Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-10-22


rARY OF THE TREASURY. AS we published the
latter last week. and as the controversy has assumed
much consequence in the party politics of the day,
we give below the reply of the Collector.
New YORK, MONDAY, OCTOBER IL 1853.
Hon. JAMES GUTHRIE Secretary OF the Treasury.
SIM The pressure Of official business and confinement
IA sick room have prevented earlier to your
letter of the Sd instant.
You first state in substance, that have been under
pledge which has not been redeemed to distribute the
Offices in my gift among different sections of the Demo-
cratic party and then prescribe the you expect
me to pursue in future. You do not complain that my
appontees are proper persons for the places they
occupy or that they not sound Democrats sincerely
attached the principles Of the party, and firm supper
tiers of the National Administration. But you think
have not properly regarded all sections of the party
When Mr. DICKINSON declined the Collectorship of this
port in April last asked by several friends whe-
ther would allow name to be mentioned to the Pre-
sident for the place. and answered in the negative.
thought no of the until two days afterwards
when saw in the public prints telegraphc despatch
announcing my appointment. l had two years before
resigned my place Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals
with the intention of again accepting public office
and grateful as am for this mark of confidence
should have declined the appointment but for the
opinion which entertained of the President and his
principles and the of friends that he earnestly
desired my acceptance of the trust
When l accepted the place had never seen nor had
any communication with the President and course there
pledges between us, such may be implied
between honorable holding the like relation each
other He had right to expect that would diligently
and faithfully discharge the duties of the Office, and main
TAIN in all proper ways the principles which restored the
Democratic party power; and, long performed
that implied obligation, had right to expect that his
confidence in would be Withdrawn. have never
complained that the President has discharged his part
of the Obligation and not conscious of having omitted
TO discharge my
You tell that the President and his constitutional
advisers stand pledged before the world the principles
and policy laid down in the Baltimore platform and the
Inaugural Address and had believe that all
gentlemen who consented accept Office under the Ad-
minstraton stood pledged TO the same principles and po
hey" agree that; and, though it is but implied
pledge, admit its full force, But it proves nothing to
the present purpose for there is not word either in
the Baltimore platform the Inaugural Address about
distributing offices among the different sections of the par
ty If the President his apponees pledged any
such distribution, you must look other docume
to find evidence Of the obgaton-some document which
have never seen.
1t may be inferred from the acts Of the President that
he regards eligible TO Office all Democrats who cor
daily united the Baltimore platform in 1852 and are
sincerely attached the principles Of the party although
nj some former period they May have been of the
way That is proper rule. 1t is the one on which
have acted in making appointments Office not because
was under any pledge to do So but ecause thought
the rule just in itself But your letter proceeds upon
ground that should go beyond the inquiry whether APP
plic off
TO what section they formerly belonged and then make
such distribution Of Offices between the different Sec
tons that one Of them viii have just for
plant 1t is not only impossible to administer such
rule that with success but the consequence Of adopt
ing it must be that shall have Democrat
party united upon broad basis Of principle but
combination Of different sections held together by bet
bond than the love Of Office and ready to fall TO piece
the moment section thinks itself aggreyed in the dis
trbution.
Notwithstanding what has been said think it woul
be found proper scrutiny that the section which Ia
SO loudly and bitterly complained Of injustice has re
ceived its full share of the Offices which have bestow
ed 1t is undoubtedly true that more appointments hay
been made from section of the party than from thu
other and single reason will be sufficient show why
il proper to pursue that course. Most Of the Gus
tom-house appointments for this port have always beer
made from the counties Of New York and Kings in which
the three large cities which form part Of the port
In ls48 the Democratic and Freesoi vote in those
ties bore the relation Of than four for the former
one for the latter From the Freeso vote should b,
same direction. After making the proper allowance
that account, think it safe to conclude that not
than one of Of the Democrats in those
ties voted the Freesoil ticket in 1913 In this view
the matter think viii be found that the Freeso
ton is far from having just for complaint hav
acted in this liberal manner, not because was unde
any pledge but because wished TO do what reasona
bly, could promote the harmony and continued ascend
ancy Of the party.
tits possible that am mistaken in supposing that tn
Freeso section has got its full share Of the places for
in distributing the little offices in my gift which have 70
the most part gone among the rank and file Of the party
have neither had the time the inclination to do niue
by way Of investigating the antecedents Of men who wer
supposed to be all right now.
In reference to your remark upon the recent ruptur
Of the party at Syracuse that the division could
ought to been prevented it is enough for to
that only had agency in bringing about that d
vision but tried 10 prevent it, My counsel was given
favor Of the united action Of the Convention and sin
ccrely hoped that harmony would prevail If any Gov
eminent officers chargeable with what took place
Syracuse the burden must those who there
of whom three were from this city-and not upon tn
Collector who at home attending the duties Of hi
Office.
do not state these things by way Of apology, for
have TO make nor by way Of counting fayor for
have none to ask.
reunion was supposed to have been thoroughly cemene
in the great and triumphant in 1851" Ahoue
ardently desired reunion, if could be effected upo
principle, never approved tho mode in which the q
tempt was made to bring about that desirable end.
thought then and think STILL that those who had desert
the Democratic standard in 1S4S and thrown the Sta
and National Governments into the hands Of the Wing
Should IL convinced Of their error, return again to
camp without exactiDg conditions, and should then
treated with the utmost kindness The party would tn
have been strong, and we should have heard no mo
about sections. But very different course pursue
md the ErcnGa Leader anah "A G