Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1853-10-28

Reply or Collector the Letter fsecreta-
| ~ Guthrie.
NEw YokK, Monday, Oct II, 1858.
Hon James Guthrie,
SR The pressure of official business and confinement to
have prevented earlier to your letter
You first state in substance, that have been under
pledge which has been redeemed to distribute the Off
party then prescribe the expect me to pu
sue in future You do complain that my appontees
are not sound Democrats sincerely the principles
the party, and firm supporters of the National Admins
traon BIT you think have not properly regarded all
When Mr. Dickinson declined the Colectorship of this
would allow my mentioned the President for
the place. and answered in the negative thought no more
public prints elegraphc despatch announcing my appoint
had two years before resigned my place as Chief
again accepting public Office and grateful am for this
mark of confidence should have declined the appoint
ment but for the high opinion which entertained OF the
President and his principles and the of friends that
he earnestly desired my acceptance of the trust
with the President and of there
pledges between such be between
had right to expect that would diligently and faithfully
discharge the duties of Office and maintain in ali proper
power and long performed that implied obligation,
had right to expect that his confidence in me Tsud not
discharged his part of the obligation, and not
conscious of having omitted to discharge my own.
vers stand pledged the world the principles and
policy laid down in the Baltimore platform and the naugu
who consented to accept office under the Adminsraton
stood pledged to the same principles and policy
full force But nothing to the present purpose for
there is word either in the Baltimore platform the
sections of the party the President his appoint
pledged to such distributions must look to
other document to find evidence ofthe obgationome
document which have never
1t be inferred from the acts of the President that he
regards eligible to office all Democrats who cordially uni
ted the Baltimore platform in 1882 and sincerely at
tached to the principles of the party although at some for
period they may have been out of the way That is
proper rule. the which have acted in making
appointments to office not because under pledge
to do but because thought the rule just in itself But
letter proceeds the ground should beyond
inquiry whether applicants for office good and honest
Democrats and ascertain to what section they formerly
belonged ana then ma such distribution OF ohces be-
tween the different sections that of them will have
just of complaint It is not only impossible to admin
lister such rule that with but the consequence of
adopting must be that shall have Democratic
party united upon broad basis of principle, but mere
combination of different sections held together by better
bond than the love of Office and ready to fall to pieces the
section thinks itself agreved in the distribution
Notwithstanding what has said, think it would
found proper scrutiny that the section which has
loudly and bitterly complained of injustice has received its
full share of the offices which have bestowed It is un-
doubedy true that appointments have been made from
section of the party than from the other and single
will be why proper pursue
that Most of the customhouse appointments
this port have always been made from the New
form part the port. In the
soil vote in those counties
four for the former to for the latter From the Freeso
vote should be deducted the WhgAbolition VOTE which
went in the direction After making the allow
more than out of ofhe Democrats in those
ties voted the eesoi ticket in 1873 In this view the
ter think will be found that the Freeso section is far
from having just for complaint have acted in this
liberal not because was under any pledge but be-
cause wished do reasonably could to promote the
+ harmony and continued aScendancV of
1t possible mistaken in supposng that the Feeso
section has got its full share of the places for dstribu
ting the little Offices my gift which have the part
gone among the rank and file of the party have neither
had the time the inclination do much by
gang the anecedents of men who supposed be all
right now.
In reference to remark upon the rupture ofhe
party Syracuse that the division could and ought
have been prevented it is enough for say that
only had no agency in bringing about that division, but
united action Of the Convention and sincerely hoped that
harmony would prevail. If any Government officers
chageabe with what took place Syracuse the burden
must rest those who thereof whom three from
this city-and not the Collector who home
tending to the duties of his office.
do not state these things by of apology, for have
none to make nor by ofcourng favor, for have
to ask.
You speak of the party in 1s49 which re-
great and triumphant contest in 1892 Although ardent
y desired reunion it could be effected upon principle
bring about that desirable end thought then think
STILL that those who had deserted the Democratic standard
SS and thrown the State and National Governments
to the hands of the Wings should if convinced of their
return again without exacting conditions
and should then be treated with the utmost kindness The
party would then have been strong and should
heard about sections But very different course
was pursued and the Freeso leaders back
they came back at ALL under league treaty between
them and few leading Democrats, with stronger bond
OF union than an agreement to divide the offices. The
rangement was based principle The Freeso lead
left at liberty to adopt the which they
sued and instead of again hosting the National banner
they marched into the Democratic camp with their
tonal colors flying and thus became independent
in the party Indeed your letter proceeds upon the ground
that the party has all along been divided into
in the distribution of Offices All experience proves that
such coalition formed in 849 be thor
oughy cemented Sooner later it will fall pieces The
cohesive of patronage cannot long that which
fore, matter of establishment that the reunion
dissolved at the late Syracuse Convention.
After the league of lS49 had broken and the tw,
sections had again become seperae parties as well
substance 1T became necessary for citizen New
4Ork to make choice between the tickets which
been nominated My reasons for preerring reject
the other are before the public and has the RICH
to lmpue to other motives than those which hay
avowed. rejected ticket because the nomination hac
been effected by which honest could approve
and because the nominees had been forward
who had been hostile to what deemed the best
the State in relation to the canals approved the othe
ticket because the nominees right the question
State policy and because those who supported
tending for the principles which restored the Democrati
party to power and placed Franklin Pierce the head
the Government" presume there be objection a
e Washington to my maintaining as have always don
BEFORE the principles which the National Administration
stands and with questions of mere State policy you mus
allow me to the Administration has rghtfu
What consequences will follow the recent break in tn
party Is more than tell but feel reasonably confden
e that the National Democrats had fair field and tn
treeso Democrats not fighting under false coors thei
with their nominations. But not got fair field
The Washington Union while protesting speak the sent