the time of its greatest weakness ant
most severe trial for it is in that time that it i
called upon to disappoint the hopes of the creates
number of reckless asprants. prove its disconnecto
with petty factions, and set at defiance all threat
of opposition made for the purpose of shaping it
policy to the views of the threateners. A triumph
then when it has to crush treachery in its own par
ty, as we'll as combat opposition in the other, is
triumph indeed and such has been, and is now tn