Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-10-21

my choice between the two tickets which had
been nominated. My reasons for prelsnng one
and rejecting the other are before the Puoilc and
no one has the right 10 mpute to me any other mo-
tives than those which / have ayowed. .IIeiected
one ticket because the nomination had been effec-
ted by means which no honest man could approve
and because the nominees had been brought for-
ward by men who had been hostile 10 what
deemed the best interests of the State in relation
10 the canals. approved the other ticket be-
cause the nominees were right on the question OF
State policy, and because those who supportedit
were "contending forthe principles which restor-
ell the Democratic party to power, and placed
franklin Pierce at the head of the government"
presume there can be no obiection at Washing
ton 10 my maintaining now, as l have always
done before, the principles on which the national
administration stands; and with questions of mere
State policy you must allow me 10 say the admin
istration has no rightful concern.
What consequences will follow the recent
break i'll the party is more than can tell; but /
feel reasonably confident that II the national DEM
ocrats had fair field and the free soil democrats
were not fighting under false colors, the ticket
could not get votes enough TO help the w hlss
through with their nominations Butwe have not
got a fair field The Washington Union, while
protesting 10 speak the sentiments OF the admins
tration, has thrown its weight on the side oil the
free soil ticket. 1t has undertaken 10 decide upon
the regularity of our conventions, and to SIT IN
Judgment upon mere questions OF State policy II
takes the side of those who have once proved
faithleSs 10 the party, aud put the Union IN Jeop-
ardy. and denounceS those who have all along
supported the principles which restored the party
10 power. 1t is now co-laborer oil the Tree SOIL
prints in this State, some oil which 1t SO lately READ
out OF the democratic party. Ihough tnat plht 10
not in itself of great importance, yet when II pro-
fesses, without rebuke, 10 do these things as the
organ Of the administration, much mischief may be
done. 1t matters little what disclaimers there may
be in private circles, SO long as there is no pubic
a. oEC
ty However unfortunately the election may ter-
inmate, the responsibility will rest upon Others
and not upon me.
Let me now notice the time, manner, and motive
OF your letter.
nation of two tickets at Syracuse, and the the two
ratification meetings in the city; alter the Collec
tor had been denounced by the Free Soil leaders
and presses, and the President had been called
upon to remove him: after hungry othce-seekerS
and bitter politicians had visited Washington 10
miSrepresent and traduce that officer, and 10 whose
clamors, you we'll know, he never made any replyj
after the Union had taken ground against the TICK
ct of the national democrats, and III favor oil the
ticket of their opponents; then it II was that you
first discovered cause for complaint OF any KIND
against the Collector. You hid approved all ms
nominations, with single exception, and IN that
cas.. the Office was abolished Down to the receipt
of your letter of the Sd inst, you had never inIl-
mated 10 the Collector, IN any form, that you DIS
approved of his improvements or of the manner IN
which they had been distributed.
Asto the manner. You did not pursue the usu-
al course, aud issue q circular laying down uni
form rule for the government Of all Custom House
officers having patronage TO beStow: but confined
your instructions to the port of New York alone
If the doctrine OF tie letter is sound one, II is
OBVIOUSLY proper that itShould be applied III other
places as we'll as here: and it should regulate the
conduct OF all classes of government officers haV-
ing patronage 10 bestow. Mnrshals, postmsSters
district attorneys, and others should act upon 1t IN
the selection of their deputies, clerks an: other
agents.
will here mention another fact OF no little sig
nifcance. The next Jay alter the letter was writ
ten il was follow by another requiring me 10 sub
nit for your approval the names oil all clerks pro-
uoSed 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 lett those appointments
TO the sole discretion of the Cellecto.-but so lar
as l have learned, you again departed from the
usual course of issuing circular TO all The Col
Iectors of all great ports, singled out the Col
lector of New York, and presented new rule for
him alone. These facts need no comment-tEey
spt ak for themselves.
As to the mot We OF this movement let DINERS
Judge.
member OF the Cabinet has interfered with The dis
cretion OF collector marshal, postmaster, or any
other government officer having patronage to be-
stow ana laid down q rule for his government IN
the selection of his deputies, clerks or other agents.
and it certainly is the first Instance nwhlch pub
lie officer has been instructed 80 into an inquiry
about sections, and see that just distribution OF
Offices was made between them. You have alIght,
| by law 10 give instructions on many subjects con-
nected with the collection of the revenue. and
such instructions it will he my duty TO follow. But
when you go beyond that, and undertake TO direct
in matters which the law has conided TO my dis
cretion, no such obligation exists.
AS TO some officers of the customs, the Collector
has the right of nomination, and the Secretary The
right of approval rejection; and, as to other ot-
| GERS, the power of appointment is vested IN the
Collector alone. Ishall not interfere with the ex-
ercise of your powers, and trust you will render
the like Justice to me. If you, or any other high
officer of the government, desired the appointment
of particular individual, need not say that IL
would give me great pleasure to comply with his
wishes. But respectfully deny that you have
any right TO issue instructions for the government
of my conduct in making selections for office
So far as relates to the mere dlSpensation of pa
tronage, without regard TO my responsibility Tor the
acts Of the persons appointed, would gladly trans
fer the trust 10 another. have no taste lor such
matters, and my neutrality-suspicious. have none
would be greatly promoted if some one else
would perform the service for me. But the law
and my commission have cast the burthen upon
me- and cannot surrender it to another without
derelction of duty.
AS you have gwen your letter to the press, say
ing che subject is is public one,'' shall give
the same direction TO the answer.
am, very respectfully,
your obedient servant,
GREENE G. BRONSON.
Hon. James Guthrie, Secretary Of the Treasury.
The letter of Mr. o. Conner is very long. so that
we cannot publish it in full. It's most able re-
view of the course OF the Washington Union, and
deals most scathingly with Nj. Secretary Guthrie
and his letter.
The letter of Mr. o'Connor opens with a refer
ence to n n article IN tie Union of the 9th ut,
which alleges, in respect to the appointments in
New York, that President Pierce and his admins
tration had adopted the policy of dividing the off
ces in its gift between the freesoiers of '4s and
the democrats of that PERIOD gas mode of obiit-
Grating all past schsms subdivisions of the parly'
and that Judge Bronson ard Mr.. o. connor. know