The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-10-20
THE DAILY DISPATCH.
THURSDAY MORNING, OCTOBER %, 1855.
THE REPLY OF COLLECTOR BRONSON TO
SECRETARY GUTHRIE.


SECRETARY GUTHRIE.
The reply of Collector Bronson, Of New York,
to the Secretary ofthe Treasury. {rhose letter
we published some days sinca,) is a document oil
considerable length. Il commences with the sup
position that although Mr. Guthrie is satisfied that
the appointees In the New York custom house are
proper persons for the places they occupy, he
nevertheless thinks that all sections of the party
have not been regarded. Mr.. Bronson then re-
views the circumstances of his own appointment,
which, although grateful for the mark of conf
dence, he would have declined, but for the high
opinion which he entertained for the President and
his principles, and the assurance that the Presi.
dent earnestly desired his acceptance of the trust
AT that time he had never seen or had any comnu
nicaton with Mr. Pierce, and there were no pledges
between them. He has never complained of a
want of confidence on the part of the President,
and is not conscious of having omitted faithfully
to discharge his duty He agrees that the Admins
istration stands pledged before the world to the
principles laid down in the Baltimore Platform and
the Inaugural Address and had treason to believe
that all gentlemen who consented to accept Office
under the Administration stood pledged to the same
principles and policy" But it proves nothing to
the purpose, he says, for there is nothing in either
OF those papers about distributing Offices among
different sections OF the party. In makinghis ap-
pointments he has acted under the rule that the
President regards eligible to Office all Democrats
who cordially united on the Baltimore Platform in
1882 but he alleges the Secretary's letter 'pro-
ceeds upon the ground that he should go beyond
the inquiry whether applicants for Office are good
Democrats now, and ascertain TO what section they
formerly belonged; and then make such distribu-
ton of Offices between the different sections that no
one Of them willhave just cause COR complaint
This policy, he thinks would create mere conbina
ton OF sections, ready to fall to pieces the
section thought Itself aggrieved in the dstrihu
ton He then allJdes to his own method of appoint
ment to show that the section which so loudly and
bitterly complained has received its full share ofthe
Offices which he has bestowed The reunion of the
party in 1e49 he srdently desired but never ap-
proved of the mode in which the attempt was made
to bring about that end Gan experience proves
that such coalition was formed in lS49 can
never be thoroughly cemented. Sooner or later it
will tall to pieces. The cohesive power of patrea.
age cannot long save that which has within itself
any matter of astouishment that the reunion was
dissolved at the late Syracuse Convention" He
then proceeds TO show that his choice OF the SYRIA
cuse nominations was made on questions of State
policy, with which the administration has no right
full concern-while there can be no objection to his
continuing to maintain the principles On which the
National Administration stands. The Washington
Uajoa is then taken up, and its in Throwing
its weight the side of the Free Soil ticket dep
recated. If the election terminates unfortul ately
he says the responsibility VIII rest upon others and
not upon him.
We have thus given, as briefly as possible, sy-
nopsis of that portion of Mr. Bropsons letter which
reviews his Own course. We give below, entire,
(because it constitutes prominent feature in the
political history of the present time) his direct
reply to M. Guthrie
Let me now notice the time, manner, and motive
of your letter.
As to time. It was after the rupture and non-
nation of two tickets at Syracuse, and the two rat
i6caion meetings in this City; after the Collector
had been denounced by the Free-Soi leaders and
presses, and the President had been called upon to
remove him; after hungry otice-seekers and bitter
politicians had visited Washington to misrepresent
and traduce that officer, and to whose clamors, as
you well know, he never made any reply after the
Union had taken ground against the ticket of the
National Democrats, and in favor of the ticket Of
their opponents; then it was that you first discov
cred cause for complaint of any kind against the
Collector You had approved all his nominations
with single exception and in that case the office
was abolished. Down to the receipt of your letter
ofthe Sd inst, you had never intimated to the Col
lecfor in any FORM that you disapproved OF his ap
pointments, or of the manner in which they had
been distributed.
AstQ the manner. You did not pursue the usu-
al course, and issue circular laying down uni
form rule for the Government OF all Custom House
officers having patronage TO bestow; but confined
yourinstructions to the porilof New York alone
II the doctrine OF the letter is sound one it is OBJ
yiously proper that il should be applied In other
places well az here, and it should regulate the
conduct Of all classes Of Government officers hav-
Ing patronage to bestow Marshals nostmasters
district attorneys and others should act upon it In
the selection CT their depaties, clerks and other
agents.
Will here mention another fact, of no little sig
pificence. The next Gay alter the letter was writ
ter, twas followed by another, requiring me to
submit for your approval, the names of all clerks
propose to be employed in the bonded Warehouses
aud public stores. IN this matter you not only dc.
parted from tde ractice OF all former Secretaries
ofthe Treasury-who had lett those appointments
70 the sole discretion OF the Colector-but 0 far
have learned, you again departed from the
usual course of issuing circular to all the eoec-
tors at great ports singled out the Collector at
New York, and prescribed a new rule for him
alone These fac;s need no com1nent--they speak
for themselves.
As to the motive of this movement, let others
judge.
This ia, | believe, the first instance in which a
naeinber of the Cabinet has interered with the dis-
cretion OF collector, marshal, post-inaser, any
any other Government oticer having patronage to
bestow and laid down rule for his government in
the selection OF his deputies clerks other agents.
and it certainly the first instance in which pub
lie oticer has been instructed to 90 into inquiry
about sections, and see that Just distribution OF
offices was made between them. You have right
by law. to give instruction many subjects con-
uected with the collection Of the revenue and such
instructions it will be my duty to follow But
when you go beyond that and undertake to direct
in nmatters which the law has conhded to my disere-
son, no such obligation exits.
As to some officers OF the Customs, tue Collector
hasthe right of nomination and the Secretary the
right Of approval rejection and TO other ofn-
GERS, the power oi appointment IS vested in the Col
lector alone shall not interfere with the exerei
ofyour powers, and trust you viii render the ike
justice to NE. fyou, or any other high officer Of
the Government desired the appointment of par
tieular individual need not say that it would
give me great pleasure so comply with his wishes
But respectfully deny that you have any right To
issue instructions for the government OF my con
duct in making selectionsf for Office
So far as relates to the mere di pensaion Of pat
ronage without regard TO my responsibility for the
acts Of the persons appointed would gladly trans
fer the trust II another have taste for such
ters, and my cou1fBrt-asi,ifsiions have none
would be greatly promoted IL some one else would
perform the service for me- Butthe law and my
commission have cast the burden upon me, and