New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-10-18
OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE.
Mr.. Collector Bronson TO Mr.. Secretary Guthrie.
NEW-YORK Oct H. 1853

Dir. Collector Bronson TO Mr.. Secretary Guthrie.
NEW YORK, Oct. II, 1853.
SIR: The pressure of official business and confine
ment to a sick have prevented earlier answer
to your letter of the Sd instant.
You first state in substance, that have been under
a pledge which has not been redeemed, TO distribute
Offices in ny gilt among different sections of the Demo
cratic party and then prescribe the you expect
ne to pursue in future You do not complain that my
spponees not proper persons for the places they
occupy that they not sound Democrats sincerely
attached to the principles OF the party, and firm sup
port,rs of the National Administration. But you
think have not properly regarded all sections of the
party.
When Mr. Dickinson declined the Co!lectorship of
this port in April last was asked BY several friends
whether / would allow my name to be mentioned to
the President for the place and answered in the mega
tive. | thought no more of the matter until two days
alteTward, when | in the public prints tee-
graphic dispatch announcing my appointment. / had
two years before, resigned my place Chief Judge of
the Court of Appeals with the intention Of never again
accepting q public office and, grateful as | for
this new mark Of confidence should have declined
the appointment but for the high opinion which enter
tanned of the President and his principles, and the
assurance Of friends that he earnestly desired my ac
ceptance Of the trust
When / accepted the place, had never seen nor
lad any communication with the President, and
course there no pledges between US, such
may be implied between honorable holding the
like relation to each other He had right to expect
that would diligently and faithfully discharge the duties
Of the Office and maintain in all proper ways, the prnc
Ies which restored The Democratic party to power and
so long az performed that implied obligation, had
rio To n in new not be
Withdrawn. have complained that the President
has not discharged bis part Of the gation, and not
conscious Of having omitted to discharge my
You tell me that the President and his constitutional ad
vers stand pledged before the world the principles and
policy laid down in the Baltimore platform and the inau
gural address and had believe that all gentle
"men who consented to accept office under the admins
traton stood pledged the principles and policy
agree to that and, though it Is but implied pledge
admit its full force But proves nothing the present
Iuose for there is not word either in the Baltimore
platform the inaugural address about distributing offices
among different sections OF the party Ii the President
his appontees pledged any such distribution you
must look other document mud evidence OF the
olIgation-some document which have never seen.
Il may be inferred from the OF the President that
be regards eligible Office all Democrats who cordially
united the Baltimore platform in 1882 and are sincerely
attached the principles OF the party although at some
former period they may have been out Of the way That
i proper rule. IL Is the one on which have acted in
making appointments 10 Office because was under
any pledge 10 do So but because thought the rule lust in
itself But your letter proceeds upon the ground that
should 90 beyond the inquiry whether applicants for Office
good D. mocreis and ascertain 70 what section
tkoy formerly belonged, and then make such dstribu
ton Of Offices between the different sections that no one
ofiLem vii have just cause for complaint II IS not only
impossible to administer such rule that with success
but the consequence Of adopting II be that W shall
never have one Democratic party, united upon broad
bssis Of principle but combination Of different sec
ons held together by better bond than the love Of u
ice and ready to fan to pieces the one section
thinks itsef aggrieved in the disiTibuon
NotwithtAndng hat has been said think ii would be
found proper scrutiny that the section which has 80
loudly ard bitterly complained Of injustice has received it,
fill share Of the Offices which have bestowed Il Is IN
doubiedly true thai more appointments have been made
rem one section Of the party than from the other and
single rason vii be sufficient to show why vas proper
torurue hat course Most Of the Custom House appoint
mens for ih port have aways been made from he eoun
ties Of New York and Kn which are the three large
ces which form part Of the port In the Democrats
andFree Sofvoes th counties bore the relation ofmos