The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-11-14
CABINET CORRESPONDENCE.
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Letters OF Davis, Marcy, Guthrie,
and Cushing.
Interference Of the Administration in New
York State Politics.
no. l-JEFFERsoN DAVIS.

Thursday, . 1t. 6, 1852.
My DEAR SRI have not seen the publication in
the HERALD to which you refer, aHd which, if seen
would not have received any notice from me had Il
not been dignifed by the attention of some one
whose good opinion / regard.
Thanking you for your kind interest aud conf
dence IN me, reply that you have not In this IN
stance mistaken my position. Whatever may have
been the language employed, the statement tnat 1
had endorsed Preston Kiog and John Van Buren, IS
false, and, will add, would have beea abs rd II
had presumed to do | served with the hrst
named gentleman in Congress. aud upon the slavery
question We were the antipodes OF each other. Or
his subsequent course and present. position am not
informed.
The second named gentleman is known to me per-
sonalIy only by private intercourse; his position
shown by the publications OF the day. has been very
Objectionable me, but 1t is ia rdance with
the general amnesty declared in the Baltimore Con-
genton and ratified by the Presidential canvass of
1852. Ireceiyed the proposition to uate the plat.
form declared by the democratic party in general
convention, a. q settlement of past feuds, and have
been ready to co operate with ali who, adhering
faithfully to the principles and policy then declared,
are willing to go with me in the onward march Of
1t wonld have been hollow and dishonorable to
have allied with men upon that basis, and when the
campaign was over, have summoned them to answer
Tor Their bygone. opinions. SO far was this from
any purpose policy OF mine that had forgotten,
II indeed ever knew, the contents of speeches and
letters which have recently been brought t. light
and present men in whom have entire confidence,
as having been, very few years ago, the advocates
Of free soilism.
Notwithstanding the significant mark of conf
dence given to Mr.. Dickinson when he was offered
the best financial and political ap oointment in the
State of New York, have not and VIII not approve
the antisavery speeches be ma te in lS47 and 1S49
And although Judge Bronson holds the high post
which Governor Dickinson declined, | trust shall
not be numbered among those who subs ribed to his
letter Of July To- 1s4S to the meeting to ratify the
nomination Of Martin Van Buren, and contribute to
the extension Of free soil | am willing in these, as
in other cases to drop the inquiry into by gone opn
ions and associations, to adhere to the compact Of
1852 to oppose Reorganization, to resist agitation,
and to promote the harmony of the democrati; par
y, as the best means Of securing peace among the
States and perpetuity to the Union. Now. this is
MT to approve Objectionable aItecedents- to en-
dorse the opinions at war with my creed, but to act
those who believe the union of the democracy to
have been sincerely, honestly aud substantially
made for public and not pers ,nal ends.
Holding, as l do, that party organizaton is a ne
cessaly means to insure success to principles on
which parties are formed | cannot but ament the
division which has, without recent cause, opened
the old wounds in our party OF New York.
| do lot assume to ninale stiA less to judge, in
this family quarrel, but will abide the course of ra
mocracy may crush any oisintegrating faction which
gees into coalition with the wings.
Very truly, your friend,
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
NO. JAMES GUTHRIE.
WASHINGTON, Oct 8, 1853.
DEAR SIR-Since the conversation we had upon
the subject of the unfortunate division ia the demo-
cratic party in New York, feel more and more con-
WINGED that the present disorganzati0n cannot fail
to endaDger the success of the OF the party
there, and to prove injurious elsewhere. Butthe
separation Is effected conviction has forced itself
my mind, tn by de noorats pledged to each
other upon o common platform of principles, the d.
vision could aud Oush to have been prevented.
You are aware that the principles OF the Baltimore
Convention, and the policy intlmated in the inau-
gural address the President ard his constitutional
advisers stand pledged to before the world. They
have been end are united enc man upon these
principles and that policy, ard had reason /, believe
that ell gentlemen who consented to accept Office
under the administration stood pledged to the same
principles and policy.
/, As the President understands the principles
avowed as the platform of the party at Baltimore
all democrats who joined in uphodibg and carrying
out the same, were entitled to be recognised as
worthy Of the confidence of the united party, and
consequently eligible to official station.
That ali could not obtain Office was manifest, and
that the distribution could not be exactly equal
amongs. the different Sc ;tons of the party was
equally certain. Yet the distribution was intended
to be so made as to give jast cause of complaint to
one section, and it is believed that this intention has
been carried out not only by the President himself
but by most Of his sppoihtees in respect to the oes
under the latter
been very generally made from that portion of the
party to which you adhere. This you thought best
calculated to secure union and harmony. That de-
sirsbe object has failed to be Obtained and the other
fully recognised by you, and, as things no stand,
may pot do justice to your motives | call your at
tention to this subject, and to the fact that the
President and his Cabinet, with entire unanmity,
re ,ognie TIA portion CT tie party as democrats
distinctly avowing and firmly maintaining the prin
cpes OF the Baltimore platform, ard entitled to be
recognised by appointment to official stations in
your department. Allow me to express the expecta-
tion that you will recognise the In The only way
that will carry conviction with it.
have not hitherto deemed it necessary to make
any particular inquiry as 10 the section Of the demo
cratic party to which persons nominated for positions
in the custombouse at New York belonged prior to
the reunion Of the party In lS49whlch reunion was
supposed to have been thoroughly cemented in the
great and triumphant contest in 1852. But as the
present excited state Of feeling among political
fieajs no acted setherin 1852 and who now stand
-.neqoiyocally upon the sane platform Of principles
in New York, is suggestive OF discrimination OF
send copy OF this letter to the Nava! Officer aad
the Surveyor of the Port in order that there may be
no Misrepresentation as to the policy which the Pres
dent will require to be pursued.
| am, very respectfully,
JAMES GUTHRIE
G. c. Bronson, Esq, Collector New York.
Copies Of the above letter were sent to the Naval
Off :er and Surveyor with the following note:-
WASHINGTON, Oct 8, 1858.
DEAR SIR enclose herewith a copy Of a letter
this Gay addressed to the Hon. G. G. Bronson. 1t
will explain ITSELF and show you what the President:
expects In relation to The distribution Of patronage
IN the respective Offices OF the new YORK Custom
House to which you will conform your action in any
future nominations you may have occasion to make.
sm very respectfully, JAMES GUTHRIE.
NO. 3-JAMEs GUTHRIE.
WASHINGTON, Oct. %, 1858.
STR have received your letter Of the 18th inst.
II is not my purpose to respond to the many posi-
tons Of that letter. became most Of them bear their
contradiction upon its face aud others are too unim
portant TO require refutaton and, also, because
while in several phrases OF it admitting your implied
ants.. .f her IN antr
with the known policy OF the ADMINISTRATION, and
moreover recognising the propriety and justice OF
that policy by declaring that sou yourself depre
Gated and endeavored to prevent the divisions nov
existing in the democratic party In your State you
nevertheless INDUCED in a ten of remark as to
various relations of the subject which not Only i'm
pugns my motives but indicates attitude your
mart wholly incom ,atibe With Harmonious eo-opera-
md of hui.