Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1853-11-09
Politics in New York.

Inc polLlcal world has been somewhat
excited of late. by controversy between
Hon. James Guthrie. Secretary of the
Treasury, and Greene G. Bronson. Col
lector at New York. The affair has been
carried on at too great length for our
columns, and we have waited until its
termination to lay the matter before our
readers.
1t seems that Notwithstanding the po-
litical amnesty declared between the two
factions of the Democratic party in New
York, last fall. that their differences
have been renewed with increased viru-
lence under the distinctive speculation OF
Hard-shells" and Soft-shells." The
former claiming to be the Immaculate, {"
who were never wrong, while the latter
only modestly claim to be right now
The hostilities were renewed, as usual, at
their State Convention, over the distribu-
ton of the offices of that State. Both
factions alike claim to stand upon the
principles of the resolutions adopted at
the Baltimore National Convention, and
did claim to be alike the friends of Gen.
Pierce's administration but we believe
that recent events have somewhat estran-
ged the "hards."
In making his appointments, General
Pierce made no distinction between the
hards" and "sotts." but gave each a
fair proportion. We believe. however,
that the "hards" were rather the best
served. getting majority of the best Of
fees but it was principle adopted by
the administration. and it was intimated
that it was expected by it that its appoin-
tees should carry out the same course
that no mans antecedents should be
questioned. provided he was sound now.
| Collector Bronson did not see fit to carry
out this conciliatory course. but appoint
ed large majority of his deputies from
among his own sort of shell, the "hards. "
This was deemed violation of the COM
pact by the softs, who accordingly made
complaints at head quarters, and public
letter was addressed to Mr. Bronson from
Secretary Guthrie, advising him that his
course in regard to his appointments did
not meet the appreciation of the admins
tration, and requesting him in his future
appointments, to make fair division be-
tween the two wings of the party. To
this letter Mr.. Bronson writes long and
saucy reply, which he also makes public,
telling Mr.. Guthrie that he did not ask
the Office, that he had made such APP
pointments as he thought proper. and that
while the Secretary of the Treasury had
a right to instruct him in regard to some
things, this was matter over which he
had no control. Mr.. Guthrie had too
much Kentucky spunk to brook such de-
faint INSTRUMENTATION. and promptly sent
Mr.. Bronson his walking papers. The
following appointments have-been made
to fill vacancies, &C.: Heman j. Red.
field, collector for the distric. of New
York, vice Greene G. Bronson. removed
United States at New York, vice John A.
Dix, resigned John Romeyn Broadhead,
naval officer for the district of New York,
vice H. ]. Redfeld.
The morale of all this, is, like our late
election, a good deal mixed up. Mr.
Bronson was himself appointed as a
'compramise man ;" the two gentlemen
who were respectively urged for the ap
pointment by the ''hards" and " softs, >
having been alike discarded by the Pre-
sident. and he appointed instead. This
being the case, he was the last man that
should have used the office for factiona
purposes. But if the Collector committed
a crime, that is no excuse for the Secreta,
rvs being guilty of such blunder. II
Mr.. Bronson's conduct did not meet the
appreciation of the administration, he
should have been privately informed of it
and not publicly reprimanded. The pre-
ceedents afforded by the last administra
ton are not proper guides for the presen
one; and besides, we are not satisfied tina
Mr.. Bronson was quite so far wrong as
Mr.. Guthrie seemed to think. Mr.. Guth
rie's letter being written and published
Mr.. Bronson could do no less than reply.
and in the manner he did; and he. replying
in that strain, the Secretary of the Trea
sury could do nothing more than remove
him. What the result will be. remains
to be seen we have very little conf
dence in the politicians of New York. anc