The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-10-18
HIGHLY IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS.
TERRIBLE POLITICAL EXECUTIONS.
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The War Of the National Democrats
Against the Free Soilers.
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REPLIES OF THE
n Y. COLLECTOR AND U. s. DISTRICT ATTORNEY
THE SPOILS ABINE
CUTHDE,S HEAD GONE FOREVER.
HIGHLY IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS.
THE sPoILs CABINET.
GUTHRIE,s HEAD GONE FOREVER.
Messrs. Bronson and O'Conor's Letters


OConor, written in reply to invitations from the Com
mittse Of Arrangements to sttend and address the rata
cation meeting held by the democrats at Tammany Hail.
in New York, Friday evening last These gsntlsmen
have furnished copies of their letters to the Asw York
Herald, from which paper we extract them The fact
that both Of these gentlemen occupy highly reaponsibe
positions under the present adaanstratiou the
fact that they enjoy deservedy high reputatisss for Ia
Tents and devotion to democratic principeA, Will attract
to their lotters than ordinary attention IL vi be
that they take exp;c and decided positions against
the ticket mated by the Union democrats snd ia
favor of tlzt put forth blythe hards In
for preferrng the latter to the former ticket
thing different from the general grounds which their
friends at Syracuse declined to cooperate with their or
political associates. The only difference that
discover is that there cearness and straight forward
in stating their positon which give To their letsrs
appearance of candor that does Hracter 40 all
the proceedings of their friends. These genenen
not reconcile It to their consciences to continue longer
the political connection which has hitherto existed bs
tween them and ,he leaders of the Union democrats.
They unwilling, by cooperating with them to
cede that they honest and sincere in abandoning their
former erroneous positions and edopng the pot.
cal creed. 1t strikes that there is severity this
judgment which leaves room fc repentance refor
nation But neither of these gentlemen explains the
why they have selected this particular time for dis
solving connection from which they enjoying
high official honorsaDd benefits II is not shown that
would not have been candid and consistent
repudiated all association with the Union democrats
they have been associated for the last three years.
not shown how their conscientious regard for sound de-
mocratc principles permitted them to unite with those
whom they denounce, when they halted and altered
in placing themselves fully the true PLATFORM but now
at the very moment when they toalt and alter
the conscences OF those gentlemen rebel against fur
ther union with them 1t is not shown why, when they
fighting, shoulder to shoulder with the leaders Of
the Union democrats in 1852 in support of Gen. Pierce,
they did not then to their leaders that after the
election they woud deem inconsistent With their char
acer sound democrats to recognise them worthy
political fellowship With al their Acknowledged ab-
ties and with apparent purpose to make clean breasts
these distinguished gentlemen have failed to clear away
the mystery which hangs their political
dents in these respects.
But there is another view of the positions taken BY
those two high official gentlemen which surprised
did not strike them as worthy of The an
nouncement of President Perce's cabinet distinct
of his policy in regard to the recognition
of all good democrats who stood honestly the de-
mocratic creed promulgated at Baltimore. This policy
frankly and freely declared and actoa upon by the
President and it known better than to Col
lector Bronson and District Attorney OCcaor. 1t
known TO them, also, that there State in the
Union in which the carrying out of this policy would be
more embarrassing than in New York. They knew
more they knew that the offices of collector and district
attorney rendered to them in pursuance and
theance OF that distinctive policy which sought obtain
harmony by ready recognition of obliteration all
past schisms and divisions the party Knowing these
things and seeing how scsupuloss conscientious these
a now nsS e w. sSs nna ss 70
Of the we'll understood policy Of the administration
by accepting the responsible positions rendered to
them. We respectfully submit to their enlightened
minds and conscences that in accepting these places
with their knowledge of the views and lime of policy of
the President they virtually sanctioned that policy and
impressed upon him the pleasing conviction that he
would have their influence and cooperation in giving
to his administration These distinguished gen
temen will never put in the plea of ignorance to the
views and purposes o. tho Executive and their letters
they do not intimate that he has in the least degree
swerved from his original purposes. The President
not likely to yield his opinions to what duty to til.
