The Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1852-1853, 1853-11-09
Collecto Rronson,s Removal

The politi ,al world has been watching,
with considerable anxiety. for some time
past. the resul! OF controversy between
Secretary Guthrie aud Mr.. Bronson, Collec.
tor of the Port of New York. -
The circumstances of this case are as fol.
lows: Mr.. Bronson, is connected with one
faction ofthe Democratic party of the En-
pire State, aud after his appointment to the
office of Collector, made it his business to
appoint, TO positions under him, numerous Of
the same political clique. to the entire ex-
cluSion Of the opposing faction. This course,
tending as it did, to widen the breach in the
party in that State, did not meet with the
appreciation of the President and his Cabi-
net, and Mr.. Bronson was politely inform
ed that he should be more general ia his Sc
lections of men for offices in his gift, and
use his influence to unite and harmonic the
party. He replied, in substance, that he
would appoint whoever he pleased to Office,
and would receive ne dictation from the De.
partment at Washington.
The :oliowing closing paragraphs, con.
tain the gist of the letters:
"This is, believe the first instance in
which member of the cabinet has inter-
fered with the discretion OF collector, mar
shat, postmaster, or any other government
officer having patronage to bestow, and laid
down a rule Tor his government in the selec-
tion Of mis- deputies, clerks, or other agents,
and it certainly is the first instance in which
a public officer has been instructed to 90 in
to IN enquiry about sections, and see that
Just Distribution of officers was made between
them.
You have right by law to give instruc.
tionS on many subjects connected with the
collection OF the revenue. and such instruc.
tons it will be my duty to follow; but when
you 90 beyond that and undertake to direct
in matters in which the law has coniled to
my discretion no such oblgotion exists. As
to some officers OF the customs, the coIec-
tor has the right of nomination, and the Sec
retary the right of approval or rejection;
and as to the other officers, the power of ap-
pointment is vested in the collector alone.
/ shall no! interfere in The exercise of your
powers, and | trust you will render the like
justice to me. ltyou, or any other hight of
tlcer Of the government desire the appoint
ment of a particular individual, | need not
say it would give me great pleasure to com
ply with his wishes; but respectfully deny
that you have any right to issue Instructions
for the government Of my condcct in ma
king selections for oIii;e. So far as relates
to the mere dispensation of patronage, with.
out regard to my responsibility for the acts
of the parties appointed, | would gladly
transfer the trust 10 another. | have no
taste for snch matters, and my comfort as
pirations | have none) would be gre atly
promoted if some one else would perform
the service for me; but the law and nv COM
mi sion have cast the buden upon me, and
| cannot surrender it to another with a
dereIicilon of duty"
70 the epistle Mr.. Guthrie replies brief,
ly ald plainly. He tells the Collector that
it is the desire OF the Administration to re-
coSRize the claims of all Tho stooI upon th
Baltimore Platform of 1852, and that in con.
demns Mr.. Bronson for not dong the same
We apPoei the concluding paragraphs of
Mr.. Gut hrie's letter: Z
"rhe concln ling portion Of your letter has
left me no alternative but to lay the whole
matter before the President, and take his di-
reetiOn concerning it.
You assume that in relation to certain
things, yOr are to receive instructions from
this department, and in others, that you are
to proceed without, CT contrary to, such in
structions This cannot be admitted in any
branch of the public SERVICE for where the |
lepartment is not expressly empowered to
give instructions to sQbordiRateS, it has the
authority to DO so, as inherent in the power
% remove a refractory officer.
You also assume that YOU are to appoint
'arioas persons employed in the Custom,
louse-some, rs you admit, subject to my
approval, and others as you seem to con
;elve, on your SO authority. cannot but
'egard it singular that gentleman of your
and experience should have
allen into such error. The constitution of
he United States has empowered Congress
o confer the appointment of inferior officers
IN the President alone, in the courts of law,
IL in the heads of departments. Congress
las not attempted, nor, if it had, could it
lave effected, any modification of this pro-
Iislon, of the constitution.
Those who are employed under you in the
Custom ho1se do, both by the constitution
md the laws, derive their appointment and
heir authority as public officers from the
Of the Treasury alone.
What the language and temper Of your let
er would have rendered embarrassing, these
lnwarrantabe assumptions, marked, as they
ire, by manifest spirit of INSTRUMENTATION,
ender impossible, namely: your continu-
Ince in the Office of the collector of the dis
rict of New York, .....
am, therefore, directed by the President
o say that your successor in that office will
'e promptly appointed. :"
Stock Dealers.
Our friend John Cliff1rd who lives on