Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1853-11-04
COLLECTOR BRoNsoN's REPLY.

IOu hSL Ill SuOSlduCe IudC nave Dcen
under pledge, which has not been redeemed
to distribute the offices in my gift among differ
ent sections of the democratic party, and then
prescribe the course you expect me to pursue in
future. You do not complain that my appoin-
tees are lot proper persons for the place they
occupy, or that they are not sound democrats,
sincerely attached to the principles of the party,
and firm supporters of the national administra-
ton. But you think have not properly regar-
ded all sections of the party,
When Mr.. Dickinson declined the collector
siss pQgt: in April last, was asked by
several friendSNhether I would allow my name
to be mentioned to the President for the place
and answered in the negative. / thought no
more about the matter until two days after
wards, when | saw in the public prints a tele-
graphic dispatch announcing my appointment.
| had two years before resigned my place as
Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals with the
intention of never again accepting a pubic of.
fee; and grateful as | was for this new mark of
confidence, | should have declined the apnont
ment but for the high opinion which entertain
ed Of The President and his principles, and the
assurance of friends that he earnestly desired
my acceptance of the trust.
When | acccpted the place, had never seen
nor had any communication with the President.
and of course there were no pledges between
US, save such as may be implied between hono-
rable men holding the like relation to each 9th
er. He had right to expect that | would dill
gently and faithfully discharge the duties of the
Ciice, and maintain, in all proper ways, the
principles which restored the democratic par
ty to power; and, so long as | performed that
IMPLIED obligation, had right TO expect that
his confidence in me would not be Withdrawn.
| how L., al. al. II
has not discharged his part of the obligation,
and am not conscious of having omitted to dis
charge my own.
1ou tell me that the President and his con-
stitutional advisers stand pledged before the
world to the principles and policy laid down in
the Baltimore platform and the inaugural ad-
dress, "and had reason to believe that all gen
tlemen who consented to accept Office under
the administration stood pledged to the same
principles and policy" | agree to that; and,
though 1t Is but an implied pledge, admit its
iuh force. But 1T proves nothing to the
present purpose; For there is not one word
either IN the Baltimore platform or the naugu-
raj address about distributing Offices among DIFF
ferent sections OF the party. If the President
or ms appolntees are pledged TO any such dis
trlbutlon you must look to some other document
to find evidence of the obligation-some docu-
ment which have never seen.
1t may be inferred from the act of the Presi-
dent, that he regards as eligible to Office all
democrats who cordr0iiy United TO tne DSsrsi-
more platform in 1852, and are sincerely at
tached to the principles of the party, although
at some former period they may have been out
of the way. That is proper rule. 1t is the
one on which l have acted in making appoint
ments to oilice-not because | was uuder any
pledge to do 50, but because l thought the rule
Just in itself But your letter proceeds upon the
ground that l should 90 beyond the inquiry,
whether applicants for Office are good demo
Gratis now, and ascertain to what section they
formerly belonged. And then make such dis
trbuiOn ofotiiceS between the diiferentS sections
that no one of than will have Just cause for
complaint. 1t is not only impossible to admin
lister such a rule as that with success, but the
consequence Of adopting it must be that we
shall never have one democratic party united
upon broad basis of principle, but mere
combination of different sections, held together
by no better bond than the love of office, and
ready to fall to pieces the moment one section
thinks itself aggrieved in the distribution.
Notwithstanding what has been said, | think
it would be found, on proper scrutiny, that the
section which has so loudly and bitterly COM
planned of injustice has received its full share
of the offices which have bestowed. Its un-
doubtedy true that more appointments have
been made from one section of the party than
from the other; and a single reason viii be suf.
fcint to show why it was proper to pursue that
course. Most of the custom house appoint
ments for this port had always been made
from the counties of New York and Kings in
which are the three large-cities which form
part of the port. In 1913 the democratic and
freesoil vote in those counties bore the relation
of more than four for the former to one for
the latter. From the freeSoil vote, should be-
deducted the whig abolition vote; which Went
in the direction. After making the proper allow
ance on the account, Think it safe to conclude
that not moro than one out Of seven of the
democrats in those counties voted the freesoil
ticket in l84S. In this view of the matter |
think twill be found that the freesoi lsection is
far from having just cause for complaint | have
acted in this liberal manner--not because |
was uuder and pledge, but because l wished to
do what l reasonably could to promote the har-
mony and continued ascendency of the party.
1t is possible that am mistaken in suppoS-
ing that the freesoil section has got its full
share of the places; for, in distributing the lit
tie Offices in my gift, which have for the most
part gone among the rank and file Of the party,
| have neither had the time nor the inclination
to do much by way of investigating the antece
dents of men who were supposed to be all right
now.
In reference to your remark upon the recent
rupture of the party at Syracuse, that "the di
vision could and ought to have been prevented
it is enough for me to say that l not only had
no agency in bringing about that division, but
/ tried to prevent it. My counsel was given in
favor of the united action of the convention,
and sincerely hoped that harmony would pre-
vail. If any government officers are chargea-
BILE with what took place at Syracuse, the bur
den must rest on those who were thereof whom
three were from this city-and not upon the
collector. who was at home attending to the du-
ties of his Office.
do not state these things by way of apollo
gy, for / have none to max; nor by way of cour-
ting favor, for have none to ask.
You speak of "reunion of the party in l849;
which reunion was supposed to have been thor
oughly cemented in the great and triumphant
contest in 1882" Although l ardently desired
a reunion, if it could be effected upon princi-
pie, never approved the mode in which the
attempt was made to bring about that desirea-
bic end. l thought then; and think stiil, that
those who had deseFsea She democratic STAN
dard in l84e, ard thrown the State and ma
tional governments into ths hands cf the wings,
should if convinced ST tlgff error, return again
~ eut camp %ithesf ssasse'x tcttss.ss,sssh .s..S