great democratic party of the country and obvious
alterations of manhood and honest, require at
his hands. He will not disregard the clear and explicit
expression of the united democracy assembled at Ba
in June, 1852 at the suggestion of any politician
combination of politicians in New York city oft
He will not overlook what took place in the glorious
that followed that convention. He cannot for
get, il he would that the Hon. Charles 0Conor and
General John A. Dix stood upon the platform with
their respective friends and addressed the audience
at the great ratification meeting at Tsmmany Hail.
after the nomination, and the rejoicing the part OF
true friends consequent upon seeing those dstin
guished gentlemen together and the indications of har
mony upon principle that burst upon from all parts
tie Union and gave unmsakeabe prestige OF the sigma
victory subsequently achieved ard the unprecedented
majority of 900 democratic votes in the E pre State
vince of omniscence and claim 70 be the judge of mems
hearts, he has inperavey demanded, the condition
of bond of union, frank declaration of fidelity to the
Baltimore platform and the great principles Of his inau
gural address. What more, honest and true
patriot, could he have done? In this entire policy he
has yielded only the united wisdom united patriot
ism of the masses who called him to the head of the
government. He will desert them their prin-
cipes and facticus that those will
desert him. But we have uniformly taken the
ground that it not for to look into the hearts Of
the hanburners free soiers who forward with
cheerfuness and dstinctness npon the Baltimore plat
form, will not to look into the hearts
of the Collector and District Attorney but present t
they have presented themselves in their letters without
[The Union here copies - letters written by Messrs
Bronson and oConor to the Tammany Hall Committee
Letter from Secretary Guthrie to Collecto,
Bronson.
from the Washington Union, Oct.
WASHINGTON, Oct. s, 1858.
1t the public have obtained, through the press
imperfect statement Of the contents of my letter Il
Collector Bronson and the other custom house officers
New York; and the subject is public one place ii
your hs nds copy of The letter, which you at liberty
to make public. JAMES GUTHRIE.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 8, 1858.
DEAR SIRsnce the conversation we had upon the sub
ect of the unfortunate division in the democratic party
in New York, feel and convinced that the
present dsorga cannot fail to endanger the sue
cess of the principles the party there and prove
furious elsewhere. But the separation is effected.
conviction has forced itself on my mind that BY demo
Gratis pledged to each other upon platform of
principles, the division could and ought TO have been
prevented.
You are aware that The principles of the Baltimore
Convention, and the policy intimaed in the inaugural
address, the President and his constitutional advisers
stand pledged to, before the world They have been and
are, united man upor these principles and that
policy and had to believe that all gentlemen who
consented accept Office the administration stood
pledged to the principles and policy.
AS the President understands the principles avowed
the platform Of the party at Baltimore, all democrats
who joined in upholdng and carrying out the
entitled to be recognized worthy of the confidence OF
the united party, and consequently eligible to Official
staten.
That all could not obtain Office was manifest and that
the distribution could not be exactly equal amongst the
different sections of the party, equally certain.
Yet the distribution I'M ended to be made to give
just of complaint to section and 1t believed
that this intention has been carried out not only by the
President himself but by most of his appointees in
srect to the offices under the latter.
1t has happened that your appointments have been
very generally made from that portion Of the party
which you adhere This you thought best calculated
union and harmony. That desirable object has
failed to be obtained and the other portion of the party
feel that they have not been fully recognized you and
things stand may not do justice to your motives
call your attention to tho subject and to the fact that
the President and his cabinet with entire unanmity
cognize that portion Of the party democrats distinctly
avowipg and firmly maintaining the principles Of the
Baltimore PLATFORM and entitled 10 be recognized by ap
pointment to official stations in your department Allow
me to express the expectation that you viii recognize
them in the only way that will carry conviction with It,
have not hitherto deemed II necessary TO make any
particular inquiry to the section Of the democratic
party to which persons nominated for positions In the
Custom Hou at New York belonged prior Ia the reunion
OF the party In 1849-whch reunion supposed TO
been thoroughly cemented in the great and triumphant
contest 1852 But the present excited state of feeling
among political esds who acted together in 1882 and
who stand uneguivocaly upon the platform Of
In stiye of n