Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1853-10-26
IupaE nKorsor . IsEcRETARY uurHRIE

JUDGE BRONSON e SECRETARY GUTHRIE
/ We givs below tbs concluding paragraphs
Iof the letter Of Jndge Bronson u Secretary
Guthrie, which We published last ~esk.
1 The purport Of M Guthriet letter. Z
Y win be remeu bered was, that the "Soffs. =
ss they are known in New York.---tiat i.
the Free Soil, and Abolition portion Of the
Democrats party --tbs Van Buren, party in
New York, shoald enjey, share and sbare
.al:ks.stbs ofises under the present admin's-
tration, with the National. Compromise Dem
ocrats. such as Dickinson, Bronson, Ocon-
ner. &c. Judge bronson boldly and plainly
tells the Secretary. that the administration
has no right 70 interfere in questions and ~
sues local IN their nature. 10 the distribution
Of the .spoils, "--and that he win NOT obey
ibis extraordinary cdict. lie says
| Let me now .notica the time, manner and
moiiys Of your letter.
As II timo. II was after the rupture ard
nomination 81 Two t;crrts 1T Syracuse, and
| the two rstiira:iot meetings in this City (:
astersths Gsi.ectar had been denounced ny
the Free, Sod leaders and presses, AID the
President had been called upon % remove
him; after hungry Office seekers and bitter
politicians had visited Washington to mis-
represent and traduce that officer. and to
whose clamors as sou well know. he never
made any reply after The Uaion had taken
grounds against The ticket Of the National
Democrats and in favor Of the ticket Of their
opponents then it Was that sou frs, discov-
cred cause for complaint Of any kind against
the Collector. You had approved all bis
Nominations with q single exception. AMI IN
tla: csss the Office was abolished. Down to
the reesip, of yonr letter u the 81 iast you
had never intimated to the Collector. in any
form that You asapproyed of his appoint
ments, or Of the manner in which they bad
been distributed
AS u tte manner You did not pursue
the usual course. and Issue circular laying
down nni'orm rule for the government Of sll
Custom House officers having patronsge to
bestow but confined yonr Instructions to the
port of New York alone. II the doctrine OF
the letter is sound Gre. il is obviously prop
err that it should be applied in other places as
well os here and it should regulate the cen
duct Of all classes Of governments ofi 'ers hav
ing patronage to bestow. Msrshals. Post
masters, District Attorneys and others, should
act upon it In the seection Of thsir dsputies
clerks. and other agents
will here mention another fact OF no little
The next day after the letter
was written. it was followed by another re-
curing me to submit for yovr approval the
Dnmes Of all clerks PROF osed to be employed
in the Bonded Warehouses and Public Stores
In this matter you not only departed from
the practice of all former Secretaries OF the
Treasury who had left those appointments
to the sole discretion of the Collector--hut.
80 far as have learned you again departed
from the usual course of issuing circular to
all the Collectors ut our great ports singled
out the Collector at New York, AID prescri
bed new rule for him alone These facts
needs no comment they speak for them
selves. taos Aa ssoei iE slaese|
Az to the motive Of this movement, let
others jadge
This is. | believe, the frs. instance in which
a member of the Cabinet has interfered with
the discretion Of collector marshal post
master. or any other government officer hay-
ing patronage to bestow. and laid down
rule for his government in the selection OF
his deputies. clerks or other agents and IL
certainly is the first instance in which pub
lie officer has been Instructed to 60 isto SD
inquiry about sections aud see that just
distribution of Offices was made between them.
You have Alright. By law ia give instructions
on many subjects connected with the coliec
ton Of the revenue, and such instructions it
viii he my duty to follow But when you
go beyond that, and undertake to direct 10
matters which the law has condded to my
discretion. no such obligation exists.
As tn some officers Of the customs. the
Collector has the light denomination. and the
Secretary the right of approval or rejection
and as to the other ofices. the power Of APP
pnntmeat is vested ii the Collector alone
! shall not Interfere with the exercise Of your
powers, and trust you will render the like
Justice 10 me If yon, or any other high If.
6cer Of the Government desired the appoint
ment Of particular irdividusl | need not
say that il would give me great pleasure IN
comply with the wish But | respectfully
deny that you have any right to i.aue in.truc
ti"ns for the government Of conduct in making
selections for office ia 8al5l
So far as relates to the more iisp4nsation
Of patronage without regard To nv response
bilitv for the acts Of the persons srpoiured
would gladly tranafer the trust to anothor. |
have no taste fnr rueh matters and mv carn
fprt4- aspirations have none would he
greatly promoted If some one else would per.
form the service for me But the law and
my commission have cast the burden upon
me- and ! cannot surrender it TO another
without dereliciion of duty
A YOU have given your letter t, the press.
saving 'the subject is public one shall
gise the same direction 10 the answer
l am, very respectable your ohel;en. ser
want, faa GREENE G. BRONSON
Hon JANIS GuTnRiE. Secretary Of the
Treasury. o!9ial e tu.. ..-.a.,.
FGTThe Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Company have determined to discontinue the
day train of cars from Baltimore to Camber-
land nm Snndavs Tho onl, oors ~, S,ndar