The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-10-22
Cutting the Gordian Knot.

As will be seen from our telegraphic despatch
from Washington, the administration has extri
Gated itself from the dilemma in which the re
cent disclosures had placed it, by dismissing
Collector Bronson. Some complacent friend
had doubtless telegraphed on the substance Of
our yesterdays remarks on the subject; and,
with an alacrity which does them credit, our
suggestion has been acted upon. We put Marcy
in, and we have now put Bronson out. Both
moves will, we trust, prove ultimately benef-
cial to the country. Marcy's tenure of power
will show what must be expected from
politicians who are ever ready to sacri-
flee principle to faction, and honor to place
Bronsons dismissal will illustrate the impos-
sibility of fusing honest men and traitors toge-
ther, in the hope of forming q homogeneous
government. Marcy has now fairly joined
issue with those who postpone petty party
interests to the broad welfare of the country.
He has entered boldly upon campaign in
which he and his faction figure as the cham
pions Of the narrow doctrines Of an obsolete
faction, and the deliberate foes of all who
realize the worlds progress, and look to the
substance not the form. of political questions.
The dismissal of Collector Bronson is ample
evidence Of the temper of the present admins
traticn. A government that cannot retain the
alliance of an honest man. whose only fault was
his high regard for principle, and his unflinch-
ing fidelity to the Union. cannot pretend to
either of these claims to esteem. Their previous
course had afforded inferential evidence of the
fact; the dismissal of Collector Bronson confirms
those differences, and stamps the character Of
the Cabinet in indelible letters. The Rubicon
is crossed.
1t is perhaps superfuous to add that Judge
Bronson is to be replaced by Mr.. Heman j..
Redfield, an old friend of Marcy's, whose
name was formerly mentioned in connection
both with the Collectorship and the Post Office
Candidly, we rather like the boldness which
this appointment betokens. Having resolved
upon course, it is creditable to Marcy, Guthrie,
and their friends to follow it out with nerve
1t is treacherous, false to the people, I'M
principled, unpatriotic, to be sure; but
it is open and straightforward. 1t the
United States are to be governed by free
sellers and disunionists the sooner the people
know it the better. 1t would have been more
consistent, however, to have dismissed Mr.. O'Co-
nor at the same time; he. too, is clearly guilty
of the crime of hating treason, and loving the
Union. Why spare him? Did Marcy's hand
falter? Was one victim enough to appease the
free sellers, still smarting under the LASH Or
was the administration SO appalled, at their
own audacity in Diminishing Judge Bronson, that
their courage failed them, and they dared do no
more than appoint Redfelds
ADDRESS OF WILLIAM Il. SEwARD-A FEELER
FOR 1856-That arch-agitator Of free soil aboli-
tionism, w. H. Seward, is beginning to cast
about him to discover, ifpossible. the lay of the
land and the programme for 1856. The annual
address which he delivered for the American
Institute, at the Tabernacle, the other evening"
shows that he is considerably perplexed, amid
the prevailing noise and confusion where to
begin, when to stop, and what to do.
The address in question was delivered before
society whose object is the promotion and ex-
tension of the useful arts. In q crcuitous and te-
dious round about track, the orator seems to
have labored for the same object And
to Judge Of his effort from the applause
of the two free soil Seward organs Of this city
the greater and the lesser Ajax of Sewardism--
one might suppose that there never was such a
mass Of wisdom delivered to an ignorant world
from the first publication of the Koran down to
the present day. The most, however that we
can make of this address at the Tabernacle is a
mass OF verbiage, embracing every thing in
the heavens and in the earth, and in the waters
under the EARTH and good deal of stale chop
logic besides. The Worlds Fair at London,
Gen. James Tallmadge and De Witt Clinton,
CrGsus. Dr. johnson, Charlemagne, Alfred the
Great France and England, Russia, the consti-
tuition and the laws, the higher law and the
denominations of slavery the Emperor Nicholas,
the elder Pitt and the younger Pitt, are all in
terwoven in an interminable rigmarole upon
that national independence which will flow
from the blessings of high tariff
The great idea of this learned political econo-
mist in this sophomore harangue, appears to be
prohibitory tariff, which, by excluding all
foreign manufactures, will bring all the fac.
tories of Europe over to the United States and
thus, by furnishing market to our farmers and
planters at their own doors, will enable
us to dispense with the shipping interest almost
entirely. How, in the meantime, the expenses
Of the government are to be paid, the orator
does not inform u.s. but we presume that il
will be by direct tax upon the consumers o.
manufactures, in addition to the bounty which
is 10 call these required monopolies into exist
cnce. Master Seward has very poor opinion
ofcommerce, but very high opinion Of prohi.
bitory tariff
This high tariff, and the policy Of interyen.
tipa 10 European AFFAIRS together with som.