Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1853-11-10
WASHINGTON, Oct. %

SIR: have received your letter Of the
18th inst. 1t is not my purpose to respond
to the many positions of that letter, because
most of them bear their contradiction upon
its face, and others are too unimportant to
require refutation; and also because, while
in several phases of it, admitting your i'm
piled obligation as a man of honor, to act IN
accordance with the known policy OF the
| ADMINISTRATION, and moreover, recognizing
the proprety and Justice of that policy, by
declaring that you yourself deprecated and
endeavored 10 prevent the divisions now ex-
listing i'll the Democratic party in your State,
you nevertheless INDUCED in tenor of re-
mark, as to various relations on the subject,
which not only impugns my motives, but
indicates an attitude on your part wholly in
compatible with harmonious cooperation
between us, and the proper conduct of the
Government.
One suggestion appears in your letter
which demands animadversion. You allege,
by implication, that have desired you to
appoint freesoilers to Office, and in doing SO
You strangely misunderstood or misinterpret
my letter Of the Sd inst. neither enter
tanned or expressed any such desire. II
has been my pleasure and my duty not to
inquire into the opinions which may have
been held by yourself and others as far
back as the year 1913, but to regard the
claims to consideration Of all who have act
ed with fidelity to the principles and organ
ization of the Democratic party since the
convention at Baltinore in 1852, and those
only. And with these views, must con.
denim your course when in this letter you
inform me that you have selected freesoilers
, for office, without having given me the no,
tice Of the fact, which would have enabled
me to Withhold my appreciation from any
such appointments. l will add, that thu
: : imputation that have required you to ac
with reference to controversies of local Of
State character is wholly gratuitous. nj,
. letter was intended to guard you agains
distinctions between Democrats, founded
upon local politics and local divisions.
The concluding portion Of your letter hal
!. left me no alternative bu to lay the whole
! matter before the President, and take hi
direction concerning it.
You assume that in relation to certain
things, you are to receive instructions from
= this department, and in others that you ar
q TO proceed without, or contrary to, such in
y structions. This cannot be admitted in an,
u branch of the public service; for where tn
department is not expressly empowered t
give instructions TO subordinates, it has tn
= authority 10 do so, as inherent in the pcwel
y to remove refractory officer.
: You also assume that you are to appoin
S the various persons employed in the custor
: houses ome, as you admit, subject to m
approval, and others, as you seem to con
. ceve, on your sole authority. l cannot bu
i regard it as singular, that a gentleman @
e your legal requirements and experienc
h should have fallen into such error. Th
u Constitution of the United States has EN-
powered Congress to confer the appoint
: ment of inferior officers Sin the Presider
}, alone, in the courts Of law, or in the head
r. Of departments" Congress has not al
1t tempted, nor, if it had, could it have effect
:. ed any modification of this provision of tn
constitution.
II Those who are employed under you, i
10 the Custom House, do, both by the consti
l. tuition, and the laws, derive their appoint
70 ment and their authority as public officer
from the Secretary of the Treasury alone
. What the language and temper OF you
lie letter would have rendered embarrassing
re these unwarrantable assumptions marked a
they are, by a manifest spirit of insubord
nation, render impossible - namely YOU
es continuance in the office of Collector Of III
If district of New York. am, therefore d
Il rected by the President, 10 say that YOU
- successor in Office will be promptly al
u pointed.
it have the honor to be, very respectful.
a. your obi servant,
JAMES GUTHRIE.
GREENE C. BRONSON, ESQ, N. Y.